Patent Publication Number: US-10759179-B2

Title: Sub-tank and consumable article consumption system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a technique for a sub-tank for containing a consumable article. 
     2. Related Art 
     Conventionally, a technique has been known in which ink is replenished in a sub-tank from an ink cartridge and ink is supplied from the sub-tank to an inkjet head (e.g., JP A-2014-205301). 
     JP A-2014-205301 is an example of related art. 
     In the technique of replenishing ink in the sub-tank from an ink cartridge, if the sub-tanks mounted in the slots of the inkjet recording apparatus are not interchangeable, sub-tanks of multiple types are handled, and the following inconveniences occur. For example, the manufacturing cost of the sub-tanks increases, stock management of the sub-tanks becomes complicated, and handling of the sub-tanks becomes complicated in some cases. Accordingly, a technique has been desired which can reduce at least one of the above-described inconveniences. 
     Also, the above-described problems are not limited to an inkjet recording apparatus and a sub-tank to be used in an inkjet recording apparatus, and is the same for a sub-tank to be used in a consumable article consumption apparatus that discharges a consumable article, and for a consumable article consumption system including a sub-tank and a consumable article consumption apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following modes or application examples. 
     (1) According to an aspect of the invention, a sub-tank for supplying a consumable article to a consumable article consumption apparatus is provided. This sub-tank includes: a consumable article containing portion configured to contain the consumable article due to the sub-tank being mounted in a slot of the consumable article consumption apparatus and the consumable article being replenished from a main tank containing the consumable article; a sub-tank-side storage unit; and a case that can be detachably attached to a plurality of slots of the consumable article consumption apparatus, the case containing the consumable article containing portion. The sub-tank-side storage unit stores a sub-tank-side identifier configured to distinguish from another sub-tank in a state before first being mounted in the slot, and further stores sub-tank-side consumable article information relating to an attribute of the consumable article replenished in the consumable article containing portion in a state after first being mounted in the slot. 
     According to this aspect, the sub-tank includes a case that can be detachably attached to multiple slots, and if the consumable article is replenished from the main tank, the sub-tank-side storage unit stores the sub-tank-side consumable article information. Accordingly, in a state before first being mounted in a slot, the sub-tank can be used in common for multiple slots, and therefore there is no need to manage stocks of sub-tanks for each slot. Also, according to this aspect, the sub-tank-side storage unit stores the sub-tank-side identifier, and therefore after the consumable article is replenished in the consumable article containing portion, it is possible to easily distinguish between the sub-tank and another sub-tank. 
     (2) In the above-described mode, if the sub-tank-side storage unit further stores the sub-tank-side consumable article information, when the sub-tank is mounted in the slot of another consumable article consumption apparatus that is different from the consumable article consumption apparatus in which the sub-tank was first mounted, the sub-tank-side storage unit may store information configured to identify being mounted in the slot of the other consumable article consumption apparatus. According to this mode, using the data for identification, it is possible to determine whether or not the sub-tank was mounted in a slot of another consumable article consumption apparatus. 
     (3) According to another aspect of the invention, a consumable article consumption system is provided. This consumable article consumption system includes: a consumable article consumption apparatus having a discharge portion for discharging a consumable article, a plurality of slots, and a controller; a sub-tank having a case that can be detachably attached to the plurality of slots; and a main tank for containing the consumable article to be replenished in the sub-tank mounted in the slot. The consumable article consumption apparatus further includes a main body-side storage unit for storing main body-side consumable article information relating to an attribute of the consumable article associated with each of the plurality of slots. The sub-tank further includes: a consumable article containing portion that is contained in the case and is configured to contain the consumable article to be supplied to the discharge portion due to the consumable article being replenished from a main tank containing the consumable article; and a sub-tank-side storage unit. When the sub-tank is first mounted in one of the plurality of slots, the controller stores the main body-side consumable article information associated with the slot in which the sub-tank is mounted, in the sub-tank-side storage unit as sub-tank-side consumable article information. 
     According to this aspect, the sub-tank includes a case that can be detachably attached to multiple slots, and when the sub-tank is first mounted in a slot, the sub-tank-side storage unit stores the sub-tank-side consumable article information. Accordingly, in a state before first being mounted on a slot, the sub-tank can be used in common for multiple slots, and therefore there is no need to manage stocks of sub-tanks for each slot. 
     (4) In the above-described mode, the sub-tank-side storage unit may store a sub-tank-side identifier configured to distinguish from another sub-tank. According to this mode, it is possible to easily distinguish between the sub-tank and the other sub-tank using the sub-tank-side identifier. 
     (5) In the above-described mode, when the sub-tank is first mounted in the slot, the controller may read out the sub-tank-side identifier from the sub-tank-side storage unit and store the sub-tank-side identifier in association with the slot that is the mounting destination as a main body-side identifier in the main body-side storage unit. According to this mode, by comparing the main-body-side identifier and the sub-tank-side identifier, the controller can easily determine whether or not the sub-tank has been mounted in the slot in the past. 
     (6) In the above-described mode, when the sub-tank with the sub-tank-side storage unit in which the sub-tank-side consumable article information is stored is mounted in the slot, if (i) the main body-side identifier associated with the slot that is the mounting destination and the sub-tank-side identifier stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit are different and (ii) the sub-tank-side identifier is different from all of a plurality of the main body-side identifiers associated with each of the plurality of slots, the controller may store, in the sub-tank-side storage unit, identification information configured to identify that the sub-tank was mounted in the slot of another consumable article consumption apparatus. According to this mode, it is possible to easily determine that the sub-tank was mounted in a slot of another consumable article consumption apparatus. 
     (7) In the above-described mode, when the sub-tank is mounted in the slot, if the identification information is stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit of the mounted sub-tank, the controller may replenish the consumable article in the mounted sub-tank from the main tank. According to this mode, the consumable article can be replenished in the sub-tank before the consumable article in the sub-tank is consumed. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the sub-tank will run out. 
     (8) In the above-described mode, the controller may stop the supply of the consumable article to the discharge portion before the supply amount of the consumable article supplied to the discharge portion becomes greater than or equal to the replenishment amount of the consumable article in the sub-tank with the sub-tank-side storage unit in which the identification information is stored. According to this mode, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the sub-tank will run out. 
     (9) In the above-described mode, the identification information may be indicated by a flag. According to this mode, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the sub-tank was mounted in a slot of another consumable article consumption apparatus by using a flag. 
     (10) In the above-described mode, if the consumable article is to be replenished in the sub-tank mounted in the slot from the main tank, the controller may set the interior of the case to a predetermined pressure reduction state. If the consumable article is to be supplied to the discharge portion from the sub-tank mounted in the slot, the controller may set the interior of the case to a predetermined pressure increase state. The controller may store the number of instances of the pressure reduction state and the number of instances of the pressure increase state in the main body-side storage unit in association with the slot, and each time the interior of the case is set to the pressure reduction state and the pressure increase state, the controller may add 1 to each of the number of instances of the pressure reduction state and the number of instances of the pressure increase state in the sub-tank-side storage unit. When the sub-tank with the sub-tank-side storage unit in which the sub-tank-side consumable article information is stored is mounted in the slot, if at least one of a first mismatch condition and a second mismatch condition is satisfied, the first mismatch condition being that the number of instances of the pressure reduction state stored in association with the slot and the number of instances of the pressure reduction state stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit do not match and the second mismatch condition being that the number of instances of the pressure increase state stored in association with the slot and the number of instances of the pressure increase state stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit do not match, the controller may replenish the consumable article in the mounted sub-tank from the main tank. According to this mode, the consumable article can be replenished in the sub-tank before the consumable article in the sub-tank is consumed. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the sub-tank will run out. 
     (11) In the above-described mode, if at least one of the first mismatch condition and the second mismatch condition is satisfied, the controller may stop supply of the consumable article to the discharge portion before the supply amount of the consumable article supplied to the discharge portion becomes greater than or equal to the replenishment amount of the consumable article in the sub-tank in which the consumable article was replenished. According to this mode, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the sub-tank will run out. 
     (12) In the above-described mode, the main body-side storage unit may further store sub-tank-related information including consumable article remaining amount information of the sub-tank, associated with each of the plurality of slots. When the sub-tank with the sub-tank-side storage unit in which the sub-tank-side consumable article information is stored is mounted in the slot, if (i) the main body-side identifier associated with the slot that is the mounting destination and the sub-tank-side identifier stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit are different and (ii) the sub-tank is mounted in another slot associated with the main body-side consumable article information that is the same as the sub-tank-side consumable article information among the plurality of slots included in the same consumable article consumption apparatus, the controller may re-writes the main body-side identifier associated with the slot that is the mounting destination to the sub-tank-side identifier of the mounted sub-tank, and re-write the sub-tank-related information associated with the slot that is the mounting destination according to the re-writing of the sub-tank-side identifier of the mounted sub-tank. According to this mode, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the handling of the sub-tank will become complicated for the user. 
     Note that the invention can be implemented in various forms other than a sub-tank and a consumable article consumption system, such as a method for controlling a consumable article consumption system, a computer program for controlling a consumable article consumption system, or a storage medium storing the computer program. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a consumable article consumption system serving as a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram for illustrating a connection state of a sub-tank, a supply pump, and a replenishment pump. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the interior of a controller. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram for illustrating an identifier table. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a replenishment table. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart for illustrating a step of replenishment in the sub-tank. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a circuit board. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a circuit board. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram for illustrating a sub-tank-side storage unit. 
         FIG. 10  is a first flowchart for a step of management control of a sub-tank, executed by an operation controller. 
         FIG. 11  is a second flowchart for a step of management control of a sub-tank, executed by the operation controller. 
         FIG. 12  is a third flowchart for a step of management control of a sub-tank, executed by the operation controller. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram for illustrating a sub-tank-side storage unit of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram showing a condition for a stirring instruction that is executed by the operation controller and is notified to a user. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     A. First Embodiment 
     A-1: Configuration of Consumable Article Consumption System: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a consumable article consumption system  10  serving as a first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a diagram for illustrating a connection state of sub-tanks, supply pumps, and replenishment pumps, and is a diagram showing control of air pressure in the sub-tanks. In  FIG. 2 , in order to facilitate comprehension, multiple slots  90  included in a consumable article consumption apparatus  30  are indicated schematically by broken lines. 
     The consumable article consumption system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) includes main tanks  20 , the consumable article consumption apparatus  30 , and sub-tanks  40 . The main tanks  20  are arranged outside of the housing of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . The consumable article consumption apparatus  30  is an inkjet-type printer that performs recording (printing) by ejecting ink, which is an example of a consumable article, onto a medium such as a sheet. 
     The main tanks  20  can be replaced with new main tanks  20  by a user. The main tanks  20  contain ink serving as a consumable article to be replenished in the sub-tanks  40  mounted in the slots (sub-tank mounting portions)  90 . If four main tanks  20  are used distinguished according to attributes (colors) of the consumable article contained therein, reference signs “ 20 C”, “ 20 M”, “ 20 Y”, and “ 20 K” are used. In the present embodiment, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) inks are respectively contained in different main tanks  20 C to  20 K. The main tank  20 C contains cyan ink. The main tank  20 M contains magenta ink. The main tank  20 Y contains yellow ink. The main tank  20 K contains black ink. The main tanks  20  can contain larger amounts of the consumable article than the later-described sub-tanks  40 . The consumable article stored in the main tanks  20  is ink that includes a precipitation component (pigment), for example. The main tanks  20  each include a container main body  22  and a main consumable article containing portion  23  that is contained in the container main body  22 . The main consumable article containing portion  23  is a flexible bag with a volume that decreases as the consumable article is consumed. 
     One main tank  20  is provided for each later-described sub-tank set  72 C to  72 K ( FIG. 2 ), and each main tank  20  is connected in parallel to multiple sub-tanks  40  that constitute the sub-tank sets  72 C to  72 K. The main tanks  20  contain the consumable article to be supplied to the sub-tanks  40 . 
     The main tanks  20  ( FIG. 1 ) are arranged in a tank arrangement portion  25 . Specifically, the main tanks  20  are arranged on the bottom wall  26  of the tank arrangement portion  25 . A consumable article supply portion of the main tank  20  is exposed to the outside by rotating a main tank lever  27  that rises upward from the bottom wall  26 , in the direction of arrow R 1  about a fulcrum  28 . The consumable article supply portion of the main tank  20  is a portion for supplying the consumable article of the main consumable article containing portion  23  to a connection member of the later-described consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . After performing opening by rotating the main tank lever  27  in the direction of the arrow R 1 , the user removes the connection member of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  from the consumable article supply portion of the main tank  20 . Then, the removed main tank  20  is lifted and removed from the tank arrangement portion  25 , and thereafter a new main tank  20  is arranged on the bottom wall  26  of the tank arrangement portion  25 . Then, the consumable article supply portion of the new main tank  20  and the connection portion of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  are connected, and thereafter the main tank lever  27  is closed by being rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow R 1 . Accordingly, the user can replace a main tank  20  with a new main tank  20 . 
     The sub-tanks  40  supply the consumable article to the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  (specifically, a later-described discharge portion  60 ). The sub-tanks  40  each include a case  42 , a consumable article containing portion  44  contained in the case  42 , a circuit board  402 , and the like. Two sub-tanks  40  are provided for each of the main tanks  20 C to  20 K. That is, two sub-tanks  40  are provided for each attribute (in this embodiment, color) of the consumable article. The sub-tanks  40  can be detachably attached to the later-described slots  90  of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . Also, the sub-tanks  40  can be detachably attached to the slots  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  with the same configuration (i.e., another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  of the same model). As described above, the sub-tanks  40  are interchangeable and thus can be attached to and detached from the multiple slots  90  in common. The details of the sub-tanks  40  will be described later. 
     In  FIG. 1 , among the multiple sub-tanks  40 , two sub-tanks  40 C 1  and  40 C 2 , in which the consumable article is replenished from the main tank  20 C containing the cyan consumable article, are shown. Other than the two sub-tanks  40 C 1  and  40 C 2 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , sub-tanks  40 M 1 ,  40 M 2 ,  40 Y 1 ,  40 Y 2 ,  40 K 1 , and  40 K 2  are detachably mounted in the slots  90 . The consumable article is replenished in the two sub-tanks  40 M 1  and  40 M 2  from the main tank  20 M containing the magenta consumable article. The consumable article is replenished in the two sub-tanks  40 Y 1  and  40 Y 2  from the main tank  20 Y containing the yellow consumable article. The consumable article is replenished in the two sub-tanks  40 K 1  and  40 K 2  from the main tank  20 K containing the black consumable article. If the multiple sub-tanks  40 C 1  to  40 K 2  are used with no distinction made therebetween, “sub-tanks  40 ” is used. In the two sub-tanks  40  containing consumable articles of the same attribute, one sub-tank  40  will be called a first sub-tank  40   a  and the other sub-tank  40  will be called a second sub-tank  40   b . The sub-tanks  40  will be described in detail later. 
     The consumable article consumption apparatus  30  includes an outer shell  31  that forms an outer surface, a controller  32 , an emitter  60 , a display unit  34 , and multiple slots  90 . The controller  32  is arranged inside of the outer shell  31  and controls the operation of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . The controller  32  will be described in detail later. 
     The multiple slots  90  form sub-tank mounting portions at which the sub-tanks  40  are detachably attached. Two of the multiple slots  90  are provided for each of the main tanks  20  containing consumable articles with different attributes (in this embodiment, colors). That is, two of the multiple slots  90  are provided for each consumable article of one type (cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, black ink). 
     Each of the multiple slots  90  includes a flow path connection portion  715 , an electrical contact portion  902 , and a relay substrate  904 . The flow path connection portion  715  is a hollow needle-shaped member that is connected to a sub-tank  40 . The flow path connection portion  715  communicates with the main tank  20  and later-described ejection ports  63  included in the discharge portion  60 . Accordingly, the sub-tank  40  can be refilled with the consumable article from the main tank  20  and can supply consumable article to the discharge portion  60 . The electrical contact portion  902  is an electrically conductive member that is electrically connected to the circuit board  402  due to coming into contact with the circuit board  402  of the sub-tank  40 . Nine (only two are shown in  FIG. 2 ) electrical contact portions  902  are provided. The relay substrate  904  is electrically connected to the electrical contact portion  902  and the controller  32 . The relay substrate  904  includes a storage unit such as a non-volatile memory, and information configured to identify the slots  90  (e.g., slot identifiers) is stored in the storage unit. 
     Here, slots  90  having flow path connection portions  715  that communicate with the main tank  20 C will be called slots  90 C, one of the two slots  90 C will be called a slot  90 C 1 , and the other will be called a slot  90 C 2  (see  FIG. 2 ). Slots  90  having flow path connection portions  715  that communicate with the main tank  20 M will be called slots  90 M, one of the two slots  90 M will be called a slot  90 M 1 , and the other will be called a slot  90 M 2 . Slots  90  having flow path connection portions  715  that communicate with the main tank  20 Y will be called slots  90 Y, one of the two slots  90 Y will be called a slot  90 Y 1 , and the other will be called a slot  90 Y 2 . Slots  90  having flow path connection portions  715  that communicate with the main tank  20 K will be called slots  90 K, one of the two slots  90 K will be called a slot  90 K 1 , and the other will be called a slot  90 K 2 . 
     The flow path connection portions  715  of the two slots  90 C 1  and  90 C 2  are connected in parallel with the ejection ports  63  that discharge the cyan consumable article. The flow path connection portions  715  of the two slots  90 M 1  and  90 M 2  are connected in parallel with the ejection ports  63  that discharge the magenta consumable article. The flow path connection portions  715  of the two slots  90 Y 1  and  90 Y 2  are connected in parallel with the ejection ports  63  that discharge the yellow consumable article. The flow path connection portions  715  of the two slots  90 K 1  and  90 K 2  are connected in parallel with the ejection ports  63  that discharge the black consumable article. 
     The discharge portion  60  is a printing head that moves reciprocally along a predetermined direction (X direction in  FIG. 1 ) due to a drive mechanism (not shown). The discharge portion  60  has a nozzle line  61  that discharges (ejects) the consumable article (in the present embodiment, ink) onto a medium. Four nozzle lines  61  are provided. In the case of using the four nozzle lines  61  with a distinction made therebetween, reference signs “ 61 C”, “ 61 M”, “ 61 Y”, and “ 61 K” are used. The nozzle lines  61 C to  61 K include multiple ejection ports  63 . The nozzle line  61 C ejects cyan ink supplied from one of the two sub-tanks  40 C 1  and  40 C 2 . The nozzle line  61 M ejects magenta ink supplied from one of the two sub-tanks  40 M 1  and  40 M 2 . The nozzle line  61 Y ejects yellow ink supplied from one of the two sub-tanks  40 Y 1  and  40 Y 2 . The nozzle line  61 K ejects black ink supplied from one of the two sub-tanks  40 K 1  and  40 K 2 . When recording (printing) is performed by ejecting the ink onto the medium, the discharge portion  60  moves reciprocally along the X direction, and the medium moves along a +Y direction that is orthogonal to the X direction inside of the outer shell  31  due to a conveying mechanism (not shown). Note that in another embodiment, the discharge portion  60  may be a line head that has a fixed position instead of moving reciprocally. 
     As described above, the discharge portion  60  includes multiple types of ejection ports  63  for ejecting the multiple types (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) of consumable articles to the medium. The multiple types of ejection ports  63  are formed in the nozzle lines  61 C to  61 K and eject consumable articles with different attributes. 
     The display unit  34  is arranged at a position of being visible by a user. The display unit  34  is a liquid crystal monitor that is arranged on the upper surface or front surface of the outer shell  31 , for example. The display unit  34  displays information relating to the consumable article consumption system  10 , such as messages, in response to a request from the controller  32  or the user. 
     The consumable article consumption apparatus  30  further includes a first replenishment flow path  71  and a second replenishment flow path  74  that allow the main consumable article containing portion  23  of the main tank  20  and the consumable article containing portion  44  of the corresponding sub-tank  40  to communicate, and a first supply flow path  77 , a second supply flow path  78 , and a merging supply flow path  79  that allow the consumable article containing portion  44  and the discharge portion  60  to communicate. The first replenishment flow path  71  and the second replenishment flow path  74  branch from the connection flow path  75 . 
     Four of each of the flow paths  71 ,  74 ,  75 ,  77 ,  78 , and  79  are provided in correspondence with the four main tanks  20 C to  20 K. Note that only the flow paths  71 ,  74 ,  75 ,  77 ,  78 , and  79  provided in correspondence with the main tank  20 C are illustrated in  FIG. 1 , but the flow paths  71 ,  74 ,  77 ,  78 , and  79  provided in correspondence with the other main tanks  20 M,  20 Y, and  20 K have similar configurations. 
     The connection flow path  75  includes a connection portion (not shown) that is detachably connected to the liquid supply portions of the main tank  20  at one end portion. The other end portion of the connection flow path  75  branches into the first replenishment flow path  71  and the second replenishment flow path  74 . 
     The first replenishment flow path  71  allows the main consumable article containing portion  23  of the main tank  20  and the consumable article containing portion  44  of the first sub-tank  40   a  to communicate via the connection flow path  75 . One end portion of the first replenishment flow path  71  is connected to the flow path connection portion  715  provided on the slot  90 . The first replenishment flow path  71  is for replenishing the consumable article of the main tank  20  in the first sub-tank  40   a . A first opening/closing valve  81  and a first replenishment valve  82  are arranged on the first replenishment flow path  71 . The first opening/closing valve  81  is arranged outside of the outer shell  31  and can be operated by the user. The first opening/closing valve  81  opens and closes the first replenishment flow path  71 . For example, when a user replaces a main tank  20 , the user closes the first opening/closing valve  81 , and thereafter removes the main tank  20  from the first replenishment flow path  71 , and after connecting a new main tank  20  to the first replenishment flow path  71 , the user opens the first opening/closing valve  81 . Also, the first opening/closing valve  81  can open and close according to an instruction from the operation controller  322 . The first replenishment valve  82  opens and closes according to an instruction from the operation controller  322  and opens and closes the first replenishment flow path  71 . 
     The second replenishment flow path  74  allows the main consumable article containing portion  23  of the main tank  20  and the consumable article containing portion  44  of the second sub-tank  40   b  to communicate via the connection flow path  75 . One end portion of the second replenishment flow path  74  is connected to the flow path connection portion  715  provided on the slot  90 . The second replenishment flow path  74  is for replenishing the liquid in the main tank  20  in the second sub-tank  40   b . A second opening/closing valve  84  and a second replenishment valve  85  are arranged on the second replenishment flow path  74 . The second opening/closing valve  84  is arranged outside of the outer shell  31  and is operated by the user. For example, when a user replaces a main tank  20 , the user closes the second opening/closing valve  84 , and thereafter removes the main tank  20  from the second replenishment flow path  74 , and after connecting a new main tank  20  to the second replenishment flow path  74 , the user opens the second opening/closing valve  84 . Also, the second opening/closing valve  84  can open and close according to an instruction from the operation controller  322 . The second replenishment valve  85  opens and closes according to an instruction from the operation controller  322  and opens and closes the second replenishment flow path  74 . 
     The first supply flow path  77  is connected to a portion between the first replenishment valve  82  and the first opening/closing valve  81  on the first replenishment flow path  71 . The first supply valve  83  is arranged on the first supply flow path  77 . The first supply path  83  opens and closes according to an instruction from the controller  32 . 
     The second supply flow path  78  is connected to a portion between the second replenishment valve  85  and the second opening/closing valve  84  on the second replenishment flow path  74 . The second supply valve  86  is arranged on the second supply flow path  78 . The second supply path  86  opens and closes according to an instruction from the controller  32 . 
     The merging supply flow path  79  is the flow path in which the first supply flow path  77  and the second supply flow path  78  merge. The merging supply flow path  79  communicates with the discharge portion  60  (specifically, the corresponding nozzle line  61 ). 
     If the consumable article is to be replenished in the first sub-tank  40   a  from the main tank  20 , the first opening/closing valve  81  is opened, the first supply valve  83  is closed, and the first replenishment valve  82  is opened. The open/closed state of these valves is called a first replenishment-enabled state. Accordingly, it is possible to replenish the consumable article in the first sub-tank  40   a  from the main tank  20  via the first replenishment flow path  71 . If the consumable article is to be replenished in the second sub-tank  40   b  from the main tank  20 , the second opening/closing valve  84  is opened, the second supply valve  86  is closed, and the second replenishment valve  85  is opened. The open/closed state of these valves is called a second replenishment-enabled state. Accordingly, it is possible to replenish the consumable article in the second sub-tank  40   b  from the main tank  20  via the second replenishment flow path  74 . 
     If the consumable article is to be supplied from the first sub-tank  40   a  to the discharge portion  60 , the first opening/closing valve  81  is closed, the first replenishment valve  82  is opened, and the first supply valve  83  is opened. The open/closed state of these valves is called a first supply-enabled state. Accordingly, it is possible to supply the consumable article from the first sub-tank  40   a  to the discharge portion  60  via a portion of the first supply flow path  71 , the first supply flow path  77 , and the merging supply flow path  79  from the first sub-tank  40   a . If a liquid is to be supplied from the second sub-tank  40   b  to the discharge portion  60 , the second opening/closing valve  84  is closed, the second replenishment valve  85  is opened, and the second supply valve  86  is opened. The open/closed state of these valves is called a second supply-enabled state. Accordingly, it is possible to supply the consumable article from the second sub-tank  40   b  to the discharge portion  60  via a portion of the second supply flow path  74 , the second supply flow path  78 , and the merging supply flow path  79  from the second sub-tank  40   b.    
     The first flow path pressure sensor  88  is arranged at the first connection portion of the first replenishment flow path  71  and the first supply flow path  77 . The first flow path pressure sensor  88  detects the flow path pressure of the first connection portion and transmits the detection result to the controller  32 . A second flow path pressure sensor  89  is arranged at a second connection portion of the second replenishment flow path  74  and the second supply flow path  78 . The second flow path pressure sensor  89  detects the flow path pressure of the second connection portion and transmits the detection result to the controller  32 . 
     In order to replenish the consumable article in the sub-tank  40  from the main tank  20 , the replenishment pump  52  ( FIG. 2 ) sets the interior of the case  42  of the sub-tank  40  in which replenishment is to be performed to a predetermined pressure reduction state. Also, replenishment opening/closing valves  523  to  530  are arranged on the flow paths that allow the replenishment pump  52  and the sub-tanks  40  to communicate. The replenishment opening/closing valves  523  to  530  are controlled by the controller  32 . Also, a flow path  580  that branches from the flow path located between the replenishment pump  52  and the replenishment opening/closing valves  523  to  530  is provided. This flow path  580  communicates with the atmosphere. An atmosphere release valve  53  that is controlled by the controller  32  is arranged on the flow path  580 . 
     The supply pump  54  is used to put the interior of the case  42  of the sub-tank  40  that is the supply source into a pressure increase state up to a predetermined pressure in order to supply the consumable article from the sub-tank  40  to the discharge portion  60 . Also, supply opening/closing valves  543  to  550  are arranged on the flow paths that allow the supply pump  54  and the sub-tanks  40  to communicate. The supply opening/closing valves  543  to  550  are controlled by the controller  32 . Also, a flow path  581  is provided which branches from the flow path located between the supply opening/closing valves  543  to  550  and the supply pump  54 . This flow path  581  communicates with the atmosphere. The opening/closing valve  55  that is controlled by the controller  32  is arranged on the flow path  581 . As a rule of thumb, the opening/closing valve  55  is open only when the power source of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  is off. 
     The details of the controller  32  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 .  FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the interior of the controller  32 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an identifier table  332 .  FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a replenishment table  334 . 
     The controller  32  ( FIG. 3 ) includes a CPU  321 , a RAM  328 , a ROM  329 , and a main body-side storage unit  331 . The CPU  321  includes an operation controller  322  as a device that operates due to various programs stored in the ROM  329  being expanded to the RAM  328  and executed. 
     The operation control unit  322  controls replenishment of the consumable article in the sub-tank  40  from the main tank  20 , supply of the consumable article from the sub-tank  40  to the discharge portion  60 , and the like. For example, the operation controller  322  switches the sub-tanks  40   a  and  40   b  (two in the present embodiment) of each of the multiple sub-tank sets  72  to supply-side sub-tanks  40 B ( FIG. 2 ) that can supply the consumable article to the ejection port  63  and replenishment-side sub-tanks  40 A ( FIG. 2 ) that can replenish the consumable article from the main tank  20 . At a predetermined timing, the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A is switched to a supply-side sub-tank  40 B and the supply-side sub-tank  40 B that has not been switched is switched to a replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A. Here, in the multiple (in this embodiment, two) sub-tanks  40  in a sub-tank set  72 , while one sub-tank  40  (e.g., the first sub-tank  40   a ) supplies the consumable article to the ejection port  63  in the period up to when the switching is performed, the remaining sub-tank (e.g., the second sub-tank  40   b ) is controlled so as not to supply the consumable article to the ejection port  63 . 
     Also, the operation controller  322  controls operations relating to the sub-tanks  40  mounted in the slots  90 . For example, when a sub-tank  40  is first mounted on one of the multiple slots  90 , the operation controller  322  stores the consumable article information in the circuit board  402  (specifically, the sub-tank-side storage unit) of the mounted sub-tank  40 . The consumable article information is information relating to the attribute (type) of the consumable article to be replenished from the main tank  20 , and in the present embodiment, it is information indicating the ink color. The consumable article information stored in the sub-tank  40  is also called sub-tank-side consumable article information. Also, the consumable article information is associated with each of the multiple slots  90  and is stored as main body-side consumable article information in the identifier table  332 . For example, the consumable article information associated with the slot  90 C is “cyan”, the consumable article information associated with the slot  90 M is “magenta”, the consumable article information associated with the slot  90 Y is “yellow”, and the consumable article information associated with the slot  90 K is “black”. 
     The main body-side storage unit  331  ( FIG. 3 ) is a data rewritable memory, and in the present embodiment, for example, a flash memory is used thereas. The main body-side storage unit  331  includes an identifier table  332  and a replenishment table  334 . 
     The identifier table  332  ( FIG. 4 ) includes a slot identifier region, a main body-side consumable article information region, and a main body-side identifier region. Unique slot identifiers configured to identify the multiple slots  90  included in the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  are stored in the slot identifier region. The slot identifier “SC 1   a ” is attributed to the slot  90 C 1 , “SC 2   a ” is attributed to the slot  90 C 2 , “SM 1   a ” is attributed to the slot  90 M 1 , “SM 2   a ” is attributed to the slot  90 M 2 , “SY 1   a ” is attributed to the slot  90 Y 1 , “SY 2   a ” is attributed to the slot  90 Y 2 , “SK 1   a ” is attributed to the slot  90 K 1 , and “SK 2   a ” is attributed to the slot  90 K 2 . Unique slot identifiers are attributed also to slots of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  with the same configuration (model). For example, in the other consumable article consumption apparatus  30 , the slot identifier “SC 1   b ” is attributed to the slot  90 C 1 , “SC 2   b ” is attributed to the slot  90 C 2 , “SM 1   b ” is attributed to the slot  90 M 1 , “SM 2   b ” is attributed to the slot  90 M 2 , “SY 1   b ” is attributed to the slot  90 Y 1 , “SY 2   b ” is attributed to the slot  90 Y 2 , “SK 1   b ” is attributed to the slot  90 K 1 , and “SK 2   b ” is attributed to the slot  90 K 2 . 
     The main body-side consumable article information is stored in association with the slot identifiers in the main body-side consumable article information region. The main body-side identifier region is a region in which the sub-tank-side identifier of the sub-tank  40  that was first mounted in the slot  90  is stored in association with the slot identifier as main body-side identifier. 
     The replenishment table  334  ( FIG. 5 ) includes a slot identifier region, a replenishment amount region, a consumption amount region, a consumable article remaining amount region, a pressure increase instance count region, and a pressure reduction instance count region. The same information (slot identifier information) as that in the slot identifier region of the identifier table  332  is stored in the slot identifier region. The replenishment amount region is a region that stores the replenishment amount information of the consumable article replenished in the sub-tank  40  from the main tank  20  due to one instance of later-described replenishment processing, in association with the slot identifiers. The replenishment amount information is updated to the newest information each time the replenishment processing is executed. The consumable article remaining amount region is a region in which the consumable article remaining amount information of the sub-tanks  40  is stored in association with the slot identifiers. The consumable article remaining amount is calculated by the controller  32  based on the replenishment amount information and the consumption amount information (the consumable article amount information supplied to the discharge portion  60  from the sub-tank  40  mounted in the slot  90 ) of the slot  90  in which a certain sub-tank  40  is mounted. The consumable article remaining amount information associated with the slot identifiers is updated every predetermined consumption amount (e.g., every 2 ml) of the consumable article for each slot identifier. The consumption amount of the consumable article is estimated by the controller  32  based on an amount consumed per dot and a count, by counting the dots ejected from the discharge portion  60  when the sub-tank  40  mounted in the slot  90  functions as a supply-side sub-tank  40 B. 
     The pressure increase instance count region is a region in which the instance count information of the pressure increase state, which is executed on the sub-tanks  40  mounted in the slots  90 , is stored in association with the slot identifiers. The pressure reduction instance count region is a region in which the instance count information of the pressure reduction state, which is executed on the sub-tank  40  mounted in the slot  90  is stored in association with the slot identifiers. 
     The replenishment amount information, the consumption amount information, the consumable article remaining amount information, the pressure increase instance count information, and the pressure reduction instance count information are included in sub-tank-related information. If the total value of the pressure increase instance count and the pressure reduction instance count reaches a predetermined threshold, the controller  32  determines that the lifespan of the sub-tank  40  mounted in the slot  90  that has reached the threshold has ended. Then, on the display unit  34 , the controller  32  displays information prompting replacement of the sub-tank  40  whose lifespan was determined to have ended with a new sub-tank  40 . 
     Note that in the present embodiment, the identifier table  332  and the replenishment table  334  are stored in the main body-side storage unit  331  as separate tables, but they may also be stored as one table. 
     A-2. Step of Replenishing the Sub-Tank 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart for illustrating a step of replenishment processing in the sub-tank  40 . The replenishment processing step is executed in the case where any of the following conditions are satisfied, for example. 
     Condition 1: when an unused sub-tank  40  is first mounted in a slot  90   
     Condition 2: when a later-described mismatch flag of the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  is set to “1” 
     Condition 3: when the consumable article remaining amount of the supply-side sub-tank  40 B reaches a predetermined threshold 
     In the present embodiment, the maximum capacity of the sub-tank  40  is 900 ml, the replenishment rate (minimum replenishment rate) of the consumable article from the main tank  20  to the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A is at least 50 ml/min with a tolerance included, and the maximum supply rate of the consumable article from the supply-side sub-tank  40 B to the discharge portion  60  is at most 20 ml/min with a tolerance included. The maximum supply rate is the consumable article supply rate from the supply-side sub-tank  40 B to the discharge portion  60  at the time of performing monochrome solid printing onto a medium. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the operation controller  322  opens the opening/closing valves  523  to  530  between the replenishment pump  52  and the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A, and thereafter starts driving the replenishment-side pump  52  (step S 110 ). For example, if the first sub-tank  40   a  of each color is a replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A, the operation controller  322  starts driving the replenishment pump  52  by opening the opening/closing valves  523 ,  525 ,  527 , and  529  shown in  FIG. 2 , closing the opening/closing valves  524 ,  526 ,  528 , and  530 , and closing the atmosphere release valve  53 . On the other hand, in order to cause the second sub-tank  40   b  of each color to function as the supply-side sub-tank  40 B, the operation controller  322  opens the opening/closing valves  544 ,  546 ,  548 , and  550  shown in  FIG. 2 , closes the opening/closing valves  543 ,  545 ,  547 , and  549 , closes the opening/closing valve  55 , and drives the supply pump  54  to supply the consumable article to the discharge portion  60 . 
     After step S 110 , the operation control unit  322  drives the replenishment pump  52  until the interior of the case  42  of the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A reaches a predetermined pressure reduction state (step S 120 ). The predetermined pressure reduction state is a state in which the interior of the case  42  has a predetermined negative pressure in order to suction the consumable article in the main tank  20 . The operation controller  322  detects the pressure in the case  42  using a pressure sensor  56  ( FIG. 1 ) of the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A. The operation controller  322  drives the replenishment pump  52  such that the predetermined pressure reduction state is maintained until the replenishment of the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A is complete. 
     Next, the operation controller  322  switches the first replenishment valve  82  ( FIG. 1 ) from the closed state to the open state, and starts replenishing the consumable article from the main tank  20  to the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A (step S 130 ). In step S 130 , the first opening/closing valve  81  ( FIG. 1 ) is set to the open state. By switching the first replenishment valve  82  from the closed state to the open state, the consumable article in the main consumable article containing portion  23  is suctioned into the consumable article containing portion  44  of the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A via the first replenishment flow path  71 . 
     After the replenishment in the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A ends, the operation controller  322  stops driving the replenishment pump  52  in order to cancel the pressure reduction state in the case  42  of the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A (step S 140 ). Also, in step S 140 , the operation controller  322  switches the first replenishment valve  82  from the open state to the closed state, and thus the first supply flow path  71  ( FIG. 1 ) that allows the consumable article to flow through from the main tank  20  to the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A is set to a non-communicating state. Note that the amount of time for which the consumable article is actually replenished until the consumable article remaining amount of the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A is filled from zero to the maximum capacity (900 ml) is 18 minutes in the present embodiment. The steps of step S 3  and step S 4  are also referred to collectively as an actual replenishment step. 
     After step S 140 , the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A is subjected to atmospheric release (step S 150 ). Atmospheric release is a state in which the replenishment pump  52  and the supply pump  54  are not driven with respect to the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A, and is a step for setting the pressure in the case  42  that is at a negative pressure to the atmospheric pressure. The pressure change from the negative pressure to the atmospheric pressure is performed by opening the atmospheric release valve  53  shown in  FIG. 2 , which is between the replenishment pump  52  and the opening/closing valves  523  to  530 , and due to the external air being taken into the case  42  via the flow path  580 . The operation controller  322  ends step S 150  when the pressure in the case  42  detected by the pressure sensor  56  reaches the atmospheric pressure. Note that the amount of time needed to set the pressure reduction state in the case  42  to the atmospheric pressure state is several seconds, and is included in the amount of time for executing a later-described switching preparation step. 
     After step S 150 , the operation controller  322  opens the opening/closing valves  543 ,  545 ,  547 , and  549  between the supply pump  54  and the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A, and thereafter starts driving the supply pump  54  (step S 160 ). The operation controller  322  drives the supply pump  54  (step S 170 ) until the interior of the case  42  of the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A reaches a predetermined pressure increase state. The predetermined pressure increase state is a pressure state for supplying the consumable article to the discharge portion  60 , and is a state in which the interior of the case  42  is at a higher pressure than the predetermined atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A is switched to a supply-side sub-tank  40 B and the consumable article can be supplied to the discharge portion  60 . In actuality, by performing control such that the first opening/closing valve  81  is closed, the first replenishment valve  82  is open, and the first supply valve  83  is open, the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A is set as a supply-side sub-tank  40 B and supply of the consumable article to the discharge portion  60  is started. 
     Here, the steps of step S 110 , step S 120 , and steps S 150  to S 170  are steps that do not accompany replenishing of the consumable article from the main tank  20  and supply of the consumable article to the discharge portion  60 , and can be said to be steps that are needed for pressure control for switching between the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A, which can replenish the consumable article from the main tank  20 , and the supply-side sub-tank  40 B. Accordingly, the steps of step S 110 , step S 120 , and steps S 150  to S 170  are also called switching preparation steps. In the present embodiment, the amount of time for executing the switching preparation steps (also called “switching preparation time A”) is 6 minutes, and the amount of time B for executing the actual replenishment step is 18 minutes at most. The switching preparation time is the amount of time needed for switching between the replenishment-side sub-tank  40 A and the supply-side sub-tank  40 B, and is the amount of time for which pressure control for switching is performed. 
     A-3. Detailed Description of Sub-Tank  40   
     The sub-tank  40  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 9 , as well as  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a front view of the circuit board  402 .  FIG. 8  is a side view of the circuit board  402 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram for illustrating a sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . 
     The sub-tank  40  ( FIG. 1 ) includes a case  42 , a consumable article containing portion  44  contained in the case  42 , a consumable article flow-through portion  47 , and a circuit board  402 . The case  42  is an approximately cuboid-shaped housing that contains the consumable article containing portion  44 . The case  42  has a shape that can be detachably attached to multiple slots  90  or the slots  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . 
     The consumable article containing portion  44  can store a consumable article to be supplied to the discharge portion  60 . The consumable article containing portion  44  is a flexible bag, and its volume decreases as the consumable article is consumed. The consumable article containing portion  44  does not contain the consumable article in an unused state prior to first being attached to the slot  90 . When the sub-tank  40  is first mounted in the slot  90 , the consumable article containing portion  44  contains the consumable article due to the consumable article being replenished from the main tank  20  that communicates with the slot  90  that is the mounting destination. 
     The consumable article flow-through portion  47  is connected to the consumable article containing portion  44  and communicates with the consumable article containing portion  44 . The consumable article flow-through portion  47  is a tube-shaped member and is connected due to the flow path connection portion  715  being inserted when the sub-tank  40  is mounted in the slot  90 . Accordingly, it is possible to replenish the consumable article from the main tank  20  to the sub-tank  40  and to supply the consumable article from the sub-tank  40  to the discharge portion  60 . 
     The circuit board  402  ( FIG. 1 ) is attached to the surface of the case  42 . The circuit board  402  ( FIG. 7 ) includes a sub-tank-side terminal group  499  ( FIG. 8 ) that is provided on the surface  402   fa  and a sub-tank-side storage unit  420  that is provided on the under surface  402   fb.    
     The sub-tank-side terminal group  499  ( FIG. 7 ) is composed of nine sub-tank terminals  431  to  439 . The nine sub-tank-side terminals  431  to  439  are each formed into an approximately rectangular shape and include a contact portion cp that comes into contact with the corresponding electrical contact portion  902  provided in the slot  90 . 
     The sub-tank-side terminals  431  to  439  can be referred to as follows based on their functions (applications). 
     (1) Mounting detection terminal (first terminal)  435   
     (2) Power source terminal  436   
     (3) Grounding terminal  437   
     (4) Data terminal  438   
     (5) Mounting detection terminal (second terminal)  439   
     Second terminal line RN 2   
     (6) Mounting detection terminal (third terminal)  431   
     (7) Reset terminal  432   
     (8) Clock terminal  433   
     (9) Mounting detection terminal (fourth terminal)  434   
     The four mounting detection terminals  431 ,  434 ,  435 , and  439  are used to detect whether or not the sub-tanks  40  have been mounted in the slots  90  due to the controller  32  detecting whether or not the electrical contact with the corresponding electrical contact portion  902  ( FIG. 1 ) provided in the slot  90  is suitable. Accordingly, the four mounting detection terminals  431 ,  434 ,  435 , and  439  can also be called a “mounting detection terminal group”. In the present embodiment, the four mounting detection terminals  431 ,  434 ,  437 , and  439  are electrically connected to each other inside of the circuit board  402 , and when the sub-tanks  40  are mounted in the slots  90 , they are electrically connected to a grounding line (not shown) of the consumable article consumption apparatus through the grounding terminal  437 . 
     The other five terminals  432 ,  433 ,  436 ,  437 , and  438  are terminals for the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . Accordingly, the five terminals  432 ,  436 ,  437 , and  438  can also be called a “storage portion terminal group”. 
     The reset terminal  432  receives supply of a reset signal RST for the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . The clock terminal  433  receives supply of a clock signal SCK for the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . The power source terminal  436  receives supply of a power source voltage VDD (e.g., a rated power 3.3 V) for the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . The grounding terminal  437  receives supply of a grounding voltage VSS (0 V) for the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . The data terminal  438  receives supply of a data signal SDA that is exchanged between the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  and the main body-side storage unit  331 . 
     The sub-tank-side storage unit  420  is a data rewritable memory, and in the present embodiment, for example, a flash memory is used thereas. The sub-tank-side storage unit  420  ( FIG. 9 ) includes a sub-tank-side identifier region  422 , a sub-tank-side consumable article information region  423 , and a mismatch flag  444 . 
     The sub-tank-side identifier region  422  stores unique sub-tank-side identifiers configured to distinguish from other sub-tanks  40 . The sub-tank-side identifier is stored in the sub-tank-side identifier region  422  in the unused state prior to first being mounted in the slot  90 . The sub-tank-side identifiers are the identifiers “TA 11 ” to “TA 18 ”, and the like, which are stored in the main body-side identifier region shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The sub-tank-side consumable article information region  423  is a region in which, after the sub-tank  40  is first mounted in the slot  90  and the consumable article is replenished in the consumable article containing portion  44  from the main tank  20 , the main body-side consumable article information associated with the slot  90  (slot identifier) that is the mounting destination is written as sub-tank-side consumable article information. That is, in the state after the sub-tank  40  is first mounted in the slot  90  and the consumable article is replenished in the consumable article containing portion  44  from the main tank  20 , the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  stores the sub-tank-side consumable article information (e.g., the consumable article information such as “cyan” or “magenta”) relating to the attribute of the consumable article that was replenished in the consumable article containing portion  44 . 
     The mismatch flag  444  includes information configured to identify that the sub-tank  40  was mounted in the slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  when the sub-tank  40  is mounted in the slot  90  of the other consumable article consumption apparatus  30  that is different from the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  in which it was first mounted. When the sub-tank  40  is mounted on another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 , the controller  32  of the other consumable article consumption apparatus  30  sets the mismatch flag to “1”. Information indicating that the mismatch flag has been set to “1” corresponds to “identification information” for solving the problem to be solved. Note that when the sub-tank  40  has not been mounted on another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 , the mismatch flag is set to “0”. The slot  90  (other apparatus slot  90 ) of the other consumable article consumption apparatus  30  for which the mismatch flag is set to “1” is described below. That is, the other apparatus slot  90  is a slot  90  that is associated with main body-side consumable article information that is the same (the same ink color) as the sub-tank-side consumable article information stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . More specifically, in the present embodiment, the other apparatus slot  90  is a slot  90  for replenishing the consumable article with the same color as the consumable article contained in the sub-tank  40  from the main tank  20  and for supplying the consumable article to the discharge portion  60 . 
     The consumable article remaining amount and the consumable article consumption amount of the sub-tank  40  are not stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . That is, in the consumable article consumption system  10 , the consumable article remaining amount and the consumable article consumption amount are managed by the consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . Accordingly, the controller  32  does not need to read and write the consumable article remaining amount and the consumable article consumption amount from and to the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 , and therefore the load on the controller  32  can be reduced. Also, the sub-tank  40  can be attached to and detached from the slot  90  and can be carried. Accordingly, there may be a possibility that the data of the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  will be destroyed due to the sub-tank  40  being dropped or colliding with another member. In this case as well, due to the consumable article remaining amount and the consumable article consumption amount being managed (stored) by the consumable article consumption apparatus  30 , it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the data on the consumable article remaining amount and the consumable article consumption amount will be damaged. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the sub-tank  40  will be rendered unusable before the replacement time has been reached. 
     The sub-tank  40  ( FIG. 1 ) further includes a pressure sensor  56  for detecting the pressure in the case  42 , and includes a stirring roller  45  inside of the case  42 . The pressure sensor  56  detects the pressure inside of the case  42  and transmits the detection result to the controller  32  via the circuit board  402 . In  FIG. 1 , the pressure sensor  56  is located outside of the case  42  in order to facilitate comprehension, but in actuality, it is arranged inside of the case  42 . Two stirring rollers  45  are provided sandwiching the consumable article containing portion  44  (in  FIG. 1 , only one stirring roller  45  is shown). The two stirring rollers  45  are electrically connected to the circuit board  402  and move in the left-right direction in  FIG. 1  while sandwiching the consumable article containing portion  44 , according to an instruction from the controller  32 . Accordingly, the consumable article in the consumable article containing portion  44  is stirred. 
     A-4. Sub-Tank Management Control Step 
       FIG. 10  is a first flowchart for the management control step of the sub-tank  40 , which is executed by the operation controller  322 .  FIG. 11  is a second flowchart for the management control step of the sub-tank  40 , which is executed by the operation controller  322 .  FIG. 13  is a third flowchart for the management control step of the sub-tank  40 , which is executed by the operation controller  322 . As described above, the sub-tanks  40  are interchangeable, and can be used in common in multiple slots  90  or the slots  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . Also, the sub-tank  40  in which the consumable article was replenished is stirred by being removed from the slot  90  and being shaken, or the like, according to the determination of the user based on stirring recommendation information or the like displayed periodically on the display unit  34 . If the sub-tank  40  containing the consumable article is removed from the slot  90 , a case may occur in which it is erroneously mounted in a slot  90  other than the slot  90  into which it was originally to be mounted. Even if the sub-tank  40  is mounted in another slot  90 , use is possible as long as the slot  90  is associated with the same consumable article information (attribute). Also, if the lifespan of the sub-tank  40  mounted in a certain slot  90  (e.g., the slot  90 C 1  for cyan ink) ends or the like, the following situation can occur. That is, if an unused sub-tank  40  is not available, a situation may occur in which the user removes the sub-tank  40  whose lifespan has ended from the slot  90  (e.g., the slot  90 C 1 ) and mounts a sub-tank  40  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 , which contains a consumable article with the same attribute (e.g., cyan), in the slot  90  (e.g., the slot  90 C 1 ) of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  that is in use. Thus, a sub-tank  40  that was mounted in another slot  90  can be used if the sub-tank  40  is mounted in another slot  90  that is different from the slot  90  in which the sub-tank  40  was originally to be mounted but has the same attribute (type of color) of the consumable article. Thus, when use is possible even though the sub-tank  40  is mounted in a different slot  90 , it is possible to execute the printing operation of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  in order to reduce the number of operations performed by the user. Note that the management control step for the sub-tank  40 , which is to be described below, is executed in order to suppress a case in which the amount of the consumable article contained in the sub-tank  40  reaches zero during a printing operation. The sub-tank  40  is mounted in the slot  90 , and thereby the management control step for the sub-tank  40  is executed on the mounted sub-tank  40 . The sub-tank  40  mounted in the slot  90  on which the management control step is to be executed is herein also called a target sub-tank  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , if the target sub-tank  40  is mounted in the slot  90 , the operation controller  322  determines whether or not the mounted target sub-tank  40  is an unused sub-tank  40  (step S 2 ). It is possible to determine whether or not the target sub-tank  40  is unused based on whether or not the sub-tank-side consumable article information is stored in the sub-tank-side consumable article information region  423  ( FIG. 9 ) of the target sub-tank  40 . That is, if no sub-tank-side consumable article information is stored in the sub-tank-side consumable article information region  423 , the operation controller  322  determines that the target sub-tank  40  is unused. 
     If the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 2 , the operation controller  322  reads out the sub-tank-side identifier of the mounted target sub-tank  40  from the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 . Also, the operation controller  322  stores the read-out sub-tank-side identifier associated with the slot  90  (slot identifier) in which the target sub-tank  40  is mounted, in the main body-side identifier region of the main body-side storage unit  331  ( FIG. 4 ) as the main body-side identifier (step S 4 ). After step S 4 , the operation controller  322  replenishes the consumable article in the consumable article containing portion  44  from the ink tank  20  by executing the replenishment processing on the mounted target sub-tank  40  (step S 6 ). Note that if the replenishment processing is executed, the operation controller  322  stores the newest replenishment amount in the replenishment table  334  ( FIG. 5 ). Also, if the replenishment processing was executed, the operation control unit  322  stores the number of instances of the pressure increase state (pressure increase instance count) and the number of instances of the pressure reduction state (pressure reduction instance count), which were executed in the replenishment processing up to the current time in the slots  90 . That is, if the replenishment processing step is executed, the operation controller  322  adds 1 to the pressure increase instance count when the interior of the case  42  is put in a predetermined pressure increase state and adds 1 to the pressure reduction instance count when the interior of the case  42  is put in a predetermined pressure reduction state. The replenishment processing may be the steps from step S 110  to step S 170  shown in  FIG. 6 , or the steps from step S 110  to step S 140 . 
     Next, the operation controller  322  stores, in the sub-tank-side consumable article information region  423  of the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 , the main body-side consumable article information associated with the slot  90  in which the target sub-tank  40  is mounted as the sub-tank-side consumable article information (step S 8 ). For example, if an unused sub-tank  40  is mounted in the slot  90 C 1 , “cyan” is stored as the sub-tank-side consumable article information in the sub-tank-side consumable article information region  423 . 
     If the result of the determination is “NO” in step S 2 , the operation controller  322  determines whether or not the sub-tank-side identifier of the mounted target sub-tank  40  matches the main body-side identifier associated with the slot  90  that is the mounting destination (step S 10  in  FIG. 11 ). If the sub-tank-side identifier and the main body-side identifier match, it can be determined that the target sub-tank  40  that was removed from the slot  90  has been correctly returned to the original slot  90 . If the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 10 , the operation controller  322  determines whether or not the mismatch flag is “1” by referencing the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  of the target sub-tank  40  (step S 12 ). If the mismatch flag is not “1” (step S 12 : NO), it can be determined that the target sub-tank  40  has not been mounted in the slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  in the past. That is, if the mismatch flag is not “1”, or in other words, if the mismatch flag is “0”, the consumable article contained in the target sub-tank  40  has not been consumed by another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . Accordingly, the operation controller  322  maintains the replenishment amount and the consumable article remaining amount stored in the replenishment table  334  for the slot identifier (target slot identifier) associated with the same main body-side identifier as the sub-tank-side identifier of the target sub-tank  40  (step S 14 ). Thus, the controller  32  performs remaining amount control for the target sub-tank  40  based on the maintained consumable article remaining amount. For example, the operation controller  322  stops supplying the consumable article from the target sub-tank  40  to the discharge portion  60  before the maintained consumable article remaining amount reaches zero. 
     On the other hand, if the mismatch flag is “1” (step S 12 : YES), this means that the target sub-tank  40  has been mounted in the slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  in the past. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the consumable article of the target sub-tank  40  has been consumed by the other consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . For this reason, there is a possibility that the consumable article remaining amount of the target sub-tank  40  stored in the replenishment table  334  will be less than the actual consumable article remaining amount of the target sub-tank  40 . Accordingly, if the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 12 , the operation controller  322  executes the replenishment processing (step S 22 ). Next, the operation controller  322  updates the replenishment amount associated in the replenishment table  334  with the slot identifier of the slot in which the target sub-tank  40  is mounted, to the replenishment amount obtained by performing replenishing in step S 22  (step S 24 ). Next, the operation controller  322  determines whether or not the target sub-tank  40  has been filled to the maximum capacity (900 ml in the present embodiment) (step S 26 ). The determination in step S 26  is performed based on the detection values of the flow path pressure sensors  88  and  89  arranged on the flow path that connects the slot  90  in which the target sub-tank  40  is mounted and the main tank  20 . Specifically, if the flow path pressure reaches a predetermined threshold value or less in the step of step S 22 , the operation controller  322  determines that the target sub-tank  40  has been filled to the maximum capacity. 
     If the result of the determination is “NO” in step S 26 , the actual consumable article remaining amount of the target sub-tank  40  cannot be determined. Accordingly, the operation controller  322  performs remaining amount control using the replenishment amount that was changed in step S 24  as the consumable article remaining amount of the target sub-tank  40  (step S 27 ). Specifically, for example, if the target sub-tank  40  storing the identification information (a mismatch flag of “1”) is switched to a supply-side sub-tank  40 B, supply of the consumable article to the discharge portion  60  is stopped before the supply amount of the consumable article supplied by the target sub-tank  40  to the discharge portion becomes greater than or equal to the replenishment amount of the consumable article replenished from the main tank  20  in step S 22 . Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the target sub-tank  40  will run out. Also, if the actual consumable article remaining amount in the target sub-tank  40  cannot be determined, the operation controller  322  keeps the mismatch flag at “1” (step S 27 ). Accordingly, when the target sub-tank  40  is removed from the slot  90  and is once again mounted in the original slot  90 , the replenishment processing of step S 22  can be executed, and therefore it is possible to fill the target sub-tank  40  with the consumable article to the maximum capacity. 
     On the other hand, if the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 26 , it is possible to estimate that the maximum capacity (900 ml) of the consumable article is contained in the target sub-tank  40 . Accordingly, the operation controller  322  updates the consumable article remaining amount stored in the replenishment table  334  for the target slot identifier to the maximum capacity (step S 28 ). Also, the operation controller  322  sets the mismatch flag of the target sub-tank  40  to “0” (step S 28 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , if the result of the determination is “NO” in step S 10 , it is determined whether or not the sub-tank-side consumable article information stored in the target sub-tank  40  matches the main body-side consumable article information associated with the slot identifier of the slot  90  that is the mounting destination (step S 30 ). If the sub-tank-side consumable article information and the main body-side consumable article information do not match (step S 30 : NO), the attribute (in the present embodiment, the color) of the consumable article handled by the slot  90  that is the mounting destination and the attribute of the consumable article contained in the target sub-tank  40  are different. Accordingly, in this case, the operation controller  322  displays an error on the display unit  34  in order to prompt the user to remove the target sub-tank  40  from the slot  90  that is the mounting destination (step S 31 ). 
     On the other hand, if the sub-tank-side consumable article information and the main body-side consumable article information match (step S 30 : YES), the attribute (in the present embodiment, color) of the consumable article handled by the slot  90  that is the mounting destination and the attribute of the consumable article contained in the target sub-tank  40  are the same, and therefore the target sub-tank  40  can continue to be used. Accordingly, in this case, the operation controller  322  determines whether or not the slot  90  that is the mounting destination is the slot  90  that is included in the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  in which the target sub-tank  40  was first mounted (step S 32 ). This determination is performed based on whether or not one of the main body-side identifiers stored in the identifier table  332  ( FIG. 4 ) and the sub-tank-side identifier stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  ( FIG. 9 ) of the target sub-tank  40  match. If one of the main body-side identifiers and the sub-tank-side identifier match, the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 32 . One example in which the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 32  is a case (switched mounting case) in which, in  FIG. 1 , the sub-tank  40 C 1  is removed from the slot  90 C 1 , the sub-tank  40 C 2  is removed from the slot  90 C 2 , the sub-tank  40 C 1  is mounted in the slot  90 C 2 , and the sub-tank  40 C 2  is mounted in the slot  90 C 1 . 
     If the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 32 , in the identifier table  332 , the operation controller  322  re-writes the main body-side identifier stored in association with the slot identifier of the slot  90  that is the mounting destination to the sub-tank-side identifier of the target sub-tank  40  (step S 52 ). For example, in the above-described switched mounting case, in the identifier table  332  shown in  FIG. 4 , as indicated by the arrow, the main body-side identifier stored in association with the slot identifier SC 1   a  is re-written from “TA 11 ” to “TA 12 ”, and the main body-side identifier stored in association with the slot identifier SC 2   a  is re-written from “TA 12 ” to “TA 11 ”. 
     If the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 32 , in the replenishment table  334 , the operation controller  322  re-writes the sub-tank-side information stored in association with the slot identifier of the slot  90  that is the mounting destination, in response to the re-writing of the sub-tank-side identifier of the mounted sub-tank  40  (step S 54 ). For example, in the above-described switched mounting case, in the replenishment table  334  shown in  FIG. 5 , as indicated by the arrows, the sub-tank-related information stored in association with the slot identifier SC 1   a  and the sub-tank-related information stored in association with the slot identifier SC 2   a  are exchanged. Accordingly, it is possible to correctly perform the remaining amount control and replacement time determination for the sub-tanks  40  that were subjected to exchange mounting, while reducing the likelihood that the handling of the sub-tanks  40  will be complicated for the user. 
     If the result of the determination is “NO” in step S 32 , this means that a sub-tank  40  that was first mounted on another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  was mounted in a slot  90  of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  executing the present flow (other apparatus mounting state). Accordingly, the operation controller  322  of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  sets the mismatch flag stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  of the mounted sub-tank  40  to “1” (step S 34 ). Next, in the identifier table  332 , the operation controller  322  re-writes the main body-side identifier stored in association with the slot identifier of the slot  90  that is the mounting destination to the sub-tank-side identifier of the target sub-tank  40  (step S 36 ). 
     In the case of the other apparatus mounting state, the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  executing the current flow cannot determine the actual consumable article remaining amount of the mounted sub-tank  40 . Accordingly, the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  executes replenishment processing on the mounted sub-tank  40  (step S 38 ). Next, the operation controller  322  updates the replenishment amount ( FIG. 5 ) associated in the replenishment table  334  with the slot identifier of the slot in which the target sub-tank  40  is mounted, to the replenishment amount obtained by performing replenishing in step S 38  (step S 39 ). Next, the operation controller  322  determines whether or not the target sub-tank  40  has been filled to the maximum capacity (900 ml in the present embodiment) (step S 40 ). Step S 40  has the same processing content as step S 26  in  FIG. 11 . 
     If the result of the determination is “NO” in step S 40 , the operation controller  322  performs remaining amount control using the replenishment amount updated in step S 39  as the consumable article remaining amount of the target sub-tank  40  (step S 42 ). Specifically, for example, if the target sub-tank  40  storing the identification information (a mismatch flag of “1”) is switched to a supply-side sub-tank  40 B, supply of the consumable article to the discharge portion  60  is stopped before the supply amount of the consumable article supplied by the target sub-tank  40  to the discharge portion becomes greater than or equal to the replenishment amount of the consumable article replenished from the main tank  20  in step S 38 . Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the target sub-tank  40  will run out. 
     If the result of the determination is “YES” in step S 40 , the operation controller  322  updates the consumable article remaining amount stored in the replenishment table  334  for the slot identifier associated with the same main body-side identifier as the sub-tank-side identifier of the target sub-tank  40  to the maximum capacity (step S 44 ). The operation controller  322  performs remaining amount control for the target sub-tank  40  based on the consumable article remaining amount that was updated in step S 44 . For example, the operation controller  322  stops supplying the consumable article from the target sub-tank  40  to the discharge portion  60  before the updated consumable article remaining amount reaches zero. 
     According to the above-described first embodiment, the sub-tank  40  includes a case  42  ( FIG. 1 ) that can be detachably attached to the multiple slots  90 , and if the consumable article is replenished from the main tank  20 , the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  stores the sub-tank-side consumable article information (step S 8  in  FIG. 10 ). Accordingly, in the state prior to first being mounted in the slot  90 , the sub-tank  40  can be used in common in multiple slots, and therefore the stocks of the sub-tanks  40  do not need to be managed for each slot  90 . Also, due to the sub-tank  40  including a case  42  (see  FIG. 1 ) that can be detachably attached to the multiple slots  90 , it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the sub-tank  40  compared to the case of manufacturing a case  42  with a non-interchangeable shape for each slot  90 . Also, according to the above-described first embodiment, the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  stores the sub-tank-side identifier, and therefore it is possible to easily make a distinction from another sub-tank, even after the consumable article has been replenished in the consumable article containing portion  44 . 
     Also, when the sub-tank  40  is mounted in a slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  that is different from the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  in which the sub-tank  40  was first mounted, the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  of the sub-tank  40  stores the mismatch flag “1” as the identification information. Accordingly, the operation controller  322  of the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  can determine whether or not the sub-tank  40  was mounted in a slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  according to the identification information. 
     According to the above-described first embodiment, when an unused sub-tank  40  is first mounted on one of the multiple slots  90 , the controller  32  reads out the sub-tank-side identifier and the operation controller  322  stores it in the main body-side storage unit  331  as the main body-side identifier in association with the slot  90  that is the mounting destination. Accordingly, the operation controller  322  can easily determine whether or not a certain sub-tank  40  has been mounted in a certain slot  90  in the past by comparing the main body-side identifier and the sub-tank-side identifier. 
     According to the above-described first embodiment, when the target sub-tank  40  in which the sub-tank-side consumable article information is stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  is mounted in a slot  90 , if the following condition (identification information condition) is satisfied, the operation controller  322  sets the mismatch flag “1” in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  of the target sub-tank  40  as the identification information (step S 32 : NO, step S 34  in  FIG. 12 ). Accordingly, the operation controller  322  can easily determine that the target sub-tank  40  was mounted in the slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . 
     Identification Information Condition 
     The main body-side identifier associated with the slot  90  that is the mounting destination and the sub-tank-side identifier stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  are different from each other, and the sub-tank-side identifier is different from all of the multiple main body-side identifiers associated with the multiple slots. 
     According to the above-described first embodiment, the identification information is represented by a flag (mismatch flag). Accordingly, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the sub-tank  40  was mounted in a slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  using the flag. 
     According to the above-described first embodiment, when the target sub-tank  40  is mounted in a slot  90 , if the identification information is stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  of the target sub-tank  40 , the operation controller  322  replenishes the consumable article in the target sub-tank  40  from the main tank  20  (step S 22  in  FIG. 11 , step S 38  in  FIG. 12 ). Accordingly, it is possible to replenish the consumable article in the target sub-tank  40  before the consumable article in the target sub-tank  40  is consumed. Thus, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the target sub-tank  40  will run out. 
     According to the above-described first embodiment, when a target sub-tank  40  having a sub-tank-side storage unit  420  in which the sub-tank-side consumable article information is stored is mounted in a slot  90 , if the following condition (re-writing condition) is satisfied, the operation controller  322  performs the following re-writing operation (step S 32 : YES, step S 52 , and step S 54  in  FIG. 12 ). Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the handling of the sub-tanks  40  will be complicated for the user. 
     Re-Writing Condition 
     The main body-side identifier associated with the slot  90  that is the mounting destination and the sub-tank-side identifier stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  are different from each other, and the sub-tank  40  is mounted in another slot  90  associated with main body-side consumable article information that is the same as the sub-tank-side consumable article information, among multiple slots  90  included in the same consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . 
     Re-Writing Operation 
     The main body-side identifier associated with the slot  90  that is the mounting destination is re-written to the sub-tank-side identifier of the mounted sub-tank  40 , and the sub-tank-related information ( FIG. 5 ) associated with the slot  90  that is the mounting destination is re-written in response to the re-writing of the sub-tank-side identifier of the mounted sub-tank  40 . 
     Also, if the re-writing condition is satisfied, the operation controller  322  re-writes the main body-side identifier and the sub-tank-related information without setting the mismatch flag to “1”. Accordingly, replenishment processing is not executed on the sub-tank  40  due to the mismatch flag being set to “1”. Thus, it is possible to suppress a case in which the interior of the case  42  enters the pressure increase state or the pressure reduction state more than a necessary number of times, and therefore the lifespan of the sub-tank  40  can be prevented from being shortened. 
     B. Second Embodiment 
     In the above-described first embodiment, the operation controller  322  distinguishes that the mismatch flag has been set to “1” in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420 , and thus determines that the sub-tank  40  was mounted in the slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . However, the operation controller  322  may use other information to determine that the sub-tank  40  was mounted in the slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30 . Hereinafter a specific example thereof will be described. 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram for illustrating a sub-tank-side storage unit  420   a  of the second embodiment. The difference from the sub-tank-side storage unit  420  ( FIG. 9 ) of the above-described first embodiment is that a sub-tank-side pressure increase instance count region  444   a  and a sub-tank-side pressure reduction instance count region  444   b  are included instead of the mismatch flag  444 . Since the other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, the other configurations are denoted by the same reference signs, and description thereof is omitted. 
     The sub-tank-side pressure increase instance count region  444   a  is a region in which the number of instances that the interior of the case  42  enters the pressure increase state during the replenishment processing is stored. The operation controller  322  adds 1 to the number of instances of the pressure increase state stored in the sub-tank-side pressure increase instance count region  444   a  each time the replenishment processing is executed on the target sub-tank  40  and the interior of the case  42  reaches the pressure increase state. The sub-tank-side pressure reduction instance count region  444   b  is a region in which the number of instances that the interior of the case  42  enters the pressure reduction state during the replenishment processing is stored. The operation controller  322  adds 1 to the number of instances of the pressure increase state stored in the sub-tank-side pressure reduction instance count region  444   b  each time the replenishment processing is executed on the target sub-tank  40  and the interior of the case  42  reaches the pressure reduction state. 
     Here, if the sub-tank  40  is correctly attached to and detached from one slot  90  (e.g., slot identifier SC 1   a ) in which the sub-tank  40  was first mounted (the case of a correct attachment/detachment state), the number of instances (e.g., 1) of the pressure reduction state stored in the replenishment table  334  ( FIG. 5 ) and the number of instances (e.g., 1) of the pressure reduction state stored in the sub-tank-side pressure reduction instance count region  444   b  match. Also, in the case of the correct mounting state, the number of instances (e.g., 1) of the pressure increase state stored in the replenishment table  334  and the number of instances (e.g., 1) of the pressure increase state stored in the sub-tank-side pressure increase instance count region  444   a  match. On the other hand, if the target sub-tank  40  was mounted in a slot  90  of another consumable article consumption apparatus  30  that is different from the one slot  90  in which the sub-tank  40  was first mounted (a case of an other apparatus mounting state), there is a high likelihood that the number of instances of the pressure increase state and the number of instances of the pressure reduction state of the replenishment table  334  managed by the consumable article consumption apparatus  30  and the number of instances of the pressure increase state and the number of instances of the pressure reduction state stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420   a  of the target sub-tank  40  will not match. 
     Accordingly, when the sub-tank  40  that stores the sub-tank-side consumable article information in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420   a  is mounted in the slot  90 , if at least one of the following two conditions (mismatch conditions) is satisfied, the operation controller  322  replenishes the consumable article from the main tank  20  to the mounted sub-tank  40  (executes replenishment processing). That is, in the second embodiment, the operation controller  322  determines the other apparatus mounting state using the number of instances of the pressure reduction state and the number of instances of the pressure increase state, instead of the identification information. The number of instances of the pressure reduction state and the number of instances of the pressure increase state correspond to “information configured to identify that the sub-tank was mounted in the slot ( 90 ) of another consumable article consumption apparatus” described in the solution to the problem. 
     First Mismatch Condition 
     The number of instances of the pressure reduction state stored in association with the slot  90  and the number of instances of the pressure reduction state stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420   a  of the target sub-tank  40  do not match. 
     Second Mismatch Condition 
     The number of instances of the pressure increase state stored in association with the slot  90  and the number of instances of the pressure increase state stored in the sub-tank-side storage unit  420   a  of the target sub-tank  40  do not match. 
     Also, the consumable article consumption system of the second embodiment determines whether or not at least one of the first mismatch condition and the second mismatch condition is satisfied, instead of determining whether or not the mismatch flag executed by the consumable article consumption system  10  of the first embodiment is “1” (step S 12  of  FIG. 11 ). Also, the consumable article consumption system of the second embodiment can omit the processing for keeping the mismatch flag at “1” (part of step S 27  in  FIG. 11 ), setting the mismatch flag to “0” (part of step S 28  in  FIG. 11 ), and setting the mismatch flag to “1” (step S 34  in  FIG. 12 ), which are shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
     According to the above-described second embodiment, a similar effect is demonstrated due to the second embodiment having a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment. Also, according to the second embodiment, the replenishment processing to the sub-tank  40  is executed when in the other apparatus mounting state, and thereby the consumable article can be replenished in the sub-tank  40  before the consumable article in the sub-tank  40  is consumed. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the sub-tank will run out. 
     Also, the operation controller  322  stops the supply of the consumable article to the discharge portion  60  before the supply amount of the consumable article supplied to the discharge portion  60  reaches the replenishment amount of the consumable article or more in the sub-tank  40  in which the consumable article was replenished when at least one of the first mismatch condition and the second mismatch condition was satisfied. Accordingly, it is possible to further reduce the likelihood that the consumable article in the sub-tank  40  will run out. 
     C. Other Embodiments 
     Note that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the following other embodiments can be implemented. 
     C-1. First Other Embodiment 
     In the above-described first and second embodiments, when in the other apparatus mounting state (e.g., when the mismatch flag is set to “1” in the first embodiment), the replenishment amount (actual replenishment step) in the replenishment processing executed by the operation controller  322  may be controlled as follows. 
     The operation controller  322  estimates the amount of time (other apparatus mounting time) for which the sub-tank  40  was mounted in the other consumable article consumption apparatus  30  and estimates the maximum amount (estimated consumable article consumption amount) of the consumable article in the sub-tank  40  that can be consumed by the other consumable article consumption apparatus  30  in the estimated amount of time. The other apparatus mounting time is an amount of time for which the sub-tank  40  storing the sub-tank-side identifier that is the same as the main body-side identifier is removed. The estimated consumable article consumption amount can be estimated by multiplying the maximum supply rate (in the present embodiment, 20 ml/min) by the amount of time for which the sub-tank  40  was removed. Accordingly, the consumable article can be replenished in the sub-tank  40  by the estimated consumable article consumption amount of the consumable article consumed by the other consumable article consumption apparatus  30 , and therefore it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the consumable article of the sub-tank  40  will run out. 
     Also, if the consumable article remaining amount associated with the slot identifier is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold (e.g., 300 ml) the consumable article may be replenished by the estimated consumable article consumption amount in the sub-tank  40 . By doing so, it is possible to reduce the number of instances of executing the replenishment processing while reducing the likelihood that the consumable article in the sub-tank  40  will run out, and therefore it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the lifespan of the sub-tank  40  will be shortened. 
     C-2. Second Other Embodiment 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram showing a condition for a stirring instruction that is given to the user and is executed by the operation controller  322 . The determination of the stirring instruction to the user may be performed according to the condition shown in  FIG. 14 . For example, the stirring instruction is performed through a message saying “Please remove and stir the sub-tank  40  mounted in the slot  90 C 1 ” on the display unit  34 . If the amount of time that has elapsed since the previous instance of replenishment processing is less than three weeks, the operation controller  322  does not perform the stirring instruction, regardless of the replenishment amount of the consumable article in the previous instance. Also, when the amount of time that has elapsed since the previous instance of replenishment processing is three weeks or more and less than six weeks, and if the replenishment amount of the consumable article of the previous instance is less than 600 ml, the operation controller  322  displays the stirring instruction on the display unit  34 . Also, if the amount of time that has elapsed since the previous instance of replenishment processing is less than six weeks, the operation controller  322  displays the stirring instruction on the display unit  34 , regardless of the replenishment amount of the consumable article in the previous instance. In this manner, the operation controller  322  determines whether or not to give the stirring instruction to the user based on the amount of time that has elapsed since the previous instance of replenishment processing and the replenishment amount of the consumable article in the previous instance, and thus the operation controller  322  can give the stirring instruction to the user if there is a high likelihood that there is a deviation in the concentration distribution of the consumable article in the consumable article containing portion  44 . 
     Also, in a case where there is a sub-tank  40  (stirring target sub-tank  40 ) for which the stirring instruction is to be given, as in  FIG. 14 , if the other sub-tank  40  satisfies the following condition (other sub-tank stirring condition), the operation controller  322  may give the stirring instruction for the other sub-tank  40  as well as for the stirring target sub-tank  40 . 
     Other Sub-Tank Stirring Condition 
     (i) The replenishment amount of the consumable article of the previous instance is less than 600 ml and the amount of time that has elapsed since the previous instance of the replenishment processing is less than two weeks, and (ii) the consumption amount of the consumable article after the previous instance of the replenishment processing is less than 600 ml. 
     Also, the stirring instruction given by the operation controller  322  may be given at a time of static pressure (a time at which the replenishment pump  52  and the supply pump  54  are not running) instead of at a time when the pressure in the case  42  of the sub-tank  40  is being increased or reduced. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the sub-tank  40  will be removed from the slot  90  during execution of the switching preparation step. 
     C-3. Third Other Embodiment 
     In the above-described embodiments, the sub-tanks  40  contain ink (liquid) serving as a consumable article, and the discharge portion  60  ejects the ink, but the consumable article may be an article other than ink. For example, the consumable article may be toner, used paper to be used to recycle paper, or a resin raw material to be used in a  3 D printer. Also, the consumable article information is ink color, but there is no limitation to this. For example, the consumable article information may be another attribute, such as the viscosity or the raw materials of the consumable article. 
     C-4. Fourth Other Embodiment 
     The invention is not limited to an inkjet printer and a sub-tank and main tank for supplying ink to the inkjet printer, and can also be applied to any consumable article consumption apparatus that ejects a consumable article other than ink, and a sub-tank and main tank for containing the consumable article. For example, the invention can be applied to the following various consumable article consumption apparatuses and sub-tanks thereof. 
     (1) An image recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus 
     (2) A color material ejection apparatus used to manufacture a color filter for use in an image display apparatus such as a liquid crystal display 
     (3) An electrode material ejection apparatus used to form electrodes of an organic EL (electro luminescence) display, a field emission display (FED), or the like 
     (4) A consumable article consumption apparatus that ejects a liquid including biological organic matter to be used in biochip manufacture 
     (5) A sample ejection apparatus serving as a precision pipette 
     (6) An ejection apparatus for a lubricant 
     (7) An ejection apparatus for a resin liquid 
     (8) A consumable article consumption apparatus that ejects a lubricant by pinpoint to a precision machine such as a clock or a camera 
     (9) A consumable article consumption apparatus that ejects, onto a substrate, a clear resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin in order to form a minute hemispherical lens (optical lens) or the like to be used in an optical communication terminal or the like 
     (10) A consumable article consumption apparatus that ejects an acidic or alkaline etching liquid in order to etch a substrate or the like 
     (11) A consumable article consumption apparatus that includes a consumable article consuming head that discharges any other minute droplets 
     Note that “droplet” refers to a state of the liquid discharged from consumable article consumption apparatuses, and includes droplets having a granular shape, a tear-drop shape, and a shape with a thread-like trailing end. The “liquid” mentioned here need only be a material that can be ejected by consumable article consumption apparatuses. For example, the “liquid” need only be a material in a state where a substance is in a liquid phase, and liquid materials having a high or low viscosity, sols, gel water, and other liquid materials such as inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and liquid metals (metallic melts) are also included as “liquid”. Furthermore, the “liquid” is not limited to being a single-state substance, and also includes particles of a functional material made from solid matter, such as pigment or metal particles, that are dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent, or the like. Representative examples of the liquid include ink such as that described in the above embodiment, liquid crystal, or the like. Here, “ink” encompasses general water-based ink and oil-based ink, as well as various types of liquid compositions such as gel ink and hot melt ink. 
     The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, working examples, and modifications, and can be achieved by various configurations without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments, working examples, and modifications that correspond to the technical features in the modes described in the summary of the invention can be replaced or combined as appropriate in order to solve some or all of the problems described above, or in order to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Technical features that are not described as essential in the specification can be deleted as appropriate. 
     This application claims the benefit of foreign priority to Japanese Patent Application No. JP2017-199113, filed Oct. 13, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.