Patent Publication Number: US-9421782-B2

Title: Liquid containing body, electric connection body, and liquid consuming apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to liquid containing bodies, electric connection bodies, and liquid consuming apparatuses. 
     2. Related Art 
     As a liquid containing body capable of supplying liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus, a mode of supplying ink to a printer, which is an exemplary liquid consuming apparatus, has been known hitherto. As a kind of this mode, it has been proposed to contain ink in a flexible containing bag, house the containing bag in a case provided on a printer side face, and supply, via a tube, the ink to a cartridge equipped with a head provided on a carriage (e.g., WO97/42035). 
     With the supply method proposed in WO97/42035, when the ink is mostly consumed and needs to be replaced, it is necessary to replace the containing bag and connect the tube to a supply port of the replaced containing bag. Since a connecting end of the tube is a free end, and the containing bag is flexible, it has been indicated that the connection of the tube to the containing bag is difficult. Also, a large-volume ink capacity has been demanded in recent years, and therefore the volume of the ink containing bag has also been becoming large. Accordingly, deformation of the containing bag due to the weight of the ink itself has also been likely to occur, and trouble has tended to occur in a tube connecting operation performed on the side of the containing bag. The same applies to electric connection. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention deals with at least a part of the foregoing problem, and an advantage of some aspect of the invention is to achieve simplification of a connecting operation for liquid supply between a liquid consuming apparatus and a liquid containing body at least a part of which is flexible. 
     The invention has been made in order to solve at least a part of the foregoing problem, and can be achieved in the following modes. 
     (1) According to a mode of the invention, a liquid containing body is provided. This liquid containing body is a liquid containing body to be connected to a liquid consuming apparatus having a liquid introduction portion. The liquid consuming apparatus has a right side wall constituting a first side face with respect to a front face of the apparatus, and a left side wall constituting a second side face with respect to the front face. When the liquid consuming apparatus has the liquid introduction portion on the right side wall, an angle a 1  is set larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees, the angle a 1  being formed, in a plan view of the liquid consuming apparatus as viewed from vertically above, in a clockwise direction with respect to the right side wall by an introduction portion extending direction that is a direction in which the liquid introduction portion extends for liquid introduction. When the liquid consuming apparatus has the liquid introduction portion on the left side wall, an angle a 2  is set larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees, the angle a 2  being formed, in the plan view, in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the left side wall by the introduction portion extending direction. The liquid containing body includes: a liquid containing portion at least a part of which is flexible; an operation portion that is located at an upper part of the liquid containing body when the liquid containing body is connected to the liquid consuming apparatus, and can be held; and a liquid supply portion that is connected to the operation portion, can be connected to the liquid introduction portion in the introduction portion extending direction, and guides liquid contained in the liquid containing portion from the liquid containing portion to the connected liquid introduction portion. 
     In the liquid containing body in this mode, the operation portion located at the upper part of the liquid containing portion is held, and until the liquid containing body is connected to the liquid introduction portion of the liquid consuming apparatus in this state, a first operation of bringing, along a roughly linear trajectory, the operation portion close to the liquid introduction portion from the front side of the liquid consuming apparatus until the operation portion faces the liquid introduction portion, and a second operation of bringing, along a roughly linear trajectory, the operation portion close to the liquid introduction portion such that the liquid supply portion is connected to the liquid introduction portion in the introduction portion extending direction are necessary. In the case of a liquid consuming apparatus that has the liquid introduction portion on the right side wall, the introduction portion extending direction of the liquid introduction portion is the direction at the angle a 1  that is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees in the clockwise direction with respect to the right side wall in a plan view of the liquid consuming apparatus as viewed from vertically above. Therefore, the operation along the linear trajectory conforming to the second operation need only be performed after the first operation while keeping the posture of holding the operation portion at the time of performing the aforementioned first operation. Accordingly, since the first operation and the second operation can be executed as a series of operations without changing the holding posture of holding the operation portion, the operation of attaching the liquid containing body is facilitated. In the case of a liquid consuming apparatus that has the liquid introduction portion on the left side wall, the introduction portion extending direction of the liquid introduction portion is the direction at the angle a 2  that is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the left side wall in the plan view. Therefore, as in the above-described case, the first operation and the second operation can be executed as a series of operations without changing the holding posture of holding the operation portion, and accordingly the operation of attaching the liquid containing body is facilitated. 
     In particular, in the case of a liquid consuming apparatus that has a plurality of liquid introduction portions arranged from the apparatus front side toward the apparatus back side on the right side wall or the left side wall, the invention has the following advantages. When connecting the liquid supply portion of the liquid containing body to the liquid introduction portion on the apparatus back side, other liquid introduction portions and the liquid containing bodies that are already connected to these liquid introduction portions exist further on the apparatus front side than the liquid introduction portion on the apparatus back side. However, the aforementioned series of operations at the time of connecting the liquid supply portion of the liquid containing body to the liquid introduction portion on the apparatus back side can be started from the apparatus front side where the operations do not interfere with the other liquid introduction portions on the apparatus front side and the liquid containing bodies already connected thereto. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the liquid containing body while unnecessarily detouring the liquid containing body along a long trajectory, which is convenient. A space for the operation of connecting the liquid containing body can also be reduced. Note that it is desirable that the aforementioned angles a 1  and a 2  formed by the introduction portion extending direction of the liquid introduction portion are in the range from 45 to 70 degrees. 
     (2) In the liquid containing body in the above mode, the liquid consuming apparatus may have an electric connection portion that is arranged side-by-side with the liquid introduction portion in a horizontal direction in a front view of the liquid introduction portion as viewed in the introduction portion extending direction, and the liquid containing body may further include a contact portion capable of coming into contact with the electric connection portion, the contact portion being arranged in the operation portion side-by-side with the liquid supply portion in association with arrangement of the liquid introduction portion and the electric connection portion. With this configuration, the contact portion of the operation portion can also be connected to the electric connection portion of the liquid consuming apparatus by the aforementioned series of operations until the liquid containing body is connected to the liquid introduction portion of the liquid consuming apparatus in a state where the operation portion located at the upper part of the liquid containing portion is held. 
     (3) According to another mode of the invention, an electric connection body is provided. This electric connection body is an electric connection body having a contact portion capable of coming into contact with an electric connection portion of a liquid consuming apparatus. In the electric connection portion of the liquid consuming apparatus, a plurality of apparatus-side terminals capable of coming into contact with the contact portion of the electric connection body are arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction. The liquid consuming apparatus has a right side wall constituting a first side face with respect to a front face of the apparatus, and a left side wall constituting a second side face with respect to the front face. When the liquid consuming apparatus has the electric connection portion on the right side wall, an angle a 1  is set larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees, the angle a 1  being formed, in a plan view of the liquid consuming apparatus as viewed from vertically above, in a clockwise direction with respect to the right side wall by a direction orthogonal to a horizontal arranging direction of the apparatus-side terminals. When the liquid consuming apparatus has the electric connection portion on the left side wall, an angle a 2  is set larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees, the angle a 2  being formed, in the plan view, in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the left side wall by the direction orthogonal to the horizontal arranging direction of the apparatus-side terminals. The electric connection body includes: an operation portion that can be held when the electric connection body is connected to the liquid consuming apparatus; and a plurality of the contact portions that are provided in the operation portion and can come into contact with the apparatus-side terminals of the electric connection portion. With the electric connection body in this mode, as with the above liquid containing body, a first operation of bringing, along a roughly linear trajectory, the operation portion close to the electric connection portion from the front side of the liquid consuming apparatus until the operation portion faces the electric connection portion, and a second operation of bringing, along a roughly linear trajectory, the operation portion close to the liquid introduction portion such that the contact portion is connected to the electric connection portion can be executed as a series of operations without changing the holding posture of holding the operation portion. Accordingly, the operation of attaching the electric connection body is facilitated. The same effect can also be achieved in the case of providing a plurality of electric connection portions from the apparatus front side toward the apparatus back side on the right side wall or the left side wall. 
     (4) According to still another mode of the invention, a liquid consuming apparatus is provided. This liquid consuming apparatus is a liquid consuming apparatus to which a liquid containing body containing liquid is to be connected. The liquid consuming apparatus includes: a right side wall constituting a first side face with respect to a front face of the apparatus; and a left side wall constituting a second side face with respect to the front face. When the liquid consuming apparatus has, on the right side wall, a liquid introduction portion to which the liquid containing body is to be connected, an angle a 1  is set larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees, the angle a 1  being formed, in a plan view of the liquid consuming apparatus as viewed from vertically above, in a clockwise direction with respect to the right side wall by an introduction portion extending direction that is a direction in which the liquid introduction portion extends for liquid introduction. When the liquid consuming apparatus has the liquid introduction portion on the left side wall, an angle a 2  is set larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees, the angle a 2  being formed, in the plan view, in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the left side wall by the introduction portion extending direction. The liquid containing body includes: a liquid containing portion at least a part of which is flexible; an operation portion that is located at an upper part of the liquid containing body when the liquid containing body is connected to the liquid consuming apparatus, and can be held; and a liquid supply portion that is connected to the operation portion, can be connected to the liquid introduction portion in the introduction portion extending direction, and guides liquid contained in the liquid containing portion from the liquid containing portion to the connected liquid introduction portion. With the liquid consuming apparatus in this mode, as with the liquid consuming apparatus in the above mode to which the liquid containing body is to be connected, a first operation of bringing, along a roughly linear trajectory, the operation portion close to the liquid introduction portion from the front side of the liquid consuming apparatus until the operation portion faces the liquid introduction portion, and a second operation of bringing, along a roughly linear trajectory, the operation portion close to the liquid introduction portion such that the liquid supply portion is connected to the liquid introduction portion in the introduction portion extending direction can be executed as a series of operations without changing the holding posture of holding the operation portion. Accordingly, the operation of attaching the liquid containing body is facilitated. The same effect can also be achieved in the case of providing a plurality of electric connection portions from the apparatus front side toward the apparatus back side on the right side wall or the left side wall. 
     (5) The liquid consuming apparatus in the above mode may further include an electric connection portion that is arranged side-by-side with the liquid introduction portion in a horizontal direction in a front view of the liquid introduction portion as viewed in the introduction portion extending direction. The liquid containing body may have a contact portion capable of coming into contact with the electric connection portion, the contact portion being arranged in the operation portion side-by-side with the liquid supply portion in association with arrangement of the liquid introduction portion and the electric connection portion. With this configuration, the contact portion of the operation portion can also be connected to the electric connection portion of the liquid consuming apparatus by the aforementioned series of operations until the liquid containing body is connected to the liquid introduction portion of the liquid consuming apparatus in a state where the operation portion located at the upper part of the liquid containing portion is held. 
     Not all of a plurality of constituent components provided in the above-described modes of the invention are essential, and some of the plurality of constituent components may be modified, deleted, or replaced with a new constituent component, or the content of limitation may be partially deleted as appropriate, in order to solve a part of or the entire problem described above, or to achieve some or all of the effects described in this specification. It is also possible to combine some or all of the technical features included in one of the above-described modes of the invention with some or all of the technical features included in the other of the above-described modes of the invention to make an independent mode of the invention, in order to solve a part of or the entire problem described above, or to achieve some or all of the effects described in the specification. 
     The invention can be achieved in various modes, and for example, the invention can be achieved in modes such as a liquid supply system in which liquid is supplied from a liquid containing body to a liquid consuming apparatus, a system including a liquid containing body and a liquid consuming apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a first perspective view showing an outline configuration of a liquid consuming system  1000  in a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a second perspective view showing an outline configuration of the liquid consuming system  1000 . 
         FIG. 3  is a first view for illustrating a liquid supply apparatus  20 . 
         FIG. 4  is a second view for illustrating the liquid supply apparatus  20 . 
         FIG. 5  is a first perspective view for illustrating an attachment/detachment unit  30 . 
         FIG. 6  is a second perspective view for illustrating the attachment/detachment unit  30 . 
         FIG. 7  is a first perspective view of a liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 8  is a second perspective view of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 9  is a first perspective view showing a part of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 10  is a second perspective view showing a part of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 11  is a third perspective view showing a part of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 12  is a fourth perspective view showing a part of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a part of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 14  is a back view of a part of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of a part of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 16  is a right side view of a part of the liquid containing body  50 . 
         FIG. 17A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line F 13 -F 13  in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 17B  is a front view of a circuit board  582 . 
         FIG. 17C  shows the circuit board  582  as viewed along arrow F 17 B in  FIG. 17B . 
         FIG. 18  is a view of the liquid containing body  50  when being set to the attachment/detachment unit  30 . 
         FIG. 19  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line F 18 -F 18  in  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  is a view of the liquid containing body  50  when being attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 . 
         FIG. 21  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line F 20 -F 20  in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is a first illustrative view showing an initial state of an operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed from vertically above the printer  10 . 
         FIG. 23  is a second illustrative view showing a latter state of the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed from vertically above the printer  10 . 
         FIG. 24  is a third illustrative view showing the initial state of the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed in a −K 1 -axis direction. 
         FIG. 25  is a fourth illustrative view showing a state of an operation in a setting direction in  FIG. 19  in the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed in the −K 1 -axis direction. 
         FIG. 26  is a fifth illustrative view showing a complete state of the operation in the setting direction in  FIG. 19  in the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed in the −K 1 -axis direction. 
         FIG. 27  is an illustrative view showing a liquid supply apparatus  20 S 1  in a second embodiment as viewed from vertically above the printer  10 . 
         FIG. 28  is a diagram for illustrating an electric connection body  50   a.    
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Next, embodiments of the invention will be described in the following order. 
     A and B. First and Second Embodiments 
     C. Various modifications 
     A. First Embodiment 
     A-1. Configuration of Liquid Consuming System 
       FIG. 1  is a first perspective view showing an outline configuration of a liquid consuming system  1000  in a first embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a second perspective view showing an outline configuration of the liquid consuming system  1000 .  FIG. 3  is a first view for illustrating a liquid supply apparatus  20 .  FIG. 4  is a second view for illustrating the liquid supply apparatus  20 . Note that  FIGS. 3 and 4  each show a state where a later-described liquid containing body is removed. In  FIGS. 1 to 4 , XYZ axes orthogonal to one another are indicated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the liquid consuming system  1000  includes a printer  10  serving as a liquid consuming apparatus, and two liquid supply apparatuses  20 . When the liquid consuming system  1000  is used, the printer  10  is installed on a horizontal surface defined by an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction. That is to say, a Z-axis direction is the vertical direction (up-down direction). A −Z-axis direction is a vertically downward direction, and a +Z-axis direction is a vertically upward direction. The liquid supply apparatus  20  constitutes a liquid supply system that supplies ink, which serves as liquid, to the printer  10 . Liquid containing bodies  50  included in the liquid supply apparatus  20  can be connected (attached) to the printer  10  in a detachable manner. 
     The printer  10  is an inkjet printer. The printer  10  includes a recording mechanism  11 , paper feed trays  16 , and a discharge tray  17 . A plurality of paper feed trays  16  are provided at different height positions in the vertical direction. The paper feed trays  16  are provided in an apparatus first face (apparatus front face)  102  of the printer  10 . Recording media (e.g., paper) on which an image such as a character is printed (recorded) by the printer  10  are contained in the paper feed trays  16 . 
     The recording mechanism  11  includes a recording head (not shown) that discharges ink. The recording head is in communication with the liquid supply apparatus  20  via a flow tube. The recording head performs recording (printing) by discharging ink onto the recording media, using the ink supplied from the liquid supply apparatus  20 . The recording media onto which the recording has been performed is discharged to the discharge tray  17 . 
     The two liquid supply apparatuses  20  are provided respectively in an apparatus second face (also called an apparatus second side face, an apparatus second side wall, or a left side wall)  104  and an apparatus third face (also called as an apparatus first side face, an apparatus first side wall, or a right side wall)  106  that intersect the apparatus first face (also called an apparatus front face or an apparatus front wall)  102  of the printer  10 . The apparatus first face  102  to the apparatus third face  106  are faces that are substantially vertical to the installation surface when the printer  10  is used. The apparatus second face  104  is opposed to the apparatus third face  106 . Here, the liquid supply apparatus  20  provided in the apparatus second face  104  will also be called a first liquid supply apparatus  20 A, and the liquid supply apparatus  20  provided in the apparatus third face  106  will also be called a second liquid supply apparatus  20 B. Note that the two liquid supply apparatuses  20  will be simply called the liquid supply apparatuses  20  when not distinguishing between the first and second liquid supply apparatuses  20 A and  20 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first liquid supply apparatus  20 A includes a cover member  22 , a liquid containing body  50 , and an attachment/detachment unit  30  ( FIG. 3 ). As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second liquid supply apparatus  20 B includes a cover member  22 , three liquid containing bodies  50 , and three attachment/detachment units  30  ( FIG. 4 ) corresponding to the respective liquid containing bodies  50 . Here, reference numerals “ 22 A” and “ 22 B” will be used when distinguishing between the two cover members  22 . Also, reference numerals “ 50 K”, “ 50 C”, “ 50 M”, and “ 50 Y” will be used when distinguishing among the four liquid containing bodies  50 . Reference numerals “ 30 K”, “ 30 C”, “ 30 M”, and “ 30 Y” will be used when distinguishing among the four attachment/detachment units  30 . Note that the number of cover members  22 , liquid containing bodies  50 , and attachment/detachment units  30  is not limited to the above. For example, the number of liquid containing bodies  50  may be three or smaller, or may be five or larger. The attachment/detachment units  30  may be provided so as to correspond to the number of liquid containing bodies  50 . The number of cover members  22  may be one, or may be three or larger. 
     The four liquid containing bodies  50  contain (are filled with) different types of ink. In this embodiment, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) inks are contained in different liquid containing bodies  50 . The liquid containing body  50 K has a liquid containing portion containing the black ink, the liquid containing body  50 C has a liquid containing portion containing the cyan ink, the liquid containing body  50 M has a liquid containing portion containing the magenta ink, and the liquid containing body  50 Y has a liquid containing portion containing the yellow ink. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the liquid containing bodies  50  are housed in housing space portions  26  demarcated by the cover members  22 . Specifically, the liquid containing body  50 K is housed in a housing space portion  26 A ( FIG. 3 ) on the side of a left side wall  104  while being attached to a later-described attachment/detachment unit  30 K, and the liquid containing bodies  50 C,  50 M, and  50 Y are housed in a housing space portion  26 B ( FIG. 4 ) on the side of a right side wall  106  while being attached to later-described attachment/detachment units  30 C,  30 M, and  30 Y, respectively. 
     The attachment/detachment units  30  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  allow the liquid containing bodies  50  to be detachably attached thereto. The attachment/detachment unit  30 K is arranged within the cover member  22 A, and the attachment/detachment units  30 C,  30 M, and  30 Y are arranged within the cover member  22 B. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the attachment/detachment unit  30 K is provided on the apparatus second face  104  of the printer  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the attachment/detachment units  30 C,  30 M, and  30 Y are provided in the apparatus third face  106  of the printer  10 . When each liquid containing body  50  is attached to the corresponding detachable unit  30 , the ink contained in the liquid containing body  50  is supplied to the recording head of the printer  10  by a supply mechanism (not shown) having a pump function of the printer  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each cover member  22  is configured to be able to be opened and closed by rotating a second end portion  24  located on the side in the vertically upward direction with a first end portion  23  located on the side in the vertically downward direction as a fulcrum. After the ink contained in each liquid containing body  50  is consumed, a user opens the corresponding cover member  22  and removes the liquid containing body  50  in which the ink has been consumed, from the attachment/detachment unit  30 . The user then attaches a new liquid containing body  50  to the attachment/detachment unit  30  and thereafter closes the cover member  22 . 
     A-2. Configuration of Attachment/Detachment Unit  30   
       FIG. 5  is a first perspective view for illustrating the attachment/detachment unit  30 .  FIG. 6  is a second perspective view for illustrating the attachment/detachment unit  30 .  FIG. 5  shows a first state (state at the time of setting) in which a movable member  40  projects outward of a fixed member  35 .  FIG. 6  shows a second state (state at the time of attachment) in which the movable member  40  is housed in the fixed member  35 . Although the configuration will be described, taking the attachment/detachment unit  30 C as an example in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the other attachment/detachment units  30 K,  30 M, and  30 Y also have the same configuration as the attachment/detachment unit  30 C. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the attachment/detachment unit  30  includes the fixed member  35  and the movable member  40 . 
     The liquid containing body  50  is detachably attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30  by executing the following two operations. The state where the liquid containing body  50  is attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30  will also be called an “attached state (connected state)”. The attached state (connected state) refers to a state where a later-described liquid supply portion  57  in the liquid containing body  50  is connected to a liquid introduction portion (liquid introduction needle)  362  in the attachment/detachment unit  30 , and a circuit board  582  in the liquid containing body  50  is electrically connected to an electric connection portion (apparatus-side electric connection portion)  382  in the attachment/detachment unit  30 . In the attached state, the ink contained in the liquid containing body  50  is in a state of being able to flow toward the side of the printer  10 . 
     —First Operation 
     The user brings the attachment/detachment unit  30  into the first state (see  FIG. 5 ), and thereafter sets the liquid containing body  50  to the movable member  40 . 
     —Second Operation 
     After the first operation, the user presses the movable member  40  toward the side of the fixed member  35  via the liquid containing body  50 , and thereby brings the attachment/detachment unit  30  into the second state (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     In the second state of the attachment/detachment unit  30 , movement of the movable member  40  toward the side in a +K 1 -axis direction with respect to the fixed member  35  is restricted by a lock mechanism. Note that, in the second state, the locking by the lock mechanism is cancelled by pressing the movable member  40  against the fixed member  35  in an inward direction (−K 1 -axis direction). It is thereby possible to switch the state of the attachment/detachment unit  30  from the second state to the first state by moving the movable member  40  so as to project in the +K 1 -axis direction of the fixed member  35 . 
     The fixed members  35  are fixed respectively to the apparatus second face  104  and the apparatus third face  106  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) of the printer  10  by a plurality of screws  302 , each of which serves as a fixing portion. Specifically, the attachment/detachment unit  30 K ( FIG. 3 ) is fixed to a back board (not shown) of the apparatus second face  104  by the plurality of screws  302 , and the attachment/detachment units  30 C,  30 M, and  30 Y ( FIG. 4 ) are fixed to a back board  26 BV of the apparatus third face  106  by the plurality of screws  302 . These back boards are provided in the housing space portion  26 A and the housing space portion  26 B so as to be along the left side wall  104 , which is the second face, and the right side wall  106 . 
     Each fixed member  35  includes a liquid introduction mechanism  36  and a contact point mechanism  38 . The liquid introduction mechanism  36  has a liquid introduction portion  362 . A later-described liquid supply portion (specifically, a later-described liquid supply unit  55 ) provided in each liquid containing body  50  is connected to the liquid introduction portion  362 , and as a result, the ink contained in the liquid containing body  50  is guided from the later-described liquid supply portion  57  and flows. The liquid introduction portion  362  is in communication with the recording head of the printer  10 . 
     The liquid introduction portion  362  has a needle shape within which the ink can flow. The liquid introduction portion  362  extends along a center axis CL. A direction parallel with this center axis CL (i.e., an extending direction of the liquid introduction portion  362 ) is assumed to be the K 1 -axis direction. The K 1 -axis direction is orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. The direction orthogonal to the K 1 -axis direction and the Z-axis direction is assumed to be a K 2 -axis direction. A face defined by the K 1 -axis direction and the K 2 -axis direction is parallel with a face defined by the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown in  FIG. 1 . Of the K 1 -axis direction, a direction extending to the outside of the printer  10  is the +K 1 -axis direction, and a direction extending to the inside of the printer  10  is the −K 1 -axis direction. The attachment/detachment unit  30 C, the attachment/detachment unit  30 M, and the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y in the housing space portion  26 B shown in  FIG. 4  each have the liquid introduction portion  362  such that the K 1  axis along which the center axis CL of the liquid introduction portion  362  extends obliquely intersects the X axis when the printer  10  is viewed from vertically above (in the +Z-axis direction), and the K 1  axis forms a prescribed angle a 1  with respect to the apparatus third face  106  extending in the X-axis direction. This angle a 1  will be described later. The attachment/detachment unit  30 K in the housing space portion  26 A shown in  FIG. 3  has the liquid introduction portion  362  such that the K 1  axis along which the center axis CL of the liquid introduction portion  362  extends is orthogonal to the X axis. The liquid supply portion  57  of the liquid supply unit  55  in the liquid containing body  50  can be connected to this liquid introduction portion  362  along the K 1  axis along which the center axis CL thereof extends. 
     The liquid introduction mechanism  36  and the contact point mechanism  38  are arranged in the K 2 -axis direction side-by-side in the horizontal direction in a front view of the liquid introduction mechanism  36  as viewed in the +K 1 -axis direction. Of the K 2 -axis direction, a direction extending from the liquid introduction mechanism  36  toward the contact point mechanism  38  is a +K 2 -axis direction, and a direction extending from the contact point mechanism  38  toward the liquid introduction mechanism  36  is a −K 2 -axis direction. Regarding the attachment/detachment unit  30 , the Z-axis direction will also be called a “height direction”, the K 1 -axis direction will also be called a “width direction”, and the K 2 -axis direction will also be called a “depth direction”. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the contact point mechanism  38  includes an electric connection portion (apparatus-side electric connection portion)  382  having a plurality of (in this embodiment, nine) apparatus-side terminals  381 , and a plurality of (in this embodiment, two) apparatus-side board positioning portions  384  and  385 . The plurality of apparatus-side terminals  381  that the contact point mechanism  38  has can come into contact with a later-described plurality of liquid containing body-side terminals  581  ( 581 A to  5811 ) of the containing body-side electric connection portion  58  in the liquid containing body  50 , and are horizontally arranged side-by-side in the aforementioned K 2 -axis direction. That is to say, in the attached state of the liquid containing body  50 , the apparatus-side terminals  381  of the electric connection portion  382  come into contact with (i.e., are electrically connected to) the circuit board of the liquid containing body  50 . The circuit board of the liquid containing body  50  and the printer  10  can thereby communicate various kinds of information (e.g., the ink color and the date of manufacture of the liquid containing body  50 ) with each other. A direction orthogonal to the arrangement of the plurality of apparatus-side terminals  381  in the horizontal direction (the K 2 -axis direction) coincides with the already-described K 1 -axis direction, and forms the prescribed angle a 1  with respect to the apparatus third face  106  extending in the X-axis direction. The apparatus-side terminals  381  are each formed by a metal flat spring that can undergo elastic deformation. The apparatus-side board positioning portions  384  and  385  are arranged on both sides of the electric connection portion  382  in the K 2 -axis direction (the direction in which the liquid introduction mechanism  36  and the contact point mechanism  38  are arranged side-by-side). The apparatus-side board positioning portions  384  and  385  perform final positioning of the circuit board of the liquid containing body  50  with respect to the electric connection portion  382  when the liquid containing body  50  is attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 . The apparatus-side board positioning portions  384  and  385  are members extending in the K 1 -axis direction. 
     The movable member  40  is configured to be able to move in the K 1 -axis direction with respect to the fixed member  35 . The movable member  40  includes a base portion  41 , a supply portion support portion  42 , and a board support portion  48 . The supply portion support portion  42  and the board support portion  48  are connected to the base portion  41 . The supply portion support portion  42  and the board support portion  48  are members extending from the base portion  41  toward the side (upper side) in the +Z-axis direction. 
     The supply portion support portion  42  is a member for determining the position of the liquid containing body  50  (specifically, the liquid supply portion) with respect to the liquid introduction portion  362 . When the attachment/detachment unit  30  is viewed in the K 1 -axis direction, the supply portion support portion  42  is provided at a position overlapping the liquid introduction portion  362 . The supply portion support portion  42  is provided so as to form a shape denting in the −Z-axis direction. Groove portions  407  are formed on both sides of the supply portion support portion  42  in the K 2 -axis direction. As a result of later-described positioning portions of the liquid containing body  50  entering the groove portions  407 , movement of the liquid supply portion provided in the liquid containing body  50  is restricted. That is to say, movement of the liquid supply portion provided in the liquid containing body  50  is restricted by a plurality of face portions (e.g., a first support face portion  402 , a second support face portion  403 , and a third support face portion  404 ) that demarcate and form the supply portion support portion  42 , and the liquid containing body  50  is roughly positioned with respect to the attachment/detachment unit  30 . In the supply portion support portion  42 , a cutout portion  406  is formed in the first support face portion  402  located on the side of the liquid introduction portion  362 . The cutout portion  406  has a dent shape opening on the side in the +Z-axis direction. When the attachment/detachment unit  30  is viewed in the K 1 -axis direction, the cutout portion  406  is provided at a position overlapping the liquid introduction portion  362 . In the first state where the movable member  40  has been moved to the maximum in the +K 1 -axis direction with respect to the fixed member  35 , the cutout portion  406  is located further on the side in the +K 1 -axis direction than the liquid introduction portion  362 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the second state, the tip of the liquid introduction portion  362  is located within the cutout portion  406 . 
     The board support portion  48  is a member for determining the position of the liquid containing body  50  (specifically, the circuit board) with respect to the contact point mechanism  38 . When the attachment/detachment unit  30  is viewed in the K 1 -axis direction, the board support portion  48  is provided at a position overlapping the contact point mechanism  38 . The board support portion  48  is provided so as to form a shape denting in the -Z-axis direction. Movement of the circuit board of the liquid containing body  50  is restricted by a plurality of face portions (e.g., a first board support face portion  482 ) demarcating and forming the board support portion  48 . 
     A-3. Configuration of Liquid Containing Body  50   
       FIG. 7  is a first perspective view of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 8  is a second perspective view of the liquid containing body  50 . In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the Z axis, the K 1  axis, and the K 2  axis in a state (attached state) where the liquid containing body  50  is attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30  are indicated.  FIGS. 7 and 8  show the liquid containing body  50  in a state (unused state) of being filled with the ink serving as liquid before being attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 . Note that the Z axis, the K 1  axis, and the K 2  axis orthogonal to one another are also indicated as necessary in the later-described drawings for illustrating the liquid containing body  50 . Although the configuration will be described while taking the liquid containing body  50 C as an example in  FIG. 7  and the subsequent drawings, the liquid containing bodies  50 K,  50 M, and  50 Y also have the same configuration as the liquid containing body  50 C. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the liquid containing body  50  includes the liquid containing portion  52  and an operation member (handle portion)  53 . The operation member  53  is attached while being located at one end side of the liquid containing portion  52 , and is located above the liquid containing body  50  when being connected to the already-described attachment/detachment unit  30 . The operation member  53  includes a holding portion (support portion)  54 , a liquid supply unit  55 , a board unit (containing body-side electric connection portion)  58 , and a press portion  545  ( FIG. 8 ). The holding portion  54  is a portion for a user supporting (holding) the liquid containing body  50 . The liquid supply unit  55  is a portion corresponding to the liquid introduction portion  362  and the supply portion support portion  42  ( FIG. 6 ) that are included in the attachment/detachment unit  30 . The board unit  58  is a portion corresponding to the electric connection portion  382  and the board support portion  48  ( FIG. 6 ) included in the attachment/detachment unit  30 . Although the holding portion  54  of the operation member  53  is formed in a rectangular shape in this embodiment, it should be noted that the holding portion  54  may be formed in a “C” shape or a “T” shape. 
     The liquid containing portion  52  can contain the ink serving as the liquid. The liquid containing portion  52  is attached to the operation member  53  in a state where a bag face (outer surface) is exposed. That is to say, the liquid containing portion  52  is configured not to be housed in a case or the like and to be visible from the outside. The volume of the liquid containing portion  52  decreases with a decrease of the contained ink. 
     The liquid containing portion  52  has a first film  521 , a second film  522 , and a third film  523 . The first to third films  521  to  523  demarcate a space portion for containing the ink on the inside thereof. Here, of the liquid containing portion  52 , the side to which the operation member  53  is attached is the side of a first end portion (upper end portion)  501 , and the side opposed to the first end portion  501  is the side of a second end portion (bottom end portion)  502 . Furthermore, of the liquid containing portion  52 , the first end portion side (the side in the +K 2 -axis direction) is the side of the first side end portion  503 , and the second end portion side (the side in the −K 2 -axis direction) is the side of the second side end portion  504 . The bottom end portion  502  serves as a gusset that can be folded to the inside at a crease  523   m  provided as a folding line in the third film  523  such that the first film  521  and the second film  522  overlap each other. 
     In the attached state of the liquid containing body  50 , the first film  521  and the second film  522  constitute side faces of the liquid containing portion  52 . Also, in the attached state of the liquid containing body  50 , the third film  523  constitutes a bottom face of the liquid containing portion  52 . The first film  521  and the second film  522  are arranged so as to face each other. A part of a peripheral region  51 W of the first film  521  is adhered to that of the second film  522 . Specifically, of the peripheral region  51 W, a portion on the side of the first end portion  501 , a portion on the side of the first side end portion  503 , and a portion on the side of the second side end portion  504  are adhered. In order to facilitate understanding, in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the portions where the first and second films  521  and  522  are adhered to each other are cross-hatched. The operation member  53  is adhered to the first end portion  501  (specifically, one end portion of the first and second films  521  and  522 ) of the liquid containing portion  52 . That is to say, the operation member  53  is a member located at the first end portion  501  of the liquid containing portion  52 . In order to facilitate understanding, in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the adhered portions of the operation member  53  and the first and second films  521  and  522  are single-hatched with solid lines. 
     In the third film  523 , a peripheral region  51 Y of the third film  523  and a part of the peripheral regions  51 W of the first film  521  and the second film  522  are adhered to each other. The portion at which the third film  523  is adhered to the first and second films  521  and  522  is single-hatched with alternate long and short dashed lines. Thus, the liquid containing portion  52  in this embodiment is of a type in which the three films  521 ,  522 , and  523  are adhered by adhesion or the like (a so-called pouch type with a bottom face). 
     The first to third films  521  to  523  are flexible members. As the material of the first to third films  521  to  523 , polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, polyethylene, or the like is used, for example. The first to third films  521  to  523  may also be formed using a laminate structure in which a plurality of films made of the aforementioned material are laminated. In this laminate structure, for example, a configuration may be employed in which an outer layer is formed by PET or nylon that has excellent shock resistance, and an inner layer is formed by polyethylene that has an excellent anti-ink property. Furthermore, a film having a layer to which aluminum or the like is deposited may be used as a constituent member of the laminate structure. The gas barrier property can thereby be enhanced, and therefore, a concentration change of the ink contained in the liquid containing portion  52  can be suppressed, for example. Thus, the material of the liquid containing portion  52  can be arbitrarily set. 
     The shape and the size of the liquid containing portion  52  can be arbitrarily set. For example, the liquid containing portion  52 K that contains the black ink may have a larger volume than the volume (size) of the liquid containing portion  52 C that contains the other (e.g., cyan) color ink. Furthermore, for example, the liquid containing portion  52  in this embodiment is of a type in which the first to third films  521  to  523  are adhered by adhesion or the like. However, the liquid containing portion  52  may be of a type (so-called pillow type) in which the third film  523  is omitted, and the first and second films  521  and  523  are adhered by adhesion or the like. Here, as mentioned above, the liquid containing portion  52  and the operation member  53  are different members. Accordingly, the type (shape, size, material) of the liquid containing portion  52  can be easily changed while using the same parts for the operation member  53 . That is to say, the shape, size, and material of the liquid containing portion  52  can be set in accordance with the characteristics, amount, and the like of the liquid to be contained in the liquid containing portion  52 , and accordingly the degree of freedom in design can be improved. 
     The liquid containing body  50  further has a flow path member  70  for causing the ink contained in the liquid containing portion  52  to flow into the liquid supply unit  55  (specifically, the later-described liquid supply portion). In this embodiment, the flow path member  70  is a tube. The flow path member  70  is arranged within the liquid containing portion  52 . 
       FIG. 9  is a first perspective view showing a part of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 10  is a second perspective view showing a part of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 11  is a third perspective view showing a part of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 12  is a fourth perspective view showing a part of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 13  is a front view of a part of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 14  is a back view of a part of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 15  is a top view of a part of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 16  is a right side view of a part of the liquid containing body  50 .  FIG. 17A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line F 13 -F 13  in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 17B  is a front view of the circuit board  582 .  FIG. 17C  shows the circuit board  582  as viewed along arrow F 17 B in  FIG. 17B . In  FIGS. 9 to 17A , the liquid containing portion  52  included in the liquid containing body  50  is omitted. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the operation member  53  includes the holding portion  54 , a first connection portion  546 , a second connection portion  547 , a base portion  548 , and an attachment portion  549 . Here, regarding the operation member  53 , the Z-axis direction will also be called a “height direction”, the K 1 -axis direction will also be called a “thickness direction”, and the K 2 -axis direction will also be called a “width direction”. 
     The holding portion  54 , the first connection portion  546 , the second connection portion  547 , and the base portion  548  each have a bar shape. A frame-shaped member is formed by the holding portion  54 , the first connection portion  546 , the second connection portion  547 , and the base portion  548 . A receiving space portion  542  having a substantially rectangular shape for receiving a hand of the user is thereby demarcated and formed in the operation member  53 . 
     The holding portion  54  is a portion at which the user holds the liquid containing body  50 . The holding portion  54  extends in the K 2 -axis direction. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the holding portion  54  has a holding face (support face)  541  that is in contact with the receiving space portion  542 . The holding face  541  is a portion that is directly supported (held) by the user. The holding face  541  is a flat surface that is substantially vertical to the Z-axis direction when in the attached state. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the first connection portion  546  is a member extending from one end portion of the holding portion  54  in the K 2 -axis direction toward the side of the base portion  548  (the side in the −Z-axis direction, the side of the liquid containing portion  52  shown in  FIG. 7 ). The second connection portion  547  is a member extending from the other end portion of the holding portion  54  in the K 2 -axis direction toward the side of the base portion  548  (the side in the −Z-axis direction, the side of the liquid containing portion  52  shown in  FIG. 7 ). The base portion  548  is a portion opposed to the holding portion  54  with the receiving space portion  542  therebetween. The base portion  548  extends in the K 2 -axis direction. A positioning portion  56 , a circuit board holding portion (contact portion arrangement portion)  59 , and the press portion  545  ( FIG. 12 ), which will be described later, are attached to the base portion  548 . 
     The attachment portion  549  is located on the side opposite to the side on which the holding portion  54  is located with the base portion  548  therebetween. The attachment portion  549  is adjacent to the base portion  548 . The attachment portion  549  extends in the K 2 -axis direction. The attachment portion  549  is a portion to which a first end portion  501  ( FIG. 7 ) of the liquid containing portion  52  is attached by adhesion or the like. As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 17A , the attachment portion  549  has a lead-out portion  550  for causing the ink contained in the liquid containing portion  52  to flow into the liquid supply portion  57 . As a result of the lead-out portion  550  being connected to the flow path member  70 , the ink that has flown through the flow path member  70  flows into the liquid supply portion  57  via the lead-out portion  550 . Note that, in order to facilitate understanding, a portion of the attachment portion  549  to which the liquid containing portion  52  is attached is single-hatched in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the liquid supply unit  55  includes the liquid supply portion  57  and the positioning portion  56 . Here, the positioning portion  56  is configured as a body separate from the liquid supply portion  57 , and a small gap is formed between the positioning portion  56  and the liquid supply portion  57 . The liquid supply unit  55  is provided so as to project in the −K 1 -axis direction of the operation member  53 . 
     The liquid supply portion  57  has a liquid supply port  572 , which is one end, and a supply connection portion  573 , which is the other end. The liquid supply port  572  is in communication with the inside of the liquid containing portion  52 , and guides the ink contained in the liquid containing portion  52  to the outside (printer  10 ). The liquid supply port  572  defines a flat surface (a face defined by the Z-axis direction and the K 2 -axis direction) vertical to the holding face  541 . The supply connection portion  573  is connected to the operation member  53 . The liquid supply portion  57  is a tubular member (ring-shaped member) extending in the K 1 -axis direction (the direction of a center axis CT). The liquid supply unit  57  is provided so as to project in the −K 1 -axis direction of the operation member  53 . 
     The liquid supply portion  57  has the center axis CT. The center axis CT is parallel with the K 1 -axis direction. Here, of the K 1 -axis direction, the direction extending from the liquid supply port  572  toward the supply connection portion  573  is a +K 1 -axis direction, and the direction extending from the supply connection portion  573  toward the liquid supply port  572  is a −K 1 -axis direction. The liquid supply unit  55  having the above-described configuration guides the ink contained in the liquid containing body  50  from the liquid containing body  50  to the outside in cooperation with the flow path member  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the holding face  541  is arranged on the side in a direction (+Z-axis direction) vertical to the direction (K 1 -axis direction) of the center axis CT of the liquid supply portion  57 . The operation member  53  including the holding face  541  is provided so as to be offset in the direction of the center axis CT with respect to the liquid supply port  572 . In other words, when the liquid containing body  50  is viewed from the side in the direction that is orthogonal to the holding face  541  and extends from the liquid supply port  57  toward the holding face  541  (+Z-axis direction), the liquid supply port  572  is arranged at a position that does not overlap the holding face  541  (operation member  53 ). That is to say, when the liquid containing body  50  is projected onto a plane parallel with the holding face  541 , the holding face  541  and the liquid supply port  572  are in a positional relationship in which they do not overlap each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , in an unused liquid containing body  50 , the liquid supply port  572  is closed by a film  99 . It is thereby possible to suppress leakage of the ink from the liquid supply port  572  to the outside before the liquid containing body  50  is attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30  ( FIG. 5 ). The film  99  is torn by the liquid introduction portion  362  ( FIG. 5 ) when the liquid containing body  50  is attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17A , a valve mechanism  551  for opening and closing a liquid flow path formed by the liquid supply portion  57  is arranged within the liquid supply portion  57 . The valve mechanism  551  includes a valve seat  552 , a valve body  554 , and a spring  556 . The valve seat  552 , the valve body  554 , and the spring  556  are housed in this order within the liquid supply portion  57  from the liquid supply port  572  toward the supply connection portion  573  in the liquid supply portion  57 . 
     The valve seat  552  is a substantially ring-shaped member. The valve seat  552  is constituted by an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer, for example. The valve seat  552  is press-fit to the inside of the liquid supply portion  57 . The valve body  554  is a member having a substantially circular column shape. The valve body  554  blocks a hole (valve hole) formed in the valve seat  552  in a state before the liquid containing body  50  is attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 . The spring  556  is a compression coil spring. The spring  556  biases the valve body  554  in a direction extending toward the side of the valve seat  552 . In the attached state of the liquid containing body  50 , the valve body  554  moves toward the side of the supply connection portion  573  by the liquid introduction portion  362  ( FIG. 5 ) pressing the valve body  554  toward the side of the supply connection portion  573 . The valve body  554  thereby moves away from the valve seat  552 , and the valve mechanism  551  enters an open state. When the valve mechanism  551  is in an open state, the ink contained in the liquid containing portion  52  ( FIG. 7 ) can flow to the outside through the flow path member  70 , and an inner flow path  558  and the liquid supply portion  57  in the operation member  53 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the positioning portion  56  positions the liquid containing body  50  including the liquid supply port  572  with respect to the printer  10  to some extent when the liquid containing body  50  (liquid containing body) is connected to the printer  10 . The positioning portion  56  is integrally provided with the operation member  53 . In this embodiment, the positioning portion  56  is integrally provided with the operation member  53  by being produced together with the operation member  53  by integral molding. Here, “to be integrally provided” means that the positioning portion  56  is provided in the operation member  53  so as to move with the movement of the operation member  53 . In another embodiment, the positioning portion  56  may be integrally provided with the operation member  53  by attaching the positioning portion  56  to the operation member  53  by adhesion or the like. Although the positioning portion  56  is provided near the liquid supply port  572  so as to surround the liquid supply port  572  in the circumferential direction excluding the upper side thereof, if the operation member  53  is made of a material that does not easily deform, the positioning portion  56  may be provided at a position on the operation member  53  that is slightly separate from the liquid supply port  572 . The positioning portion  56  projects in the −K 1 -axis direction from the operation member  53 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the positioning portion  56  is arranged near the liquid supply port  572 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 13 , at least a part of the positioning portion  56  is provided on the side of the liquid containing portion  52  ( FIG. 7 ) (the side in the −Z-axis direction) with respect to the liquid supply port  572 . In this embodiment, the positioning portion  56  is arranged at the periphery of the liquid supply portion  57  with the center axis CT as the center. Specifically, the positioning portion  56  is arranged at the periphery of the liquid supply portion  57  excluding the periphery thereof on the side of the holding portion  54 . The positioning portion  56  is arranged within the supply portion support portion  42  provided in the attachment/detachment unit  30  ( FIG. 5 ), when the liquid containing body  50  is connected to the printer  10 . Movement of the liquid supply portion  57  is thereby restricted as a result of a plurality of face portions (e.g., the first support face portion  402 , the second support face portion  403 , and the third support face portion  404  shown in  FIG. 5 ) that demarcate and form the supply portion support portion  42  abutting against the positioning portion  56 , and the liquid containing body  50  is positioned to some extent. Thereafter, the liquid supply port  572  is connected to the liquid introduction portion  362  in a state of having been positioned by protrusions  577   a  to  577   d  ( FIGS. 9 to 11 ) each serving as a containing body-side positioning portion. The protrusions  577   a  to  577   d  are provided in the outer circumference of the liquid supply portion  57  with the center axis CT as the center. The protrusions  577   a  to  577   d  are provided in the liquid supply portion  57  at upper, lower, left, and right positions of the liquid supply port  572 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a first protrusion  577   a  is arranged at a part of the liquid supply portion  57  on the side in the upward direction with respect to the gravity (the side in the +Z-axis direction). A second protrusion  577   b  is arranged in a part of the liquid supply portion  57  on the side in the −K 2 -axis direction. As shown in  FIG. 10 , a third protrusion  577   c  is arranged in a part of the liquid supply portion  57  on the side in the +K 2 -axis direction. As shown in  FIG. 11 , a fourth protrusion  577   d  is arranged in a part of the liquid supply portion  57  on the side in the downward direction with respect to the gravity (the side in the −Z-axis direction). Note that a reference numeral “ 577 ” will be used when not distinguishing among the first to fourth protrusions  577   a  to  577   d.    
     The liquid supply unit  55  has a function of supplying the ink contained in the liquid containing portion  52  ( FIG. 7 ) to the printer  10 . Accordingly, the liquid supply unit  55  can be considered to be a “liquid supply portion”. In this case, the liquid supply unit  55  serving as the liquid supply portion has the liquid supply portion  57  having the liquid supply port  572  at one end, and the positioning portion  56 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the board unit (containing body-side electric connection portion)  58  includes the circuit board  582  and the circuit board holding portion  59 . The board unit  58  is provided so as to project in the −K 1 -axis direction of the operation member  53 . The protruding direction of the board unit  58  is the same as the protruding direction (−K 1 -axis direction) of the liquid supply portion  57 . Note that the protruding direction of the board unit  58  and the protruding direction of the liquid supply portion  57  may not be the same, and need only be substantially parallel with each other. Also, the board unit  58  and the liquid supply portion  57  protrude from the operation member  53  toward the same side (the side in the −K 1 -axis direction) with respect to the operation member  53 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the board unit  58  and the liquid supply unit  55  are provided side-by-side in a direction parallel with the holding face  541 . Specifically, the board unit  58  and the liquid supply unit  55  are arranged side-by-side in the K 2 -axis direction that is parallel with the holding face  541  and orthogonal to the center axis CT. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the circuit board holding portion  59  positions the circuit board  582  with respect to the printer  10  when the liquid containing body  50  is connected to the printer  10 . The circuit board holding portion  59  is integrally provided with the operation member  53 . In this embodiment, the circuit board holding portion  59  is integrally provided with the operation member  53  by being produced together with the operation member  53  by integral molding. Here, “to be integrally provided” means that the circuit board holding portion  59  is provided in the operation member  53  so as to move with the movement of the operation member  53 . In another embodiment, it should be noted that the circuit board holding portion  59  may be integrally provided with the operation member  53  by attaching the circuit board holding portion  59  to the operation member  53  by adhesion or the like. 
     The circuit board holding portion  59  has a dent shape opening on the side in the +Z-axis direction (the side on which the holding portion  54  is located). A bottom portion  594  of the dent shape inclines with respect to the holding face  541  ( FIG. 11 ). As a result of the circuit board  582  being attached to the bottom portion  594 , the circuit board  582  is held by the circuit board holding portion  59  so as to incline as mentioned above. At least a part (the bottom portion  594 ) of the circuit board holding portion  59  is provided on the side of the liquid containing portion  52  ( FIG. 7 ) (the side in the −Z-axis direction) with respect to the circuit board  582 . That is to say, at least a part (the bottom portion  594 ) of the board unit (containing body-side electric connection portion)  58  that is different from contact portions cp ( FIG. 17B ) is provided on the side of the liquid containing portion  52  with respect to the contact portions cp. 
     The circuit board holding portion  59  has a first side wall portion  592  and a second side wall portion  593  that extend from both sides of the bottom portion  594  in the K 2 -axis direction toward the side in the +Z-axis direction. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the first side wall portion  592  has a groove portion  592 t. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the second side wall portion  593  has a groove portion  593 t. When the liquid containing body  50  is connected to the printer  10 , the circuit board holding portion  59  is first supported by the board support portion  48  ( FIG. 5 ). The circuit board holding portion  59  and the circuit board  582  are thereby positioned with respect to the apparatus-side terminals  381  ( FIG. 5 ) to some extent. Then, by moving the movable member  40  of the attachment/detachment unit  30  shown in  FIG. 5  in the −K 1 -axis direction, the apparatus-side positioning portion  385  shown in  FIG. 6  enters the groove portion  593 t ( FIG. 9 ) of the circuit board holding portion  59 , and the apparatus-side board positioning portion  384  shown in  FIG. 6  enters the groove portion  592 t ( FIG. 10 ) of the circuit board holding portion  59 . The circuit board holding portion  59  and the circuit board  582  are thereby positioned with respect to the apparatus-side terminals  381 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the circuit board  582  has the plurality of terminals  581  on the surface. In this embodiment, nine terminals  581  are provided so as to correspond to the number of (nine) apparatus-side terminals  381 . In this embodiment, the outer shape of each terminal  581  is a substantially rectangular shape. A storage device  583  ( FIG. 17C ) is arranged on the back face of the circuit board  582 . The storage device  583  stores information (e.g., the amount of remaining ink, ink color) regarding the liquid containing body  50 . The storage device  583  is electrically connected to the plurality of terminals  581 . In the attached state, the plurality of terminals  581  are electrically connected to the respective apparatus-side terminals  381  ( FIG. 6 ) in the electric connection portion  382  provided in the printer  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17B , a boss groove  584  is formed in an upper end portion  586  of the circuit board  582  on the side in the +Z-axis direction, and a boss hole  585  is formed in a lower end portion  587  of the circuit board  582  on the side in the −Z-axis direction. The circuit board  582  is fixed to the bottom portion (arrangement portion)  594  using the boss groove  584  and the boss hole  585 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17B and 17C , the circuit board  582  has a liquid containing body-side terminal group  580  provided in a front face  582   fa , and the storage device  583  provided on a back face  582   fb . The front face  582   fa  and the back face  582   fb  are flat surfaces. 
     The liquid containing body-side terminal group  580  includes nine terminals  581 A to  5811 . The storage device  583  stores information (e.g., the amount of remaining ink, ink color) and the like regarding the liquid containing body  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17B , the nine liquid containing body-side terminals  581 A to  5811  are each formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and are arranged so as to form two lines Ln 1  and Ln 2  at different positions in the Z-axis direction. The lines Ln 1  and Ln 2  are parallel with the K 2 -axis direction. 
     The liquid containing body-side terminals  581 A to  581 I each have, at the center thereof, a contact portion cp that comes into contact with the corresponding apparatus-side terminal  381  ( FIG. 6 ). The above lines Ln 1  and Ln 2  can be considered to be lines formed by the plurality of contact portions cp. Note that a reference numeral “ 581 ” will be used when not distinguishing among the nine liquid containing body-side terminals  581 A to  5811 . Regarding the relationship between the attachment/detachment unit  30  and the contact point mechanism  38 , the plurality of liquid containing body-side terminals  581  in the liquid containing body  50  can come into contact with the plurality of apparatus-side terminals  381  that the contact point mechanism  38  has, and are provided in the operation member  53 . 
     Thus, the containing body-side electric connection portion  58  has the contact portions cp capable of coming into contact with the apparatus-side electric connection portion  382 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the containing body-side electric connection portion  58  is integrally provided with the operation member  53 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the holding face  541  is arranged on the side in a direction (+Z-axis direction) vertical to the direction of the center axis CT of the liquid supply portion  57 . The board unit  58  serving as the containing body-side electric connection portion is provided so as to be offset in the direction of the center axis CT with respect to the operation member  53  including the holding face  541 . In other words, when the liquid containing body  50  is viewed from the side in the direction (+Z-axis direction) that is orthogonal to the holding face  541  and extends from the liquid supply portion  57  toward the holding face  541 , the board unit  58  is arranged at a position that does not overlap the holding face  541  (operation member  53 ). That is to say, when the liquid containing body  50  is projected onto a plane parallel with the holding face  541 , the holding face  541  and the board unit  58  are in a positional relationship in which they do not overlap each other. In this case, at least the circuit board  582  of the board unit  58  need only be arranged at a position that does not overlap the holding face  541  (the operation member  53 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 12 , it is assumed that the side of the operation member  53  in the −K 1 -axis direction is a first side  53   fa , and the side of the operation member  53  on the side in the +K 1 -axis direction that is opposite to the first side  53   fa  is a second side  53   fb . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the circuit board holding portion  59  (the board unit  58 ) and the positioning portion  56  are provided on the same side, i.e., the first side  53   fa.    
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the press portion  545  is provided on the second side  53   fb  that is opposed to the positioning portion  56  and the circuit board holding portion  59  (the board unit  58 ) with the operation member  53  therebetween. That is to say, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the positioning portion  56  and the circuit board holding portion  59  are provided on the surface of the base portion  548  on the first side  53   fa , and on the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the press portion  545  is provided on the surface of the base portion  548  on the second side  53   fb . Also, as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , at least a part of the press portion  545  is opposed to the positioning portion  56  and the circuit board holding portion  59  with the operation member  53  therebetween. 
     The press portion  545  is a portion to be pressed by the user when connecting the liquid containing body  50  to the printer  10 . That is to say, the press portion  545  is a portion to be manually pressed. As a result of the press portion  545  being pressed toward the side in the −K 1 -axis direction, the movable member  40  ( FIG. 6 ) to which the liquid containing body  50  is set is moved toward the side in the −K 1 -axis direction. 
     The press portion  545  is provided so as to project from the operation member  53  in the +K 1 -axis direction. Thereby, the press portion  545  can be easily distinguished from other portions, and it is possible to prompt the user to perform an operation of pressing the press portion  545  when connecting the liquid containing body  50  to the printer  10 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , when the operation member  53  is viewed in a direction parallel with the K 1 -axis direction, a part of the outer shape of the press portion  545  protrudes outward of the base portion  548 . The surface area of the press portion  545  can thereby be increased, and accordingly the user can easily press the press portion  545 . 
     The operation member  53 , the circuit board holding portion  59 , the positioning portion  56 , the liquid supply portion  57 , and the press portion  545  may be formed by the same material, or may be formed by different materials in accordance with the usage. The material of the operation member  53  may be a synthetic resin such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or ABS resin, for example. 
     A-4. Method for Attaching Liquid Containing Body  50  to Attachment/Detachment Unit  30   
       FIG. 18  is a view of the liquid containing body  50  when being set to the attachment/detachment unit  30 .  FIG. 19  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line F 18 -F 18  in  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 20  is a view of the liquid containing body  50  when being attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 .  FIG. 21  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line F 20 -F 20  in  FIG. 20 . The state of the attachment/detachment unit  30  shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19  is the first state as in  FIG. 5 . The state of the attachment/detachment unit  30  shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21  is the second state as in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , when attaching the liquid containing body  50  to the attachment/detachment unit  30 , two operations are performed, which are an operation (a setting operation or a first operation) of moving the liquid containing body  50  in a setting direction, and an operation (a connecting operation or a second operation) of moving the liquid containing body  50  in a connecting direction. The setting direction is a direction including a component in the vertically downward direction (the −Z-axis direction). In this embodiment, the setting direction is the vertically downward direction. 
     The user sets the liquid containing body  50  to the movable member  40  of the attachment/detachment unit  30  that is in the first state. Specifically, the user holds the holding portion  54  in a state where the operation member  53  is further on the side in the vertically upward direction than the liquid containing portion  52 . Then, as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the user arranges the positioning portion  56  of the liquid containing body  50  into the supply portion support portion  42 , and arranges the circuit board holding portion  59  within the board support portion  48 . 
     After the liquid containing body  50  is set to the movable member  40 , the user presses the press portion  545  in the −K-axis direction toward the movable member  40 , as indicated by arrow F in  FIG. 19 . The liquid containing body  50  and the movable member  40  thereby move in the connecting direction (the −K 1 -axis direction). 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , in the second state of the attachment/detachment unit  30  with the movable member  40  housed in the fixed member  35 , the liquid introduction portion  362  ( FIG. 19 ) is inserted (connected) to the inside of the liquid supply portion  57 . In the second state, the circuit board  582  is electrically connected to the electric connection portion  382  as a result of the terminals  581  ( FIG. 13 ) of the circuit board  582  coming into contact with the apparatus-side terminals  381  ( FIG. 6 ) of the electric connection portion  382 . 
     The aforementioned connection of the liquid introduction portion  362  of the attachment/detachment unit  30  to the liquid supply portion  57  of the liquid containing body  50  and the electric connection between the circuit board  582  of the liquid containing body  50  and the electric connection portion  382  of the attachment/detachment unit  30  are simultaneously performed when attaching the liquid containing body  50 . When attaching the liquid containing body  50 , the attachment/detachment unit  30  supports a part, i.e., an upper end of the liquid containing body  50  in a state where the liquid containing body  50  is exposed, as shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . 
     Next, a state of attaching the liquid containing body  50  to the attachment/detachment unit  30  as viewed from another direction will be described.  FIG. 22  is a first illustrative view showing an initial state of an operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed from vertically above the printer  10 .  FIG. 23  is a second illustrative view showing a latter state of the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed from vertically above the printer  10 .  FIG. 24  is a third illustrative view showing the initial state of the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed in the −K 1 -axis direction.  FIG. 25  is a fourth illustrative view showing a state of an operation in a setting direction in  FIG. 19  in the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed in the −K 1 -axis direction.  FIG. 26  is a fifth illustrative view showing a complete state of the operation in the setting direction in  FIG. 19  in the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50  as viewed in the −K 1 -axis direction. 
       FIGS. 22 and 23  show, in the embodiment in which the printer  10  has, on the right side wall  106 , the attachment/detachment units  30  for the respective colors, namely cyan, magenta, and yellow, a state of newly attaching the liquid containing body  50 M to the attachment/detachment unit  30 M at the center as viewed from vertically above the printer  10 . As shown in the drawings, before attaching the liquid containing body  50 M, the liquid containing body  50 Y and the liquid containing body  50 C are already attached respectively to the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y located further on the side of the apparatus first face  102  (apparatus front face  102 ) and the attachment/detachment unit  30 C further on the side separate from the apparatus front face  102  than the attachment/detachment unit  30 M that is to be attached. In this state, the user holds the holding portion  54  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) of the operation member  53  located further on the upper end side than the liquid containing portion  52  in the new liquid containing body  50 M. Next, the user moves the liquid containing body  50 M from the side of the apparatus front face  102  to the side of the attachment/detachment unit  30 M while holding the holding portion  54 , and causes the operation member  53  to face the attachment/detachment unit  30 M. A first moving operation  51 SM by far is an operation along a roughly linear trajectory as shown in  FIGS. 22 to 24 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 , in addition to the attachment/detachment unit  30 M, the attachment/detachment unit  30 C and the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y are also located on the side of the right side wall  106 . The K 1  axis along which the center axis CT of the liquid introduction portion  362  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of the liquid introduction mechanism  36  of each unit extends forms the angle a 1  in the clockwise direction with respect to the right side wall  106  when the printer  10  is viewed from vertically above, and this angle a 1  in this embodiment is 68 degrees, which is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees. For this reason, the liquid containing body  50 C that is already attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 C and the liquid containing body  50 Y that is already attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y are orthogonal to the K 1  axis that inclines with respect to the right side wall  106  as mentioned above, and take an inclined posture with which peripheral ends on the side separate from the apparatus front face  102  are close to the right side wall  106 , and peripheral ends on the side of the apparatus first face  102  are separated from the right side wall  106 . 
     The attachment/detachment unit  30 Y on the side of the apparatus front face  102  and the liquid containing body  50 Y that is already attached thereto take the above-described inclined posture, and accordingly do not at all interfere with the trajectory of the aforementioned first moving operation  51 SM. The attachment/detachment unit  30 C separate from the side of the apparatus front face  102  and the liquid containing body  50 C that is already attached thereto also take the above-described inclined posture, and accordingly do not interfere with the liquid containing body  50 M that faces the attachment/detachment unit  30 M when the first moving operation  51 SM is completed. The liquid containing body  50 M that is to be attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 M and held by the user takes the above-described inclined posture, and therefore moves along the trajectory of the first moving operation  51 SM in a state where the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  of the liquid containing body  50 M are oriented to the side of the apparatus front face  102 . Accordingly, the user who performs the moving operation from the side of the apparatus front face  102  can view the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  of the held liquid containing body  50 M while performing the first moving operation  51 SM. 
     After causing the operation member  53  to face the attachment/detachment unit  30 M, the user performs a second moving operation  52 SM of bringing the operation member  53  close to the movable member  40  of the attachment/detachment unit  30 M that is in the first state in  FIG. 5 , while keeping the posture of holding the holding portion  54 . This second moving operation  52 SM ends as a result of connection of the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  to the liquid introduction mechanism  36  and the board support portion  48  of the movable member  40  being enabled as shown in  FIG. 25 . During this second moving operation  52 SM as well, the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  are oriented to the side of the apparatus first face  102  by the aforementioned inclined posture in the liquid containing body  50 M, allowing the user to view. Then, the user also views the supply portion support portion  42  and the board support portion  48  of the movable member  40  in the attachment/detachment unit  30 M while performing the second moving operation  52 SM. 
     After completing this second moving operation  52 SM, the user moves (setting movement) the liquid containing body  50 M together with the operation member  53  in the setting direction shown in  FIGS. 19 and 25  while keeping the posture of holding the holding portion  54 . As a result of this setting movement, a state is achieved where the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  can be connected to the liquid introduction mechanism  36  and the board support portion  48  of the movable member  40 . The user views the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  of the liquid containing body  50 M and the supply portion support portion  42  and the board support portion  48  of the movable member  40  while performing this setting movement as well. Thereafter, the user presses the press portion  545  such that the liquid containing body  50  moves together with the movable member  40  in a connecting direction shown in  FIG. 19 , in order to achieve connection between the liquid introduction portion  362  on the side of the attachment/detachment unit  30 M and the liquid supply portion  57  on the side of the liquid containing body  50 M, and connection between the contact point mechanism  38  on the side of the attachment/detachment unit  30 M and the circuit board  582  on the side of the liquid containing body  50 M. As a result of this pressing, the liquid supply portion  57  and the circuit board  582  on the side of the liquid containing body  50 M are simultaneously connected to the liquid introduction portion  362  and the contact point mechanism  38  on the side of the attachment/detachment unit  30 M, and the movable member  40  also moves in the −K 1 -axis direction and is locked. Replacement of the liquid containing body  50 M thereby ends. 
     A-5. Effects 
     The liquid consuming system  1000  in this embodiment that has the above-described configuration has the liquid supply apparatus  20  for the ink of the respective colors, namely cyan, magenta, and yellow, on the right side wall  106  when the printer  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) is viewed from vertically above. The liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment has the attachment/detachment unit  30 C, the attachment/detachment unit  30 M, and the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y for the ink of the respective colors in an inclined manner such that the K 1  axis (the center axis CL) along which the liquid introduction portion  362  of each unit extends for liquid introduction forms the angle a 1  of 68 degrees, which is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees, in the clockwise direction with respect to the right side wall  106  (see  FIGS. 22 and 23 ). With this liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment, for example, in order to attach a new liquid containing body  50 M to the attachment/detachment unit  30 M sandwiched between the attachment/detachment unit  30 C and the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y on the right side wall  106 , it is necessary to perform the first moving operation  51 SM, which is along a roughly linear trajectory, of moving the liquid containing body  50 M from the side of the apparatus front face  102  to the side of the attachment/detachment unit  30 M while holding the holding portion  54  and causing the operation member  53  to face the attachment/detachment unit  30 M, the second moving operation  52 SM, which is along a roughly linear trajectory, of bringing the operation member  53  close to the movable member  40  of the attachment/detachment unit  30 M, a setting movement operation of setting the operation member  53  into the movable member  40 , and a locking operation of pressing and locking the movable member  40  to which the operation member  53  is already set. 
     Among the above operations, both the first moving operation  51 SM and the second moving operation  52 SM are operations performed along roughly linear trajectories until the liquid containing body  50  is connected to the attachment/detachment unit  30 M, and an operation with a trajectory that detours the liquid containing body  50 Y that is already attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y on the side of the apparatus front face  102  is not necessary. Accordingly, with the liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment, the user can execute the first moving operation  51 SM and the second moving operation  52 SM as a series of operations without changing the holding posture of holding the operation member  53 , and accordingly the operation of attaching the liquid containing body  50 M is facilitated. Furthermore, the space of the housing space portion  26  for the operation of connecting the liquid containing body  50  can also be reduced. 
     The liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment has the attachment/detachment units  30  for the ink of the aforementioned respective colors in an inclined manner with respect to the right side wall  106  as already described. Therefore, the liquid containing body  50 C that is already attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 C and the liquid containing body  50 Y that is already attached to the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y are caused to be orthogonal to the K 1  axis that inclines with respect to the right side wall  106  and take an inclined posture with which peripheral ends on the side separate from the apparatus front face  102  are close to the right side wall  106  and peripheral ends on the side of the apparatus front face  102  are separate from the right side wall  106 . With this configuration, the liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment does not at all cause the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y on the side of the apparatus front face  102  and the liquid containing body  50 Y that is already attached thereto to interfere with the trajectory of the aforementioned first moving operation  51 SM for attaching the liquid containing body  50 M. The attachment/detachment unit  30 C separate from the side of the apparatus front face  102  and the liquid containing body  50 C that is already attached thereto also take the above-described inclined posture, and accordingly do not interfere with the liquid containing body  50 M that faces the attachment/detachment unit  30 M when the first moving operation  51 SM is completed. For this reason as well, with the liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment, the first moving operation  51 SM and the second moving operation  52 SM that are along roughly linear trajectories need only be performed without considering interference with other liquid containing bodies  50 , and therefore the attaching operation can be made convenient. 
     Since the liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment has the attachment/detachment units  30  for the ink of the respective colors in an inclined manner with respect to the right side wall  106  as described above, the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  of the liquid containing body  50  to be attached and held by the user, e.g., the liquid containing body  50 M are set to a state of being oriented to the side of the apparatus front face  102 . Accordingly, with the liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment, the user on the side of the apparatus front face  102  is caused to view the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  of the held liquid containing body  50 M while performing the first moving operation  51 SM, the second moving operation  52 SM, and the following setting operation described above. Accordingly, each of the above operations is more reliable and easy. 
     The aforementioned ease of the operations is achieved not only when attaching the liquid containing body  50 M but also when attaching the liquid containing body  50 Y to the attachment/detachment unit  30 Y on the side of the apparatus front face  102  and when attaching the liquid containing body  50 C to the attachment/detachment unit  30 C on the side separate from the apparatus front face  102 . 
     In the liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment, the liquid containing body  50  is supported using the fixed member  35  of the attachment/detachment unit  30  without using a casing, and at the time of the supporting, a part of the liquid containing body  50  is supported, rather than the entire liquid containing body  50 . More specifically, the liquid containing body  50  is supported at the upper end thereof. Accordingly, with the liquid supply apparatuses  20  in this embodiment, the structure for supporting the liquid containing body  50  can be simplified as compared with a configuration in which the liquid containing portion is supported using a casing. It is possible, through this simplification of the configuration, to reduce the number of parts, and also suppress an increase in the size and complication of the system. 
     In addition, the following advantages can be achieved with the liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment. The liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment integrally includes the positioning portion  56  and the containing body-side electric connection portion  58  in the operation member  53 . Accordingly, with the liquid supply apparatus  20  in this embodiment, the liquid containing body  50  can be operated while holding the operation member  53  when connecting the liquid containing body  50  to the printer  10 . Therefore, the operability is better than a liquid containing body that does not have the operation member  53 . Moreover, it is possible to simultaneously achieve insertion of the liquid introduction portion  362  of the attachment/detachment unit  30  into the liquid supply portion  57  of the liquid containing body  50  and electric connection between the terminals of the circuit board  582  of the liquid containing body  50  and the electric connection portion  382  of the contact point mechanism  38  in the attachment/detachment unit  30 , which is convenient. 
     B. Second Embodiment 
     B-1. Configuration and Effects of Liquid Supply Apparatus 
       FIG. 27  is an illustrative view showing a liquid supply apparatus  2051  in a second embodiment as viewed from vertically above the printer  10 . In the following description, the same members as those in the already-described liquid supply apparatus  20  will be given the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 27 , the liquid supply apparatus  2051  in this embodiment has liquid containing bodies  50  for ink of respective colors, namely cyan, magenta, and yellow, which are attached to attachment/detachment units  30  in a housing space portion  26  on a left side wall  104  when the printer  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) is viewed from vertically above. The liquid supply apparatus  2051  in this embodiment has an attachment/detachment unit  30 C, an attachment/detachment unit  30 M, and an attachment/detachment unit  30 Y for the ink of the respective colors in an inclined manner such that a K 1  axis (the center axis CL) along which a liquid introduction portion  362  of each unit extends for liquid introduction forms an angle a 2  of 68 degrees, which is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees, in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the left side wall  104 . With the liquid supply apparatus  20 S 1  in this embodiment as well, the operation of attaching the liquid containing bodies  50  can be easily performed, as with the already-described liquid supply apparatus  20 . 
     C. Modifications 
     Note that the invention is not limited to the above examples and embodiments, and may be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, the following modifications are possible. 
     C-1. First Modification 
     In the above-described embodiments, the overall region of each liquid containing portion  52  is formed by a flexible member. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the liquid containing portion  52  need only be able to function as a liquid containing portion capable of containing liquid inside. For example, the liquid containing portion  52  may be partially formed by a flexible member, or may be formed by a rigid member whose volume does not change regardless of the amount of consumed liquid. 
     C-2. Second Modification 
     In the above embodiments, the operation member  53  has a frame shape ( FIG. 13 ). However, the shape thereof is not limited thereto, and may be a shape that can be held by the user. For example, the operation member  53  may be a bar shape (plate shape) extending in the Z-axis direction. 
     C-3. Third Modification 
     The invention is applicable not only to an inkjet printer and a liquid containing body  50  thereof, but also to any printer (liquid consuming apparatus) that ejects liquid other than ink, and a liquid containing body for containing this liquid. For example, the invention is applicable to various liquid consuming apparatuses as listed below and liquid containing bodies thereof. 
     (1) Image recording apparatuses such as a facsimile apparatus 
     (2) Color material ejection apparatuses used to manufacture color filters for image display apparatuses such as a liquid crystal display 
     (3) Electrode material ejection apparatuses used to form electrodes for organic EL (Electro Luminescence) displays, field emission displays (FED), and the like 
     (4) Liquid consuming apparatuses that eject liquid containing biological organic matter used to manufacture biochips 
     (5) Sample ejection apparatuses serving as precision pipettes 
     (6) Lubricating oil ejection apparatuses 
     (7) Resin solution ejection apparatuses 
     (8) Liquid consuming apparatuses that perform pinpoint ejection of lubricating oil to precision machines such as a watch and a camera 
     (9) Liquid consuming apparatuses that eject transparent resin solution such as UV-cured resin solution onto substrates in order to form micro-hemisphere lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements and the like 
     (10) Liquid consuming apparatuses that eject acid or alkaline etchant in order to etch substrates and the like 
     (11) Liquid consuming apparatuses including liquid ejection heads for discharging a very small amount of any other kinds of droplet 
     Note that the “droplet” refers to a state of the liquid discharged from a liquid consuming apparatus, and includes droplets having a granular shape, a tear-drop shape, and a shape having a thread-like trailing end. Furthermore, the “liquid” mentioned here need only be any kind of material that can be ejected by a liquid consuming apparatus. For example, the “liquid” need only be a material in a state where a substance is in a liquid phase, and a liquid material having a high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, and other liquid materials such as inorganic solvent, organic solvent, solution, liquid resin, and liquid metal (metallic melt) are also included in the “liquid”. Furthermore, the “liquid” is not limited to being a one-state substance, and also includes particles of a functional material made from solid matter, such as pigment or metal particles, that are dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent, and the like. Representative examples of the liquid include ink such as that described in the above embodiments, liquid crystal, and the like. Here, the “ink” encompasses general water-based ink and oil-based ink, as well as various types of liquid compositions such as gel ink and hot melt-ink. When UV ink that can be cured by radiating ultraviolet thereto is contained in this liquid containing body and connected to a printer, the liquid containing portion is separate from the installation surface, and accordingly it is less likely that heat on the installation surface is transmitted to the liquid containing portion and cures the UV ink. 
     C-4. Fourth Modification 
     In the above embodiments, the attachment/detachment units  30  to which the liquid containing bodies  50  for the ink of the respective colors, namely cyan, magenta, and yellow are attached are caused to take an inclined posture as described above. However, the independent attachment/detachment unit  30 K to which the liquid containing body  50 K for black ink is attached can also be caused to take an inclined posture. That is to say, in the case of a configuration in which the attachment/detachment unit  30 K is provided on the side of the left side wall  104 , the attachment/detachment unit  30 K need only be inclined clockwise with respect to the left side wall  104  as described above. In the case of a configuration in which the attachment/detachment unit  30 K is provided on the side of the right side wall  106 , the attachment/detachment unit  30 K need only be inclined counterclockwise with respect to the right side wall  106  as described above. 
     C-5. Fifth Modification 
     In the above embodiments, in a front view of each attachment/detachment unit  30  in the K 1 -axis direction, the liquid introduction mechanism  36  and the contact point mechanism  38  are provided side-by-side such that the liquid introduction mechanism  36  is located on the left side of the unit and the contact point mechanism  38  is located on the right side of the unit (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). However, the liquid introduction mechanism  36  may be located on the right side of the unit, and the contact point mechanism  38  may be located on the left side of the unit. In this case, the liquid supply unit  55  and the board unit  58  in the liquid containing body  50  need only be arranged in a reverse manner of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     C-6. Sixth Modification 
       FIG. 28  is a diagram for illustrating an electric connection body  50   a . In the above embodiments, each liquid containing body  50  includes the liquid containing portion  52  and the liquid supply portion  57  (see  FIGS. 7 and 9 ). However, these may be omitted and the electric connection body  50   a  may be provided. That is to say, the electric connection body  50   a  is a configuration that omits the liquid containing portion  52  and the liquid supply portion  57  in the liquid containing body  50 . The other configuration is similar to that of the liquid containing body  50 . When using this electric connection body  50   a , ink is supplied to the printer  10  from a tank (liquid reservoir source)  902  arranged outside for containing the ink, via a liquid flow tube (hose)  900  through which the tank  902  and the liquid introduction portion  362  are in communication with each other. With this configuration as well, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be achieved. For example, when connecting the electric connection body  50   a  to the printer  10 , the electric connection body  50   a  can be easily connected to the attachment/detachment unit  30  caused to take the already-described inclined posture through the already-described first moving operation  51 SM and second moving operation  52 SM while holding the operation member  53 . Accordingly, the operability is better than in the case where the operation member  53  is not provided. Note that the liquid flow tube (hose)  900  may be connected to the middle of a liquid flow tube that is connected to the liquid consuming apparatus, which is the printer  10 , from the liquid introduction portion  362 . 
     C-7. Seventh Modification 
     In the above embodiments, the containing body-side electric connection portion  58  includes the circuit board  582 . However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the containing body-side electric connection portion  58  need only have the contact portion cp that can come into contact with the apparatus-side electric connection portion  382 . For example, the circuit board  582  may not include the storage device  583 . For example, the containing body-side electric connection portion  58  may include a contact portion of a terminal that is used to detect attachment and detachment of the liquid containing body  50 . Furthermore, the containing body-side electric connection portion  58  may include a general circuit board including a flexible cable, such as a flexible print board (FPC). This circuit board has, on one end side, a contact portion that can come into contact with the apparatus-side electric connection portion  382 . The other end side is connected to a reset apparatus, for example. The above modification may be employed in place of the circuit board  582 , or may be employed together with the circuit board  582 . 
     The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, examples, and modifications, and can be achieved in various configurations without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, the technical features in the embodiments, examples, and modifications corresponding to the technical features in the modes described in the summary of the invention can be replaced or combined as appropriate in order to solve a part of or the entire problem described above, or in order to achieve some or all of the aforementioned effects. A technical feature that is not described as essential in the specification can be deleted as appropriate.