Patent Publication Number: US-2022227141-A1

Title: Recording apparatus

Description:
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/880,403, filed May 21, 2020, which claims priority to JP Application No. 2019-097494, filed May 24, 2019, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a recording apparatus for performing recording onto a recording medium. 
     2. Related Art 
     Various recording apparatuses, for example, ink jet printers are provided. Among such ink jet printers, some ink jet printers include a recording head for discharging an ink, which is an example liquid, onto a recording medium, and a liquid container for storing the ink to be supplied to the recording head. The liquid container can be refilled with the ink after the ink has been consumed by recording. 
     JP-A-2018-161851 discloses a recording apparatus that includes a liquid storage section that allows users to visually check a liquid level of an ink in the liquid storage section. The recording apparatus in JP-A-2018-161851 has a level check portion on a right end portion of an apparatus front side, and users can visually check a liquid level of the ink from the outside of the apparatus. 
     In refilling the liquid storage section with the ink, the user operates an operation panel, in particular, when the operation panel has a display device, the user operates the operation panel in accordance with a user interface that is displayed on the display device to refill the liquid storage section with the ink. The recording apparatus described in JP-A-2018-161851, however, is susceptible to improvement in efficiency in the operation panel operation and ink refilling operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure to solve the above-described problem, a recording apparatus includes a carriage configured to be moved in a first direction that is one of directions in a width direction intersecting a transport direction of a recording medium and in a second direction that is an opposite direction of the first direction, a liquid container provided on the carriage and in which a liquid is to be injected, the liquid container having a liquid level check portion through which a level of the liquid in the liquid container is visually checked, a recording head disposed in the carriage, the recording head into which the liquid is supplied from the liquid container, and the recording head being configured to discharge the liquid onto the recording medium, and an operation panel disposed on a side surface of the apparatus along the width direction. When the apparatus side surface is viewed from the front side, the operation panel and an exposure section through which the liquid level check portion is exposed are disposed such that the operation panel and the exposure section are visually checked, and the carriage is moved from a home position in which the carriage is capped by the recording head toward the exposure section and the operation panel and the liquid level check portion are arranged in the width direction when the apparatus side surface is viewed from the front side. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a printer in which a rear top cover, a front top cover, and a front cover are closed. 
         FIG. 2  is an external perspective view of a printer in which a rear top cover is open, and a front top cover and a front cover are closed. 
         FIG. 3  is an external perspective view of a printer in which a rear top cover and a front cover are closed, and a front top cover is open. 
         FIG. 4  is an external perspective view of a printer in which a rear top cover is closed, and a front top cover and a front cover are open. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a bottom of a printer. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a waste liquid cover that is open. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a left coupling section. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a right coupling section. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a slit into which a protrusion of a front top cover is inserted. 
         FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view of an apparatus in which a front top cover is open and a tilt panel is tilted. 
         FIG. 11  is a side cross-sectional view of a printer in which a rear top cover, a front top cover, and a front cover are closed. 
         FIG. 12  is a side cross-sectional view of a printer in which a rear top cover and a front top cover are closed. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of a part of the printer in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of a printer in which a front top cover and a front cover are closed. 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of a printer in which a front top cover and a front cover are closed. 
         FIG. 16  is a block diagram of a control system. 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart illustrating control processing performed by a controller in ink refilling. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a printer according to another embodiment in which a front top cover is open. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a holding member in which a front top cover is open. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of a holding member in which a front upper cover is open. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of a holding member in which a front upper cover is closed. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a printer according to another embodiment in which a front top cover is open and a cover member is detached. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a printer according to another embodiment in which a front top cover is open, a cover member is detached, and an upper cover of a carriage and an ink tank are detached. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, aspects of the present disclosure will be described. According to a first aspect, a recording apparatus includes a carriage configured to be moved in a first direction that is one of directions in a width direction intersecting a transport direction of a recording medium and in a second direction that is an opposite direction of the first direction, a liquid container provided on the carriage and in which a liquid is to be injected, the liquid container having a liquid level check portion through which a level of the liquid in the liquid container is visually checked, a recording head disposed in the carriage, the recording head into which the liquid is supplied from the liquid container, and the recording head being configured to discharge the liquid onto the recording medium, and an operation panel disposed on a side surface of the apparatus along the width direction. When the apparatus side surface is viewed from the front side, the operation panel and an exposure section through which the liquid level check portion is exposed are disposed such that the operation panel and the exposure section are visually checked, and the carriage is moved from a home position in which the carriage is capped by the recording head toward the exposure section and the operation panel and the liquid level check portion are arranged in the width direction when the apparatus side surface is viewed from the front side. 
     According to the aspect, when the apparatus side surface is viewed from the front side, the operation panel and an exposure section through which the liquid level check portion is exposed are disposed such that the operation panel and the exposure section are visually checked, and the carriage is moved from a home position toward the exposure section and the operation panel and the liquid level check portion are arranged in the width direction when the apparatus side surface is viewed from the front side. With this structure, in a liquid injection operation for injecting the liquid into the liquid container, the liquid level check portion becomes close to the operation panel, and thus the user turns his/her eyes less frequently while operating the operation panel and injecting the liquid. Accordingly, the user can more readily inject the liquid. 
     In a second aspect, in the first aspect, when the apparatus side surface is viewed from the front side, from an end portion in the second direction toward the first direction, the operation panel, the exposure section, and the home position may be disposed in this order. 
     In a third aspect, in the first or second aspect, above the carriage, a top cover that serves as a top panel of the apparatus when the top cover is closed and exposes an upper portion of the carriage when the top cover is open may be disposed. The top cover may have a side surface forming section that serves as the apparatus side surface together with the operation panel, and when the top cover is closed, the side surface forming section may cover the exposure section, and when the top cover is open, the side surface forming section may expose the exposure section. 
     According to the aspect, the top cover has the side surface forming section, and when the top cover is closed, the side surface forming section covers the exposure section, and when the top cover is open, the side surface forming section exposes the exposure section. With this structure, dust can be prevented from entering the inside of the apparatus through the exposure section even though the exposure section has the opening. The exposure section that has the opening enables users to directly and visually check the liquid level check portion, and as compared with the exposure section made of, for example, a transparent plate, the visibility of the liquid level check portion can be increased and the liquid level can be visually and more reliably checked. Furthermore, in a case in which the side surface forming section is a single component and is opened or closed, in addition to an open/close operation of the top cover, an open/close operation of the side surface forming section is to be performed. However, since the side surface forming section is provided together with the top cover, the space above the carriage can be exposed and the exposure section can be exposed by a single operation, and thus the operability can be increased. 
     In a fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the exposure section may be a space between a first wall section located at an end in the first direction and a second wall section located in the second direction with respect to the first wall section, and the operation panel may be configured to be tilted with respect to the second wall section with a first hinge and a second hinge that is farther from the exposure section than the first hinge. 
     According to the aspect, in a structure in which the operation panel is configured to be tilted with respect to the second wall section with a first hinge and a second hinge that is farther from the exposure section than the first hinge, the operational effects according to the above-described first aspect or the second aspect can be obtained. 
     In a fifth aspect, in the fourth aspect, between the first hinge and the second hinge, the second hinge may be a torque hinge that is configured to keep a tilt angle of the operation panel. 
     According to the aspect, this structure has the exposure section, that is, a space in the first direction with respect to the second wall section, and the first direction side of the second wall section has no support and tends to be bent. Accordingly, if a torque hinge is used at this position, the second wall section may be bent due to the torque produced when the operation panel is tilted. However, in this aspect, between the first hinge and the second hinge, the second hinge that is farther from the exposure section is a torque hinge, and thus bending of the second wall section can be reduced in tilting the operation panel. 
     In a sixth aspect, in any one of the third to the fifth aspects, the side surface forming section may have a light emitting section configured to light up or blink to indicate a status of the apparatus. According to this aspect, the side surface forming section has a light emitting section configured to light up or blink to indicate a status of the apparatus, and thus the user can readily grasp the status of the apparatus. 
     In a seventh aspect, in the sixth aspect, the top cover may have a wire cover that covers a wire that is electrically coupled to the light emitting section, and the center of gravity of the wire cover may be close to a rotation shaft of the top cover. 
     According to the aspect, the top cover has a wire cover that covers a wire that is electrically coupled to the light emitting section, and the center of gravity of the wire cover is close to a rotation shaft of the top cover. With this structure, as compared with a structure in which the center of gravity of the wire cover is close to a free end of the top cover, the impact due to the top cover that is closed unintentionally can be suppressed. 
     In an eighth aspect, in any one of the third to the seventh aspects, the top cover may be configured to be opened from a closed state to an open limit by being turned to a rotation angle larger than 90°. According to this aspect, the top cover can be opened from a closed state to an open limit by being turned to a rotation angle larger than 90°, and thus the top cover can be reliably kept open. 
     In a ninth aspect, in any one of the third to the eighth aspects, the recording apparatus may further include an open/close sensor configured to detect a closed state of the top cover by being pressed by a protrusion on the side surface forming section. The open/close sensor may be disposed in a slit into which the protrusion is inserted, and in a state in which the top cover is closed, the protrusion may be engaged in the slit to regulate at least a position of the top cover in the width direction. 
     According to this aspect, the side surface forming section has a protrusion and in a state in which the top cover is closed, the protrusion is engaged in the slit to regulate at least a position of the top cover in the width direction. With this structure, rattling of the top cover can be suppressed. 
     In a tenth aspect, in any one of the third to the ninth aspects, the recording apparatus may further include an apparatus body having the carriage, and a document reading mechanism section having a reading section configured to read a document and a document transport section configured to transport the document to the reading section, the document reading mechanism section being disposed in an upper part of the apparatus body. The top cover is rotatably coupled to a frame of the document reading mechanism section. 
     According to this aspect, in the structure in which the top cover is rotatably coupled to a frame of the document reading mechanism section, any one the effects in the above-described second to eighth aspects can be achieved. 
     In an eleventh aspect, in any one of the third to the tenth aspects, the recording apparatus may further include a holding section configured to hold the top cover that is open. The holding section is disposed in the top cover, and includes a plunger configured to be slid in a direction of the radius of gyration of the top cover that is opened or closed by being turned, and a pressing member disposed in the top cover. The pressing member is configured to press the plunger, and the plunger is pressed against a contact portion disposed to face the plunger to hold the top cover that is open. 
     In a twelfth aspect, in any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the recording apparatus may further include a cover member that covers a part of an upper portion of the carriage along the moving direction of the carriage. The cover member has a notch in a portion in the moving direction of the carriage, and on the notch, a detachable cover member is disposed. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. In the drawings, an X-axis direction denotes an apparatus width direction. A −X direction denotes a right direction when viewed from a user who is facing an apparatus front side, and similarly, a +X direction denotes a left direction. In the embodiments, the −X direction is referred to as a first direction, and the +X direction is referred to as a second direction. Furthermore, the X-axis direction is a direction that intersects a sheet transport direction in an area facing a recording head  22  in an apparatus body  2 , which will be described below, that is, a sheet width direction. A Y-axis direction denotes an apparatus depth direction. A +Y direction denotes a direction from the apparatus rear side toward the apparatus front side, and a −Y direction denotes a direction from the apparatus front toward the apparatus rear side. In the embodiments, among side surfaces of the apparatus, a side surface that has a tilt panel  6  is referred to as the apparatus front side, and a side surface that is opposite to the apparatus front side is referred to as the apparatus rear side. Furthermore, in the Y-axis directions, the +Y direction is the sheet transport direction in the area facing the recording head  22  in the apparatus body  2 , which will be described below. A Z axis denotes a vertical direction, and a +Z direction denotes a vertically upward direction, and a −Z direction denotes a vertically downward direction. 
     In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an ink jet printer  1 , which is an example recording apparatus, is a multifunction peripheral that includes a reading mechanism section  3  that is disposed in an upper part of the apparatus body  2  and is configured to read a document. Hereinafter, the ink jet printer  1  is simply referred to as a “printer  1 ”. The apparatus body  2  has a function to perform recording onto a recording sheet, which is an example recording medium. The reading mechanism section  3  has a function to read a document. 
     Among the side surfaces of the apparatus body  2 , on the apparatus front side that is a side along the X-axis direction, the apparatus body  2  has the tilt panel  6 . The tilt panel  6  has a power button  8  to be used to turn on or off the power of the printer  1  and an operation section  7  to be used to perform various operations. The tilt panel  6  is an example operation panel. The operation section  7  includes a display section  7   a  that provides various kinds of information display. The color of the tilt panel  6  is darker than that of the apparatus body  2  (for example, white or a color close to white), for example, black or a color close to black. By the colors, the tilt panel  6  and the operation section  7  can be easily distinguished. The tilt panel  6  can be tilted by being turned around a left hinge  69 A and a right hinge  69 B illustrated in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 . The apparatus front side also includes a front cover  9 , and the front cover  9  can be turned around a rotation shaft  9   a  (see  FIG. 11 ) to a closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  or to an open position at which a discharge path for discharging a recorded recording sheet is exposed as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The apparatus body  2  includes a front top cover  4  that is a front side of a top surface and is used as a top cover. The front top cover  4  is rotatably coupled to a holding frame  54  of the reading mechanism section  3  at a left coupling section  59 A illustrated in  FIG. 7  and a right coupling section  59 B illustrated in  FIG. 8 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the left coupling section  59 A includes a left-shaft section  54   b  in the holding frame  54  and a left-shaft fitting section  4   c  in the front top cover  4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the right coupling section  59 B includes a right-shaft section  54   c  in the holding frame  54  and a right-shaft fitting section  4   d  in the front top cover  4 . The left-shaft section  54   b  and the right-shaft section  54   c  serve as a rotation shaft of the front top cover  4 . The front top cover  4  can be turned to a closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , and to an open position at which the inside of the apparatus body  2 , in particular, a carriage  60  is exposed as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . Opening the front top cover  4  allows the user, for example, to remove a stacked recording sheet or to refill an ink tank  61 , which serves as a liquid storage section described below, with ink. 
     The front top cover  4  is formed with a side surface forming section  4   b  in one piece. An upper surface  4   a  of the front top cover  4  and the side surface forming section  4   b  are at substantially right angles, and when the front top cover  4  is closed and the tilt panel  6  is closed, the surface of the side surface forming section  4   b  is flush with the surface of the tilt panel  6  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The side surface forming section  4   b  includes a status indication section  71 . The status indication section  71  is a light emitting section for indicating various states of the printer  1  by using a light emitting component such as a light-emitting diode (LED). For example, the status indication section  71  lights up when the power is turned on and blinks when an error occurs. The errors to be indicated by blinking of the status indication section  71  in this embodiment includes, for example, out of paper, a paper jam, out of ink, and waste liquid (described below) counter overflow. The error types may be indicated by different blinking intervals or different display colors. The status indication section  71  enables the user to readily grasp the status of the apparatus. The color of the status indication section  71  is darker than the color (for example, white or a color close to white) of the side surface forming section  4   b , for example, black or a color close to black to emphasize the light emission. Accordingly, the user can readily grasp the status of the apparatus. 
     The side surface forming section  4   b  has a sensor pressing portion  4   e  in a side portion in the +X direction as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 10 . The sensor pressing portion  4   e  is a protrusion and is inserted into a slit  68  illustrated in  FIG. 9  when the front top cover  4  is closed. The sensor pressing portion  4   e  that has been inserted into the slit  68  presses an open/close sensor  84  (see  FIG. 16 ) to inform a controller  80  (see  FIG. 16 ) of the printer  1  that the front top cover  4  has been closed. When the front top cover  4  is closed, the sensor pressing portion  4   e  is engaged in the slit  68 , and thereby the position of the front top cover  4  in the X-axis direction is regulated and thus rattling of the front top cover  4  in the X-axis direction can be suppressed. In this embodiment, the position of the front top cover  4  in the Y-axis direction is also regulated and rattling of the front top cover  4  in the Y-axis direction can also be suppressed. 
     Below the tilt panel  6  and the side surface forming section  4   b , the front cover  9  is openably and closably disposed.  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  illustrate the front cover  9  that is closed, and  FIG. 4  illustrates the front cover  9  that is open. When the front cover  9  is closed, the surface of the front cover  9 , the surface of the side surface forming section  4   b , and the surface of the tilt panel  6  are flush with each other, forming an apparatus side surface that extends vertically. Opening the front cover  9  allows the user to extend a discharge tray  29  that receives a recording sheet discharged toward the apparatus front side as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     On the rear side on the apparatus upper surface, a rear top cover  10  is disposed. The rear top cover  10  can be turned around a rotation shaft  10   c  (see  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 ) to a closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 11  or to an open position as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 12 . Opening the rear top cover  10  exposes the reading mechanism section  3  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , enabling the reading mechanism section  3  to perform reading processing. Furthermore, opening the rear top cover  10  enables the user to set recording paper onto a supporting member  12 . The arrow A in  FIG. 2  indicates a direction in which recording paper is set. 
     With reference to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , a path for transporting recording paper in the apparatus body  2  will be described. On the apparatus rear side, the supporting member  12  is disposed. A recording sheet to be fed is supported in an inclined state by the supporting member  12  and a sheet support surface  10   a  that is a rear side of the rear top cover  10  in an open state as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The supporting member  12  can swing about a pivot shaft (not illustrated), and the swinging of the supporting member  12  moves the supported recording sheet forward or backward with respect to a feeding roller  13 . 
     The feeding roller  13  is driven to rotate by a motor (not illustrated), and the rotating of the feeding roller  13  feeds the recording sheet downstream. A separation roller  14  that has a rotation resistance is disposed to face the feeding roller  13 . The separation roller  14  and the feeding roller  13  forms a nipping area therebetween to prevent or reduce multi-sheet feeding of recording sheets. The chain double-dashed line Pd in FIG.  12  indicates a trajectory of a recording sheet that is fed and transported by the feeding roller  13 . 
     The recording sheet that has been fed by the feeding roller  13  reaches a transport roller pair  17 . The transport roller pair  17  includes a drive roller  18  that is driven by a drive source (not illustrated) and a driven roller  19  that is driven to rotate. The recording sheet is nipped by the rollers and transported to an area facing the recording head  22 , that is, a recording area for recording, where recording is performed. 
     The carriage  60  that has the recording head  22  is powered by a power source (not illustrated) and reciprocated in the X-axis direction while being guided by a main frame  24  that extends in the X-axis direction. The recording head  22  discharges an ink onto a recording sheet as the carriage  60  moves. On the carriage  60 , the ink tank  61  is mounted, and from the ink tank  61 , an ink is supplied to the recording head  22 . The ink tank  61  according to the embodiment has an ink supply portion (not illustrated), and through the ink supply port, the ink tank  61  can be refilled with the ink. The refilling of the ink tank  61  with the ink will be described in detail below. 
     The main frame  24  is made of a metal plate, and has a vertical portion  24   a , a first horizontal portion  24   b , and a second horizontal portion  24   c . The vertical portion  24   a  serves as a frame surface that intersects the horizontal direction in side view. The first horizontal portion  24   b  is formed by bending an upper portion of the vertical portion  24   a . The second horizontal portion  24   c  is formed by bending a lower portion of the vertical portion  24   a . The vertical portion  24   a  according to the embodiment extends along a vertical plane. The first horizontal portion  24   b  and the second horizontal portion  24   c  according to the embodiment extend along a horizontal plane. In the main frame  24 , a +Y-direction end portion of the first horizontal portion  24   b  is bent in the −Z direction, a +Y-direction end portion of the second horizontal portion  24   c  is bent in the +Z direction, and furthermore, an upper end portion of the +Y-direction end portion is slightly bent in the −Y direction, forming a rectangle space as a whole in side view. A part of the carriage  60  is disposed in the space, and the part inside the space is guided by the main frame  24  along the X-axis direction. 
     At a position facing the recording head  22 , a support rib  31  is disposed, and a recording sheet to be recorded by the recording head  22  is supported by the support rib  31 . The support rib  31  according to the embodiment is surrounded by a recessed portion (not illustrated). In the recessed portion, an ink absorbing material (not illustrated) is disposed to absorb an ink that is discharged onto an area off the end portions of a sheet with no margins in the sheet end portions in printing. The absorbed ink is guided along an ink channel (not illustrated) to a waste liquid tray  77  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The waste liquid tray  77  can be detached after the front cover  9  is opened and a waste liquid cover  76  is opened. 
     Returning to  FIG. 11 , on a downstream side of the supporting member  12  in the transport direction, a discharging roller pair  26  for discharging a recorded recording sheet toward the apparatus front is disposed. The discharging roller pair  26  includes a drive roller  27  that is driven by a drive source (not illustrated) and a driven roller  28  that is driven to rotate. A recording sheet is nipped by the rollers and transported toward the apparatus front side and supported by the discharge tray  29  that has been extended. 
     In the above description, the structure of the apparatus body  2  has been described. Hereinafter, the reading mechanism section  3  that is disposed on an upper part of the apparatus body  2  will be described with reference to  FIG. 13 . The reading mechanism section  3  includes an input tray  40 , an upper unit  36 , a lower unit  37 , and a discharge tray  53 . 
     A leading edge of a document to be read is supported by the input tray  40  and a trailing edge of the document is supported by the upper surface  4   a  of the front top cover  4  (see  FIG. 2 ). The arrow B in  FIG. 2  indicates a direction in which a document to be read is set. In  FIG. 2 , a document Gp is set and is supported by the input tray  40  and the upper surface  4   a  of the apparatus body  2 . In  FIG. 2 , edge guides  38   a  and  38   b  guide side ends of a document that is set. Returning to  FIG. 13 , a document transport direction in document reading in the reading mechanism section  3  is approximately the −Y direction, and on a downstream side of the input tray  40  in the document transport direction, a transport roller pair  41  is disposed. The transport roller pair  41  includes a drive roller  42  that is driven by a drive source (not illustrated) and a driven roller  43  that is driven to rotate. A document is nipped by the rollers and transported downstream. 
     On a downstream side of the transport roller pair  41  in the document transport direction, a reading glass  58  is disposed. Below the reading glass  58 , a sensor module  55  that serves as a reading section is disposed. The sensor module  55  extends in the X-axis direction and is pressed against a lower surface of the reading glass  58  by a pressing spring  57  from under the reading glass  58 . The sensor module  55  may be a charge-coupled device (CCD) module, or a contact image sensor (CIS) module, and in this embodiment, a CIS module is used. A circuit board  56  has a light receiving element (not illustrated) and a light emitting element (not illustrated). The sensor module  55  is held by the holding frame  54 , and the holding frame  54  serves as a base of the lower unit  37  and is a lowermost surface of the lower unit  37 . 
     Above the reading glass  58 , a pressing member  45  is disposed. The pressing member  45  is pressed against the reading glass  58  by a compression spring  46 . A document transported by the transport roller pair  41  is read by the sensor module  55  while being held by the pressing member  45  and the reading glass  58 . The driven roller  43 , the pressing member  45 , the compression spring  46 , and a driven roller  50  are disposed in a holding frame  51  that serves as a base of the upper unit  36 . 
     On a downstream side of the reading glass  58 , a discharging roller pair  48  for discharging a recorded document is disposed. The discharging roller pair  48  includes a drive roller  49  that is driven by a drive source (not illustrated) and the driven roller  50  that is driven to rotate. A read document is nipped by the rollers and discharged toward the discharge tray  53 . A line Gr indicates a trajectory of a document that is set, read, and discharged. 
     The discharge tray  53  that serves as a document support tray can be slid in an oblique up-down direction to a non-extended state illustrated in  FIG. 11  or to an extended state illustrated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 12 , and  FIG. 13 , and a sub tray  53   a  can also be extended. The sub tray  53   a  can be turned about a rotation shaft  53   c  in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 12  to the extended state indicated by the solid line or to the retracted state indicated by the double-dashed line  53   a _ 1  in  FIG. 12 . In a case of a long document, its leading edge is discharged over the discharge tray  53  and is supported by the sheet support surface  10   a  of the rear top cover  10 , which is disposed behind the discharge tray  53 . The solid line Gh in  FIG. 13  indicates a document being supported by the discharge tray  53 .  FIG. 13  also illustrates a document support surface  53   b.    
     The above-described driven roller  43 , the pressing member  45 , the compression spring  46 , the driven roller  50 , and the holding frame  51  are included in the upper unit  36 . The upper unit  36  can be turned about a rotation shaft (not illustrated) with respect to the lower unit  37 , and opening the upper unit  36  allows a document being nipped by the transport roller pair  41  and the discharging roller pair  48  to be released. The above-described drive roller  42 , the sensor module  55 , the drive roller  49 , and the holding frame  54  are included in the lower unit  37 . 
     Next, refilling of the ink tank  61  with ink will be described. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 10 , opening the front top cover  4  exposes the carriage  60  and the ink tank  61  that is mounted on the carriage  60 . The ink tank  61  includes ink tanks  61 A,  61 B,  61 C, and  61 D, and in this specification, the ink tanks may be collectively referred to as “ink tank  61 ” unless otherwise specified. The ink tanks  61  can respectively store inks of different colors, for example, a black ink, a cyan ink, a magenta ink, and a yellow ink. The ink tanks  61  are disposed along the X-axis direction. 
     The ink tank  61  has an open/close lever at a top, specifically, the ink tank  61 A has an open/close lever  62 A, the ink tank  61 B has an open/close lever  62 B, and the ink tank  61 C has an open/close lever  62 C, and the ink tank  61 D has an open/close lever  62 D. Hereinafter, the open/close levers may be collectively referred to as “open/close lever  62 ” unless otherwise specified. Opening the open/close lever  62  exposes an ink injection port (not illustrated), and from the ink injection port, the ink can be injected into the ink tank  61 . 
     Ink bottles that contain inks of different colors can be stored in an apparatus bottom section as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 5 , recessed portions  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , and  2   d  are provided in the apparatus bottom section. In the recessed portions  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , and  2   d , ink bottles  78 A,  78 B,  78 C, and  78 D that store the inks for refill can be disposed. Before the shipment of the printer  1  from a factory, in a packing box, the ink bottles  78 A,  78 B,  78 C, and  78 D are disposed in the recessed portions  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , and  2   d  respectively. Accordingly, with this structure, the dimensions of the packing box can be reduced. 
     The ink tank  61  has a liquid level check portion on the front side, that is, on the side surface in the +Y direction, more specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the ink tank  61 A has a liquid level check portion  63 A, the ink tank  61 B has a liquid level check portion  63 B, the ink tank  61 C has a liquid level check portion  63 C, and the ink tank  61 D has a liquid level check portion  63 D. Hereinafter, the liquid level check portions may be collectively referred to as “liquid level check portion  63 ” unless otherwise specified. 
     The ink tank  61  is made of a material through which light can pass, enabling the user to externally and visually check the liquid level of the ink in the ink tank  61  through the liquid level check portion  63 . The ink tank  61  may be made of, for example, a colorless and transparent resin material or a whitish resin material. The ink tank  61  made of a whitish resin material provides a high contrast to the color of the ink inside the ink tank, enabling the user to readily and visually check the liquid level of the ink. The casing of the carriage  60  has an opening in a portion that corresponds to the liquid level check portion  63  such that the user can visually check the liquid level check portion  63  from outside. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , on the +Y direction side with respect to the movement area of the carriage  60 , a right wall section  66 , which is a first wall section, and a left wall section  65 , which is a second wall section, are disposed. The left wall section  65  and the right wall section  66  are disposed along the vertical direction, and the right wall section  66  is disposed at an end portion in the −X direction. In this embodiment, a home position of the carriage  60  is set at the end portion in the −X direction, and when the apparatus is in a non-operating state, the carriage  60  is positioned at the end portion in the −X direction as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 14 . In the home position, a capping mechanism (not illustrated) is disposed, and capping is performed to the recording head  22  by the capping mechanism. The left wall section  65  is disposed with respect to the right wall section  66  with a predetermined space in the +X direction. Between the left wall section  65  and the right wall section  66 , an exposure section  67  is provided. The exposure section  67  is, specifically, a space between the right wall section  66 , which is close to the home position of the carriage  60 , and the left wall section  65 , which is farther from the home position than the right wall section  66 . 
     To the left wall section  65 , the tilt panel  6  is attached with the left hinge  69 A and the right hinge  69 B illustrated in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 . The tilt panel  6  is disposed, specifically, such that the tilt panel  6  can be tilted with respect to the left wall section  65  with the right hinge  69 B, which is a first hinge, and the left hinge  69 A, which is farther from the exposure section  67  than the right hinge  69 B and is a second hinge. Between the left hinge  69 A and the right hinge  69 B, the left hinge  69 A is a torque hinge that can keep a tilt angle of the tilt panel  6 . With this structure, the following operational advantage can be achieved. This structure has the exposure section  67 , that is, the space in the −X direction with respect to the left wall section  65 , and the −X direction side of the left wall section  65  has no support and tends to be readily bent. Accordingly, if a torque hinge is used at this position, the left wall section  65  would be bent due to the torque produced when the tilt panel  6  is tilted. However, in this embodiment, of the left hinge  69 A and the right hinge  69 B, the left hinge  69 A is a torque hinge configured to keep a tilt angle of the tilt panel  6 , and thus bending of the left wall section  65  can be reduced in tilting the tilt panel  6 . 
     Next, the operation of the carriage  60  to be performed to refill the ink tank  61  with ink will be described. As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the controller  80  that performs various control processes of the printer  1  controls a carriage drive motor  83 , which is a power source of the carriage  60 , the recording head  22 , the status indication section  71 , and the display section  7   a  of the operation section  7 . The controller  80  includes a storage section  81 , and the storage section  81  stores various programs necessary for the control of the printer  1  and various kinds of information necessary for the control of the printer  1 . The controller  80  counts the number of dots of discharged ink in controlling the recording head  22 , and based on the counted value, calculates ink levels of respective ink tanks  61 , and stores the calculated ink levels in the storage section  81 . When the ink level has decreased to a predetermined level, the controller  80  instructs the status indication section  71  to blink to inform that the ink level has decreased to the predetermined level. 
     Hereinafter, control processing to be performed by the controller  80  in ink refilling will be described with reference to  FIG. 17 . When the front top cover  4  is opened by a user, based on a detection signal from the above-described opening/closing detection sensor (not illustrated), the controller  80  detects that the closed state of the front top cover  4  has been canceled (Yes in step S 101 ). Then, the controller  80  determines whether ink levels of the ink tanks  61  have reached a predetermined level, that is, whether there is an ink tank  61  to be refilled (step S 102 ). If there is an ink tank  61  to be refilled with ink (Yes in step S 102 ), the controller instructs the display section  7   a  of the operation section  7  to display an ink refill user interface (step S 103 ). The ink refill user interface is hereinafter referred to as an ink refill UI. 
     The ink refill UI may include, for example, displaying the color of the ink to be refilled and displaying a confirmation message such as “Refill the ink tank with ink?”. When the user presses down an OK button, the controller  80  determines that the user wants to refill the ink tank with ink (Yes in step S 104 ), and then the controller  80  instructs the carriage  60  in the home position to move to an ink refill position (step S 105 ). The ink refill position of the carriage  60  is a position in which all of the liquid level check portions  63  can be visually checked through the exposure section  67  as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , and a position to which the carriage  60  is moved by a predetermined amount in the +X direction from the home position. 
     A cover portion  66   a  is formed at an upper end of the right wall section  66  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and the cover portion  66   a  covers a part of the open/close lever  62 . More specifically, the end portion of the open/close lever  62  in the +Y direction is covered such that the open/close lever  62  is prevented from being opened when the carriage  60  is in the home position. Accordingly, when the carriage  60  is in the home position, ink refilling to the ink tank  61  is not allowed. 
     The carriage  60  is moved from the home position to the ink refill position, and then, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , all of the open/close levers  62  are out of the cover portion  66   a , and all of the open/close levers  62  can be opened. With this structure, the open/close lever  62  can be opened to refill the ink tank  61  with ink. As described above, all of the liquid level check portions  63  can be visually checked through the exposure section  67 . Consequently, the user can refill the ink tank  61  with ink while checking the liquid level check portion  63 . 
     After the completion of step S 105 , the controller  80  changes the display on the ink refill UI, for example, to a message “Ink refill completed?”. When the user presses down the OK button to respond to the massage, the controller  80  determines that the ink refill operation by the user has been completed (Yes in step S 106 ), and returns the carriage  60  from the ink refill position to the home position and sets the ink level information about the ink tank  61  that has been refilled to a full state, which means a highest ink level. Note that by using the above-described open/close sensor  84  for detecting that the front top cover  4  has been closed, the controller  80  may return the carriage  60  to the home position in response to a detection of a closed state of the front top cover  4 . 
     As described above, the printer  1  includes the tilt panel  6  on the apparatus front side, which is the side along the X-axis direction, and in a front view of the apparatus front side, from the end portion in the +X direction toward the −X direction, the tilt panel  6 , the exposure section  67  for exposing the liquid level check portion  63 , and the home position of the carriage  60  are disposed in this order. The carriage  60  is moved from the home position toward the exposure section  67 , and thereby the arrangement of the tilt panel  6  and the liquid level check portion  63  is changed along the X-axis direction in the front view of the apparatus front side as illustrated in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 . 
     In this structure, in an ink injection operation for injecting an ink into the ink tank  61 , the liquid level check portion  63  becomes close to the tilt panel  6 , and thus the user turns his/her eyes less frequently while operating the tilt panel  6  and injecting the ink. Accordingly, the user can more readily inject the ink. 
     In this embodiment, above the carriage  60 , the front top cover  4  that serves as a top panel of the apparatus when the front top cover  4  is closed and exposes the upper portion of the carriage  60  when the front top cover  4  is open is provided. The front top cover  4  has the side surface forming section  4   b  that serves as the apparatus front side together with the tilt panel  6  when the front top cover  4  is closed. When the front top cover  4  is closed, the side surface forming section  4   b  covers the exposure section  67 , and when the front top cover  4  is open, the side surfaces forming section  4   b  exposes the exposure section  67 . This structure prevents dust from entering the inside of the apparatus through the exposure section  67  even though the exposure section  67  has the opening. Furthermore, the exposure section  67  that has the opening enables users to directly and visually check the liquid level check portion  63 , and as compared with the exposure section  67  made of, for example, a transparent plate, the visibility of the liquid level check portion  63  can be increased and the liquid level of the ink in the ink tank  61  can be visually and more reliably checked. Furthermore, in a case in which the side surface forming section  4   b  is a single component and is opened or closed, in addition to an open/close operation of the front top cover  4 , an open/close operation of the side surface forming section  4   b  is to be performed. However, since the side surface forming section  4   b  is provided together with the front top cover  4 , the space above the carriage  60  can be exposed and the exposure section  67  can be exposed by a single operation, and thus the operability can be increased. 
     The front top cover  4  according to the embodiment has a wire cover  74  that covers a wire  73  that is electrically coupled to a light emission unit  72 . The light emission unit  72  is included in the status indication section  71  illustrated in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . A portion  74   a  of the wire cover  74  that extends in the X-axis direction is close to the rotation shaft of the front top cover  4 , and the center of gravity of the front top cover  4  is close to the rotation shaft of the front top cover  4 . The center of gravity of the front top cover  4  is indicated by reference numeral G in  FIG. 10 . “The center of gravity G is close to the rotation shaft of the front top cover  4 ” means that the center of gravity G in  FIG. 10  is closer to the side of the right-shaft section  54   c  and the left-shaft section  54   b  than a middle position CL between the right-shaft section  54   c  and the left-shaft section  54   b  and the side surface forming section  4   b  at a free end is. With this structure, the impact due to the front top cover  4  that is closed unintentionally can be suppressed. 
     The front top cover  4  according to the embodiment can be opened from the closed state to an open limit by being turned to a rotation angle larger than 90° as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . More specifically, the front top cover  4  according to the embodiment can be opened from a horizontally closed state to the open limit in  FIG. 10  by turning the front top cover  4  to 112.5°. With this structure, the front top cover  4  can be reliably kept open. 
     When the front top cover  4  is turned to the open limit, if the rear top cover  10  is closed, the front top cover  4  can be supported by the +Y-direction end portion of the rear top cover  10 . When the front top cover  4  is turned to the open limit, if the rear top cover  10  is open, the front top cover  4  can be supported by contact sections  3   c  (see  FIG. 2 ) that are the +Y-direction end portions of the reading mechanism section  3 . 
     In this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the right-shaft section  54   c  and the left-shaft section  54   b , which serve as the rotation shaft of the front top cover  4 , are closer to the +Y direction side than the main frame  24  in the Y-axis direction is. With this structure, when the front top cover  4  is open, the main frame  24  is disposed at a position closer to the −Y direction side. The main frame  24  has a linear scale (not illustrated) for detecting a position of the carriage  60 . The linear scale may become dirty when the user touches the linear scale, and then, a detection error may occur. However, when the front top cover  4  is open, since the main frame  24  is disposed at the position closer to the −Y direction side as described above, the above-mentioned problem can be prevented or reduced. 
     With reference to  FIG. 18  to  FIG. 23 , other embodiments of the printer will be described. A printer  1 A illustrated in  FIG. 18  to  FIG. 23  is different from the above-described printer  1  in that the printer  1 A includes a cover member  85  and a holding member  86 . The other components in the printer  1 A are similar to those in the above-described printer  1 , and their descriptions will be omitted in the description below. The holding member  86  holds an open state of the front top cover  4 . The holding member  86  includes a cover member  87  as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , a plunger  90  as illustrated in  FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21 , and a compression spring  89 , which is an example pressing member. A part of the plunger  90  and the compression spring  89  are covered by the cover member  87 , and the cover member  87  is fixed to the front top cover  4  by a fixing screw  88 . 
     The plunger  90  can be slid in a direction of the radius of gyration of the front top cover  4 , and is pressed against the center of rotation of the front top cover  4  by the compression spring  89 . The reference numeral  54 A indicates a member that corresponds to the above-described holding frame  54 , and the holding frame  54 A has an opening  54   e  and a contact portion  54   d . When the front top cover  4  is closed, the plunger  90  is in the opening  54   e  of the plunger  90  as illustrated in  FIG. 21 , and no spring force is acting on the holding frame  54 A from the compression spring  89 . 
     When the front top cover  4  is opened from this state, the plunger  90  faces and comes in contact with the contact portion  54   d  of the holding frame  54 A. In the fully opened state of the front top cover  4  in  FIG. 20 , the spring force of the compression spring  89  that presses the plunger  90  against the contact portion  54   d  acts to hold the front top cover  4  in the fully opened state. Specifically, the plunger  90  is pressed against the contact portion  54   d  by the spring force of the compression spring  89 , and this force causes the holding member  86  to produce the moment in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 20  with respect to the front top cover  4 . With this structure, the front top cover  4  can be prevented from being unintentionally closed. Furthermore, the front top cover  4  provides tactile response when the user fully open the front top cover  4 , and thereby the operability of the user can be increased. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 22 , and  FIG. 23 , the holding frame  54 A, which serves as the covering member, has a notch  54   g  that extends in the X-axis direction at an end portion in the +Y direction. To the notch  54   g , the cover member  85  is fixed by a fixing screw (not illustrated). The carriage  60  has an upper cover  64 , and the upper cover  64  can be detached to detach the ink tank  61  and also detach the recording head  22  (see  FIG. 11 ). 
     When the cover member  85  is attached, a part of the upper cover  64  is covered by the holding frame  54 A or the cover member  85  and the upper cover  64  cannot be detached. As illustrated in  FIG. 22 , however, by detaching the cover member  85 , the entire upper cover  64  is exposed while the carriage  60  is located at the position of the notch  54   g , and thus the user can detach the upper cover  64 . Accordingly, the notch  54   g  in the holding frame  54 A eliminates complicated disassembly operation in detaching the ink tank  61  or the ink tank  61  and the recording head  22  (see  FIG. 11 ), and thereby the maintainability can be increased. 
     It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, various modifications can be made within the scope of the following claims, and these modifications are included within the scope of the disclosure.