Patent Publication Number: US-2017355196-A1

Title: Ink replenish adjunctive device and ink replenish device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-116155 filed on Jun. 10, 2016, Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-203332 filed on Oct. 17, 2016, Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-208864 filed on Oct. 25, 2016 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-58630 filed on Mar. 24, 2017, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an ink replenish adjunctive device which is used for replenishing an ink to the ink tank of a printer, and an ink replenish device which includes such an ink replenish adjunctive device. 
     Related Art 
     An inkjet printer is provided with an ink tank for storing ink, and the ink is supplied from the ink tank to a print head. There are two types of ink tanks for the printers, a cartridge type and an ink replenish type. The ink tank of the cartridge type is replaced with a new ink tank when the remaining amount of ink becomes low. As for the ink tank of the ink replenish type, even when the remaining amount of ink becomes low, the ink tank is used without being replaced, and the ink is replenished from an ink replenish container, for example, an ink bottle. 
     JP2016-087844A discloses an ink bottle which is used for replenishing an ink to the ink tank of the ink replenish type. In this technology, a positioning protrusion is provided in the vicinity of the ink outlet port of the ink bottle. The protrusion is brought into contact with the end portion of the ink inlet port of the ink tank, and then the main body of the ink bottle is compressed to replenish ink. 
     In the technology described above, since a replenish operation is performed while the ink bottle is manually held, when the manual operation is erroneously performed, the ink may leak. Since the positioning protrusion of the ink bottle is brought into contact with the end portion of the ink inlet port of the ink tank, the locating protrusion may be smeared by the ink; this may contaminate the surrounding parts when the ink bottle is separated from the ink inlet port. 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide an ink replenish device and an ink replenish adjunctive device which are unlikely to be contaminated with an ink. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an ink replenish device and an ink replenish adjunctive device in which an ink replenish operation is easily performed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is made to solve at least part of the foregoing problem, and may be realized as aspects or application examples below. 
     (1) According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an ink replenish adjunctive device for replenishing an ink to an ink tank that includes an ink inlet member having a flow path in an axial direction. The ink replenish adjunctive device comprises: a connection portion having an end that is connectable to the ink inlet member in a liquid-tight state; and an ink inflow portion that is configured to allow the ink flow toward the connection portion. 
     The ink replenish adjunctive device is possible to allow the ink to appropriately flow into the ink inlet member having the flow path in the axial direction to replenish the ink to the ink tank, while reducing the leakage of the ink. 
     (2) In the above aspect, the connection portion may be configured to be press-fitted to at least either one of an inside and an outside of the flow path in the ink inlet member. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to easily connect the connection portion to the ink inlet member. 
     (3) In the above aspect, the connection portion may include a valve which is configured to open in a state where the ink inlet member and the connection portion are connected together and which is configured to close in a state where the connection portion is removed from the ink inlet member. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to reduce contamination with the ink when removing the ink replenish adjunctive device from the ink inlet member. 
     (4) In the above aspect, the connection portion may include a grasp portion which is graspable when fitting the connection portion to the ink inlet member or removing the connection portion from the ink inlet member. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to fit and remove the connection portion while grasping the grasp portion, thereby reducing the possibility that a user touches the ink in the connection portion when fitting or removing the connection portion. 
     (5) In the above aspect, at least part of the ink inflow portion may be a bendable tube. 
     In this configuration, since the tube is bendable, the ink replenish container and the ink inflow portion are connectable together in a position or attitude in which the ink is unlikely to leak. 
     (6) In the above aspect, the ink replenish adjunctive device may further comprise a rigid ring which is more rigid than the tube, fitted to an outer circumference of the tube. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to reduce the blocking of the flow path of the ink due to bending of the tube. 
     (7) In the above aspect, the ink inflow portion may include a funnel-shaped portion. 
     In this configuration, even with the ink replenish container which is not connectable to the ink inlet member in a liquid-tight state, it is possible to replenish the ink to the ink tank by pouring the ink into the funnel-shaped portion. 
     (8) In the above aspect, the ink inflow portion may include an ink reservoir portion. 
     In this configuration, since the ink reservoir portion is able to temporarily store the ink, the ink is unlikely to leak to the surroundings even when replenishing a large amount of ink. 
     (9) According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an ink replenish device comprising an ink replenish adjunctive device of the above aspects; and an ink replenish container configured to supply the ink to the ink replenish adjunctive device. 
     With this ink replenish device, it is possible to use the ink replenish adjunctive device so as to easily replenish the ink from the ink replenish container. 
     (10) In the above aspect, the ink replenish container may include a deformable side wall. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to replenish the ink with a simple operation of, for example, deforming the ink replenish container. The ink replenish amount and the ink replenish speed are easily adjusted by the degree and speed of the deformation. 
     (11) In the above aspect, the ink replenish container may be connected to the ink inflow portion in a liquid-tight state, and the ink replenish container may include an ink inlet port for receiving supply of the ink. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to easily increase the amount of ink by connecting the ink replenish container through the ink replenish adjunctive device to the ink tank of the printer. 
     (12) In the above aspect, the ink tank may be placed within a printer, and the ink inflow portion of the ink replenish adjunctive device may include a tube, which is extended to an outside through a gap between a main body of the printer and a cover that covers the main body. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to replenish the ink to the ink tank without opening the cover of the printer, whereby the operation of replenishing the ink is easily performed. Moreover, it is unlikely that the interior of the printer is contaminated with the ink because the ink replenish container is connected to the tube outside the printer. Furthermore, even when the ink leaks from the ink replenish container, the user easily recognizes the leak and deals with it. 
     (13) In the above aspect, the ink replenish device may further comprise a rigid ring which is more rigid than the tube, fitted to an outer circumference of the tube. 
     In this configuration, even when the tube passes through the gap between the main body and the cover of the printer, the tube is unlikely to be blocked, and it is possible to smoothly replenish the ink to the ink tank. 
     (14) In the above aspect, the connection portion may include: a lid portion configured to cover a tip end of the ink inlet member so as to seal an outer surface of the ink inlet member; and a connection flow path portion configured to extend in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the ink inlet member when the lid portion covers the tip end of the ink inlet member, and the direction intersecting the axial direction coincides with a direction intersecting a direction in which the cover is opened and closed. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to make the ink inflow portion connected to the connection flow path portion to extend in the direction intersecting the direction in which the cover of the printer is opened and closed, whereby the ink inflow portion is easily arranged in the gap between the main body and the cover of the printer. 
     (15) In the above aspect, the connection portion may include: a plate-shaped member having a groove that is formed as the connection flow path portion; and a film configured to seal an opening of the groove. 
     In this configuration, it is possible to form the connection portion with a simple configuration. 
     (16) In the above aspect, the ink replenish container may include: an ink storage room configured to store the ink; an atmosphere communication path configured to make the ink storage room communicate with an atmosphere; and an air introduction path provided in a lower portion of the ink storage room in a state where the ink replenish container is used, and the air introduction path is configured to be connected to the atmosphere communication path so as to introduce air into the ink storage room. 
     In this configuration, since the air introduction path of the ink replenish container is provided in the lower portion of the ink storage room, it is possible to make the liquid surface level of the ink replenish container higher than the ink tank within the printer, whereby it is possible to increase the capacity of ink in the height direction while decreasing the installation area of the ink replenish container. By adjusting a difference in the height between an air introduction position (gas-liquid exchange position) to the ink storage room in the ink replenish container described above and the ink inlet member of the ink tank within the printer, it is possible to enhance the flexibility of an arrangement in which, for example, the ink replenish container is placed on the printer. 
     (17) In the above aspect, the ink replenish container may include a see-through wall through which an ink liquid surface within the ink replenish container is visually recognizable from the outside. 
     In this configuration, since the ink replenish container is installed outside the printer, it is possible to easily visually recognize the ink liquid surface as compared with a case where it needs to visually recognize an ink liquid surface in the ink tank within the printer. 
     The present disclosure may be realized in various aspects other than the ink replenish adjunctive device and the ink replenish device described above. For example, the present disclosure may be realized in aspects such as an ink replenish system which includes an ink tank and an ink replenish device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of an ink tank; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative diagram of a state where the ink replenish adjunctive device of  FIG. 3  is fitted; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative diagram showing an example of a state where the ink replenish adjunctive device of  FIG. 5  is used to replenish an ink; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device according to further another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is an illustrative diagram showing the connection portion of an ink replenish adjunctive device according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is an illustrative diagram showing how the ink replenish adjunctive device including the connection portion of  FIG. 10  is utilized to replenish the ink to the ink tank; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the detailed structure of the ink replenish container of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is an illustrative diagram showing an example of a state where an ink replenish adjunctive device according to another embodiment is used to replenish the ink; and 
         FIG. 14  is an illustrative diagram showing the structure of the connection portion of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a printer  100  according to an embodiment. The printer  100  is an inkjet printer which discharges an ink onto a print medium P to perform printing. In  FIG. 1 , X, Y and Z axes which are perpendicular to each other are shown. The X axis corresponds to a width direction of the printer  100 , the Y axis corresponds to a depth direction of the printer  100  and the Z axis corresponds to a height direction of the printer  100 . The printer  100  is installed on a horizontal installation plane which is defined by the X direction and the Y direction. 
     The printer  100  includes a main body  110 . The main body  110  is provided with a carriage  120  which is able to move in a main scanning direction (or X direction). On the lower surface of the carriage  120 , there is installed a print head  122  which discharges the ink onto the print medium P. One end of the front surface of the main body  110  is provide with a cover  112  which is operable to be opened and closed. A plurality of ink tanks  130  are installed within the cover  112 . 
     The ink tanks  130  are connected to the print head  122  of the carriage  120  by tubes  134 . The inks within the ink tanks  130  are supplied through the tubes  134  to the print head  122 . These ink tanks  130  are of the ink replenish type. On the upper surface of each of the ink tanks  130 , there is protruded a cylindrical ink inlet member  132  used for replenishing the ink to the ink tank  130 . The ink tanks  130  are stationary-type ink tanks that are not placed on the carriage  120 . When the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank  130  becomes low, it is possible to open the cover  112  so as to replenish the ink from the ink inlet member  132  of the ink tank  130 . 
     In the present specification, the term “replenish of the ink” means an operation of replenishing the ink to the ink tank  130  to increase the remaining amount of ink. However, it is not necessary to completely fill the ink tank  130  with the ink by the “replenish of the ink”. The “replenish of the ink” includes an operation of filling an empty ink tank  130  with the ink when the printer  100  is first used. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of the ink tank  130 . The ink inlet member  132  is protruded from the upper surface of the ink tank  130 . Within the ink inlet member  132 , flow paths are formed along the axial direction of the ink inlet member  132 . Although in the example of  FIG. 2 , two flow paths are formed in the ink inlet member  132 , only one flow path may be formed, or three or more flow paths may be formed. In part of the upper surface of the ink tank  130 , an engagement adapter  136  is installed. The engagement adapter  136  is used when a specifically shaped ink replenish container (not shown) is used to replenish the ink to the ink tank  130 ; the engagement adapter  136  forms an engagement concave portion  138  which engages with the shape of the ink exit of the ink replenish container. However, the engagement adapter  136  may be omitted. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device  300  according to the embodiment. The ink replenish adjunctive device  300  is utilized when an ink replenish container  200  is used to replenish the ink to the ink tank  130 . The ink replenish adjunctive device  300  and the ink replenish container  200  form an ink replenish device as a whole. 
     The ink replenish container  200  includes a container main body  210  and an ink exit  220 . The side wall of the container main body  210  is formed of a deformable member. As the deformable member, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene may be utilized. As indicated by white arrows in  FIG. 3 , the ink replenish container  200  is of a “compression type” in which the container main body  210  is compressed to replenish the ink. The side wall of the container main body  210  is formed of an elastically deformable elastic member, and thus it is possible to replenish the ink with a simple operation of, for example, deforming the ink replenish container  200 . The ink container main body  210  may be a container that includes a deformable side wall, such as a bag or a pouch, which is formed of a film. The ink replenish container  200  having the side wall formed of the deformable member is advantageous in that the ink replenish amount and the ink replenish speed are easily adjusted by the degree and speed of the deformation of the ink replenish container  200 . 
     The entirety of the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  is formed of a tube. The ink replenish adjunctive device  300  includes a connection portion  310  which is to be connected to the ink inlet member  132  of the ink tank  130 , an ink inflow portion  320  which is configured to allow the ink flow toward the connection portion  310 , and a second connection portion  330  which is to be connected to the ink exit  220  of the ink replenish container  200 . One end of the connection portion  310  is connectable to the ink inlet member  132  in a liquid-tight state. The connection portion  310  is press-fitted to the outside of the flow paths of the ink inlet member  132 . The ink replenish adjunctive device  300  may be formed of, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The same is true for the other ink replenish adjunctive devices which will be described later. 
     When the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  is used to connect the ink exit  220  of the ink replenish container  200  to the ink inlet member  132  of the ink tank  130 , the ink inflow portion  320  of the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  is brought into a state where the ink inflow portion  320  is greatly bent as indicated by broken lines in  FIG. 3 . This is intended to prevent the ink from leaking to the outside from the ink exit  220  of the ink replenish container  200 . Hence, at least part of the ink inflow portion  320  is preferably formed of a bendable material. For example, part or the whole of the tube forming the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  may be formed of a flexible elastic member. Alternatively, part or the whole of the ink inflow portion  320  may be formed of a bellows-shaped pipe line. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustrative diagram more specifically illustrating a state for fitting the ink replenish adjunctive device  300 . In this state, the ink inflow portion  320  of the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  is bent, and the ink exit  220  of the ink replenish container  200  is directed obliquely upward. An angle α shown in  FIG. 4  is an angle which is formed by the liquid surface and a center axis C of the ink replenish container  200  when the ink replenish container  200  is inclined as much as possible on condition that the ink does not leak to the outside. An angle β is the largest angle at which the second connection portion  330  at the other end of the tube is bendable downward from a horizontal plane in a state where the connection portion  310  of the tube serving as the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  is connected to the ink inlet member  132 . When α&lt;β, it is possible to connect the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  to the ink replenish container  200  without the ink spilling from the ink replenish container  200 , and thus the replenish of the ink is easily performed. As the angle α, a value in a state where the ink replenish container  200  is completely filled with the ink is preferably used. As described above, by forming at least part of the ink inflow portion  320  of a bendable tube, it is possible to connect the ink replenish container  200  and the ink inflow portion  320  together in a state or attitude in which the ink is unlikely to leak. 
     Although in  FIG. 3 , the ink is replenished in a state or attitude in which the ink exit  220  of the ink replenish container  200  is directed downward, the ink may be replenished in a state or attitude in which the ink exit  220  is directed upward as shown in  FIG. 4 . Even in this case, the ink will be replenished by compression of the container main body  210 . 
     The use of the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  shown in  FIG. 3  advantageously makes it possible to utilize, as the ink replenish container  200 , a container of an arbitrary shape which does not have an engagement member that engages with the engagement concave portion  138  described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The use of the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  advantageously makes it possible to cause the ink to appropriately flow into the ink inlet member  132  which has the flow paths in the axial direction. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device  300   a  according to another embodiment. The ink replenish adjunctive device  300   a  differs from the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  of  FIG. 3  in the configuration of a connection portion  310   a  and the provision of a rigid ring  340  around the ink inflow portion  320 . 
     The connection portion  310   a  is a separate member which is fitted to the tip end of the ink inflow portion  320  of the tube, and is formed in such a shape that the connection portion  310   a  is press-fitted to the flow paths of the ink inlet member  132  in the ink tank  130 . In other words, the connection portion  310   a  is press-fitted to both the inside and outside of the flow paths of the ink inlet member  132 . The use of the connection portion  310   a  advantageously makes it possible to more reliably connect the connection portion  310   a  to the ink inlet member  132 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 3  described previously, the connection portion  310  is press-fitted to the outside of the flow paths of the ink inlet member  132 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , the connection portion  310   a  is press-fitted to both the inside and outside of the flow paths of the ink inlet member  132 . Instead, the connection portion  310  may be formed so as to be press-fitted to the inside of the flow paths of the ink inlet member  132 . In other words, the connection portion  310  is preferably formed so as to be press-fitted to at least either one of the inside and outside of the flow paths of the ink inlet member  132 . By adopting any one of these structures, it is possible to simply connect the connection portion  310  to the ink inlet member  132 . The feature of “the connection portion is configured to be press-fitted to at least either one of the inside and outside of the flow paths of the ink inlet member” is also common to the other embodiments which will be described later. However, the connection portion  310  and the ink inlet member  132  may be connected together by a method other than press-fitting, such as flange connection, for example. 
     The rigid ring  340  shown in  FIG. 5  is formed of a member which is more rigid than the tube serving as the ink inflow portion  320 . The term “more rigid” means that the Young&#39;s modulus is higher. The rigid ring  340  described above is fitted to the outer circumference of the tube, and thus it is possible to reduce a problem in which the tube is so bent as to block the flow path of the ink. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustrative diagram showing an example of a state where the ink replenish adjunctive device  300   a  shown in  FIG. 5  is used to replenish the ink. A printer  100   a  shown in  FIG. 6  is provided with an ink tank housing unit  160  which houses a plurality of ink tanks in one end of the front surface of the main body  110 . The ink tank housing unit  160  includes, in an upper portion, a cover  170  which is operable to be opened and closed. The wall surface of the ink tank housing unit  160  below the cover  170  is part of the main body  110 . In a state where the cover  170  is closed, a gap G is formed between the cover  170  and the main body  110 . When the ink replenish adjunctive device  300   a  shown in  FIG. 5  is used to replenish the ink, the tube-shaped ink inflow portion  320  preferably passes through the gap G between the cover  170  and the main body  110  to goes to the outside. In this way, it is possible to replenish the ink to the ink tank without opening the cover  170 , and thus the operation of replenishing the ink is easily and advantageously performed. Moreover, the ink replenish container  200  is connectable to the tube-shaped ink replenish adjunctive device  300   a  at the outside of the printer  100   a,  and thus advantageously, it is unlikely that the interior of the printer  100   a  is contaminated with the ink. Furthermore, even when the ink leaks from the ink replenish container  200 , a user is able to easily recognize and deal with it. 
     In the state shown in  FIG. 6 , the rigid ring  340  shown in  FIG. 5  is arranged in the gap G between the cover  170  and the main body  110 . By placing the rigid ring  340 , which is more rigid than the tube-shaped ink inflow portion  320 , in the gap G, it is unlikely that the tube-shaped ink inflow portion  320  is blocked even when the ink inflow portion  320  goes through the gap G between the main body  110  and the cover  170  in the printer  100   a,  whereby it is possible to smoothly replenish the ink to the ink tank. 
       FIG. 7  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device  300   b  according to another embodiment. The ink replenish adjunctive device  300   b  differs from the ink replenish adjunctive device  300  of  FIG. 3  in that a connection portion  310   b  includes a valve  312  and a grasp portion  314 . The valve  312  is configured to open in a state where the ink inlet member  132  ( FIG. 2 ) of the ink tank  130  is connected to the connection portion  310   b  whereas the valve  312  is configured to close in a state where the connection portion  310   b  is removed from the ink inlet member  132 . As the valve  312  described above, for example, a slit valve may be utilized. The valve  312  provided in the connection portion  310   b  advantageously makes it possible to reduce the contamination that may be caused by the leakage of the ink when the ink replenish adjunctive device  300   b  is removed from the ink inlet member  132 . 
     The grasp portion  314  is a portion which is graspable when fitting the connection portion  310   b  to the ink inlet member  132  or removing the connection portion  310   b  from the ink inlet member  132 . The grasp portion  314  is formed as a flange-shaped protrusion. The grasp portion  314  provided in the connection portion  310   b  advantageously makes it possible to fit and remove the connection portion  310   b  while holding the grasp portion  314 , thereby reducing the possibility that the user is smeared with the ink around the connection portion  310   b  when the connection portion  310   b  is fitted or removed. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , one of the valve  312  and the grasp portion  314  may be omitted. 
       FIG. 8  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device  400  according to another embodiment. The ink replenish adjunctive device  400  includes a connection portion  410  which is to be connected to the ink inlet member  132  of the ink tank  130 , and an ink inflow portion  420  which causes the ink to flow toward the connection portion  410 . The ink inflow portion  420  is formed as a funnel-shaped portion. The ink is replenished to the ink tank  130  in a state where, for example, the ink exit  220  of the ink replenish container  200  is in contact with the upper end of the ink inflow portion  420  of the funnel shape. The use of the ink replenish adjunctive device  400  advantageously makes it possible to replenish the ink to the ink tank  130  by pouring the ink into the funnel-shaped portion of the ink inflow portion  420 , even if the ink replenish container is of a type which is not connectable to the ink inlet member  132  of the ink tank  130  in a liquid-tight state. 
       FIG. 9  is an illustrative diagram showing an ink replenish adjunctive device  500  according to another embodiment. The ink replenish adjunctive device  500  includes a connection portion  510  which is to be connected to the ink inlet member  132  of the ink tank  130 , an ink inflow portion  520  which makes the ink flow toward the connection portion  510 , and a second connection portion  530  which is to be connected to the ink exit  220  of the ink replenish container  200 . 
     The ink inflow portion  520  is formed as an ink reservoir portion within which is able to store the ink. When the ink is replenished to the ink tank  130 , the ink exit  220  of the ink replenish container  200  is inserted into the second connection portion  530 , and the ink is poured and stored in the ink inflow portion  520 . The lower end position H 530  of the opening of the entrance of the second connection portion  530  is preferably higher than the upper end position H 132  of the ink inlet member  132  in the ink tank  130 . The ink in the ink inflow portion  520  flows, through the connection portion  510 , into the ink inlet member  132  in the ink tank  130 , and thus the ink is replenished into the ink tank  130 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , an inside diameter Db of the second connection portion  530  is preferably larger than an inside diameter Da of the connection portion  510 . An inside diameter Dc of the ink inflow portion  520  serving as the ink reservoir portion is preferably larger than the inside diameters Da and Db of the connection portions  510  and  530 . The use of the ink replenish adjunctive device  500  advantageously makes it possible to temporarily store the ink flowing into the ink reservoir portion, whereby the ink is unlikely to leak to the surroundings even when a large amount of ink is replenished. 
       FIG. 10  is an illustrative diagram showing the connection portion  610  of an ink replenish adjunctive device according to another embodiment. The connection portion  610  is to be fitted to the upper end of the ink inlet member  132  in the ink tank  130 . The connection portion  610  includes a lid portion  612  and a connection flow path portion  614 . The lid portion  612  covers the tip end of the ink inlet member  132  so as to seal the outer surface of the ink inlet member  132 . The connection flow path portion  614  is configured to extend in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the ink inlet member  132  when the lid portion  612  covers the tip end of the ink inlet member  132 . In the example of  FIG. 10 , the axial direction of the ink inlet member  132  is extended in a vertical direction, and the direction in which the connection flow path portion  614  is extended in the horizontal direction. A tube is to be connected to the connection flow path portion  614 . 
     When the ink replenish adjunctive device including the connection portion  610  shown in  FIG. 10  is utilized in a printer  100   a  shown in  FIG. 6 , the direction in which the connection flow path portion  614  is extended preferably coincides with a direction which intersects the direction (Z direction in  FIG. 6 ) in which the cover  170  of the printer  100   a  is opened and closed. In this way, the ink flow portion connected to the connection flow path portion  614  is configured so as to be extended in the direction which intersects the direction in which the cover  170  of the printer  100   a  is opened and closed, whereby the ink inflow portion is easily arranged in the gap G between the main body  110  and the cover  170  in the printer  100   a.    
       FIG. 11  shows how the ink replenish adjunctive device  600  including the connection portion  610  shown in  FIG. 10  is utilized in the same printer  100  as shown in  FIG. 1  so as to replenish the ink. Here, the connection portion  610  shown in  FIG. 10  is connected to the ink inlet member  132  in each of the ink tanks  130  within the printer  100 , and a tube-shaped ink inflow portion  620  is connected to the connection flow path portion  614  of the connection portion  610 . The tube-shaped ink inflow portions  620  are further connected to ink replenish containers  700  which are installed outside the printer  100 . The ink replenish container  700  includes a see-through wall  710  through which it is possible to visually recognize an ink liquid surface within the ink replenish container  700  from the outside. Since the ink replenish container  700  is installed outside the printer  100 , it is easier to visually recognize the ink liquid surface, compared with a case where it needs to visually recognize an ink liquid surface in the ink tank  130  within the printer  100 . 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the detailed structure of the ink replenish container  700  shown in  FIG. 11 . The ink replenish container  700  includes an atmosphere opening port  718 , an atmosphere communication path  730 , an ink storage room  740  configured to store the ink, and an air introduction path  750 . The atmosphere communication path  730  is a flow path through which the ink storage room  740  is made to communicate with the atmosphere and which communicates with the atmosphere opening port  718 . The air introduction path  750  is a flow path which is provided in a lower portion of the ink storage room  740  in a use state of the ink replenish container  700 , and which is connected to the atmosphere communication path  730  so as to introduce air into the ink storage room  740 . 
     In the lower end of the ink storage room  740 , there is provided an ink exit  706  for connection to the connection portion  610  in the end portion of the tube-shaped ink inflow portion  620 . Furthermore, an ink inlet port  704  is provided in the upper end of the ink storage room  740 , and a stopper member  702  is fitted into the ink inlet port  704 . 
     A position or attitude shown in  FIG. 12  shows, as in  FIG. 11 , a position (referred to as a “usage position”) in a state where the ink is replenished to the ink tank  130  in the printer  100 . In this state, it is possible to continuously replenish the ink from the ink replenish container  700  to the ink tank  130  even while the printer  100  is performing the printing operation. 
     When the remaining amount of ink in the ink replenish container  700  is decreased, the ink replenish container  700  is changed from the usage position of  FIG. 12  to an injection position. The injection position is a position in which the ink inlet port  704  is opened vertically and upward. In the injection position, the user is possible to remove the stopper member  702  of the ink replenish container  700  from the ink inlet port  704  so as to introduce the ink from the ink inlet port  704 . 
     The use of the ink replenish container  700  shown in  FIG. 12  makes it possible to bring the liquid surface level of the ink replenish container  700  higher than the ink tank  130  within the printer  100  because the air introduction path  750  is provided in the lower portion of the ink storage room  740 . Hence, it is possible to increase the capacity of ink in the height direction while the installation area of the ink replenish container  700  is decreased. By adjusting a difference in the height between an air introduction position (gas-liquid exchange position) to the ink storage room  740  in the ink replenish container  700  and the ink inlet member  132  of the ink tank  130  within the printer  100 , it is possible to enhance the flexibility of an arrangement in which, for example, the ink replenish containers  700  are placed on the printer  100 . 
     The ink replenish container  700  shown in  FIG. 12  is to be connected to the ink inflow portion  620  in a liquid-tight state. The ink replenish container  700  includes the ink inlet port  704  for receiving the supply of the ink. The use of the ink replenish container  700  having such a structure makes it possible to easily increase the amount of ink by connecting the ink replenish container  700  through the ink replenish adjunctive device  600  to the ink tank  130  in the printer  100 . 
       FIG. 13  is an illustrative diagram showing an example of a state where an ink replenish adjunctive device  800  according to another embodiment is used to replenish the ink. Here, a connection portion  810  is connected to the ink inlet members  132  of the ink tanks  130  within the printer  100 , and tube-shaped ink inflow portions  820  are connected to the connection portion  810 . The tube-shaped ink inflow portions  820  are further connected to the ink replenish containers  700  which are installed outside the printer  100 . The ink replenish containers  700  are the same as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 14  is an illustrative diagram showing the structure of the connection portion  810  shown in  FIG. 13 . The connection portion  810  is formed of a plate-shaped member  812  in which grooves  816  are formed as connection flow path portions. One end of the grooves  816  are connected to the tube-shaped ink inflow portions  820 . At the other end of the grooves  816 , there are formed concave engagement portions  814  which are to engage with the upper ends of the ink inlet members  132  ( FIG. 2 ) in the ink tanks  130 . A film  818  which seals the openings of the grooves  816  is stuck to the lower surface of the plate-shaped member  812 . The use of the connection portion  810  makes it possible, with a simple configuration, to form the connection portion  810  which is to be connected to the ink inlet member  132 . In particular, with the structure shown in  FIG. 14 , a plurality of concave engagement portions  814  which are connectable to the ink inlet members  132  of all the ink tanks  130  in the printer  100  are formed in the one plate-shaped member  812 , and thus it is possible to easily perform the connection to a plurality of ink tanks  130 . When the connection portion  810  described above is used, the engagement adapter  136  shown in  FIG. 2  is preferably removed. In this way, it is possible to easily fit the plate-shaped connection portion  810  to the ink inlet members  132  protruded from the ink tanks  130 . 
     Variations: 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and variations thereof, and may be practiced in various aspects without departing from the spirit thereof. 
     Variation 1: 
     Part of the members of the ink replenish adjunctive devices and the ink replenish containers according to the various embodiments described above may be arbitrarily omitted or changed. The structural characteristic portions in the ink replenish adjunctive devices according to the various embodiments may be arbitrarily applied to other embodiments. For example, the rigid ring  340  shown in  FIG. 5  may be applied to the ink replenish adjunctive devices shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 . The funnel-shaped portion in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  may be applied to the shape of the bottom surface of the ink inflow portion  520  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Variation 2: 
     The present disclosure is not limited to an ink replenish device for replenishing an ink and an adjunctive device therefor, and may also be applied to a liquid replenish device which is utilized to replenish a liquid other than ink and an adjunctive device therefor.