Patent Publication Number: US-9902160-B2

Title: Supply apparatus, printing apparatus, and attachment method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a supply apparatus, a printing apparatus, and an attachment method. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     As an inkjet printing apparatus which mainly prints an image on a large-sized printing medium, a printing apparatus is proposed which includes an ink tank detachably from an apparatus main body and supplies ink to a printhead via a tube. A supplying portion such as a supply needle is provided in a containing portion of the ink tank, and the ink tank is detachable from the supplying portion. In order to use up the ink in the tank, a joint portion serving as a supply port is provided at the bottom of the ink tank, and the ink tank is detachable from the supplying portion in the vertical direction. 
     A predetermined force may be required to attach/detach the joint portion of the ink tank to/from the supplying portion. For example, when the supply needle is used, the ink in the ink tank can be supplied to the apparatus by inserting/removing the supply needle into/from the joint portion of the ink tank. A predetermined force is required to insert/remove the supply needle, and thus a mechanism which assists insertion/removal operations of a user is proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-212683 discloses a mechanism which assists insertion/removal operations by rotating an operation handle (operation lever). 
     A lift operation of moving the ink tank up and down with respect to the supplying portion is needed in order to mount/remove the ink tank in/from the containing portion. In particular, the amount of that movement becomes large in a lift operation of a compact ink tank for an arrangement in which ink tanks having different volumes are contained in the common containing portion. In an arrangement in which the operation handle is rotated, the operation handle rotates and becomes unstable in the lift operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a technique of improving stability of an operation handle. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supply apparatus comprising: a supplying portion configured to supply a liquid in a liquid container to an outside of the liquid container; a holder configured to mount a liquid container; a link coupled to the holder; an operation handle rotatably coupled to the link, and configured to operate connection and disconnection of a liquid container mounted on the holder to and from the supplying portion by rotation with respect to the link; an engaging portion configured to maintain a connection state between the supplying portion and a liquid container mounted on the holder by engaging with the operation handle; and a rotation restriction unit configured to be capable of restricting rotation of the operation handle with respect to the link when the engaging portion and the operation handle are in a disengaged state. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a printing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are views for explaining a supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A to 3C  are views for explaining an operation of the supply apparatus in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are views for explaining the operation of the supply apparatus in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5C  are views for explaining the operation of the supply apparatus in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6C  are views for explaining an operation of a supply apparatus in another example; 
         FIGS. 7A to 7C  are views for explaining the operation of the supply apparatus in the other example; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are views for explaining the periphery of an operation handle of the supply apparatus in the other example; and 
         FIG. 9  is a view for explaining a supply apparatus in another example. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     &lt;Overview of Printing Apparatus&gt; 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a printing apparatus  1  to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The printing apparatus  1  is a serial type inkjet printing apparatus. 
     Note that “print” not only includes the formation of significant information such as characters and graphics, but also broadly includes the formation of images, figures, patterns, and the like on a printing medium, or the processing of the medium, regardless of whether they are significant or insignificant and whether they are so visualized as to be visually perceivable by humans. Additionally, in this embodiment, “printing medium” is assumed to be a paper sheet, but may be cloth, a plastic film, or the like. 
     The printing apparatus  1  is fixed astride the upper end portions of two legs  1   a  facing each other. A carriage  2  mounts a printhead  3 . The printhead  3  prints an image by discharging ink to a printing medium. 
     When printing the image, the printing medium (here, roll paper) set in a roll holder unit  4  is fed to a printing position in a sub-scanning direction. Then, a carriage motor (not shown) and a belt transmission mechanism  5  move the carriage  2  in a main-scanning direction. In this movement, ink droplets are discharged from respective nozzles of the printhead  3 . 
     When the carriage  2  moves to one end portion of the printing medium in the main-scanning direction, a conveyance roller  6  conveys the printing medium by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction. The image is formed on the entire printing medium by repeating a printing operation and a conveyance operation alternately as described above. After the image is formed, the printing medium is cut by a cutter (not shown), and the cut printing medium is stacked in a stacker  7 . 
     The printing apparatus  1  includes a supply apparatus  8  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The supply apparatus  8  contains a plurality of liquid containers  9 . In this embodiment, the liquid containers  9  are ink tanks, and are contained detachably in the vertical direction by being divided for respective ink types such as black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. A supply tube  10  for each liquid container  9  is connected to the supply apparatus  8 . The supply tubes  10  are tied into a bundle by a tube guide  10   a  so as not to move around in the reciprocating motion of the carriage  2 . 
     A plurality of nozzle arrays (the illustration thereof is omitted) are formed on a surface facing the printing medium of the printhead  3  in a direction almost perpendicular to the main-scanning direction. The supply tubes  10  are connected for each nozzle array. The ink in the liquid containers  9  is supplied to the nozzle arrays from the supply apparatus  8  via the supply tubes  10 . 
     A recovery unit  11  is further provided outside the range of the printing medium in the main-scanning direction and at a position facing a nozzle surface of the printhead  3 . The recovery unit  11  performs, as needed, nozzle cleaning of sucking out ink or air from the surface of a discharge nozzle of the printhead  3 , or valve-closing suction of forcibly sucking out air accumulated inside the printhead  3 . An operation panel  12  is provided on the right side of the printing apparatus  1 . The operation panel  12  can issue, to a user, an announcement to prompt him/her to replace the liquid containers  9  by sending a warning message when the ink in the liquid containers  9  runs out. 
     &lt;Structure of Supply Apparatus&gt; 
     The structure of the supply apparatus  8  will be described. Each of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  is a vertical sectional view schematically showing the supply apparatus  8 . As already described, the supply apparatus  8  contains the plurality of liquid containers  9  divided for the respective types of contained ink. Each of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  shows the structure of one divided portion. 
     The supply apparatus  8  includes an operation handle  20 , a holder  30 , a link  40 , and a containing portion  50 . The containing portion  50  forms a cylinder with an open upper part, and the liquid containers  9  are put in/taken out from an opening of that upper part. The containing portion  50  contains the holder  30  and at least a part of the liquid container  9  mounted on the holder  30 . 
     The containing portion  50  has a bottom  50   a , sides  50   b  facing each other, and sides  50   c  facing each other, each of which forms a wall portion defining an internal space of the containing portion  50 . Note that only the side  50   c  on one side is shown in each of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     Supplying portions  13  are provided at the bottom  50   a . The supplying portions  13  are connected to the liquid containers  9  and supply the ink in the liquid containers to the outside of the liquid containers. In this embodiment, the supplying portions  13  are supply needles which protrude upward from the bottom  50   a , and are connected to and disconnected from the liquid containers  9  by being inserted into/removed from the liquid containers  9 . Out of two supply needles, one is an atmosphere communicating supply needle, and the other is an ink supplying supply needle. The atmosphere communicating supply needle communicates with outside air via an air communication port (not shown) and guides air inside the liquid container  9  by a discharged amount of ink in the liquid container  9 . 
     The ink in the liquid containers  9  is discharged to the supply tubes  10  via the supplying portions  13  and supplied to the printhead  3 . It is possible to use the ink in the liquid containers  9  to the very end easily by providing the supplying portions  13  at the bottom  50   a  and also, to be described later, providing connected parts of the liquid containers  9  to the supplying portions  13  in a lower part. 
     On the sides  50   b  facing each other, a guide portion  55  is formed on one side, and a guide portion  56  is formed on the other side. The guide portion  55  is a groove which guides movement of the holder  30 . The holder  30  can move, by being guided by the guide portion  55 , in a direction closer to and away from (here, the vertical direction) the bottom  50   a  in the containing portion. The guide portion  56  is a groove which guides movement of the link  40 . The link  40  can move in an L shape by being guided by the guide portion  56 . 
     An engaging portion  51  and an abutment portion  53  are formed on one of the sides  50   b  facing each other. Their functions will be described later. 
     The containing portion  50  may contain a plurality of types of liquid containers  9  having different volumes. If a volume difference between two liquid containers  9  is extremely large, for example, assuming that one has a large volume of 800 mL, the other has a small volume of 300 mL, and they are equal in cross section, this makes a height difference of about 150 mm. As in this embodiment, in an arrangement in which the supplying portions  13  are provided at the bottom  50   a , a lift amount (a vertical moving amount) obtained when the small-volume liquid container  9  is detached from/attached to the containing portion  50  becomes large, requiring the lift amount of 150 mm or more as described above. In this embodiment, the operation handle  20  and the holder  30  are coupled to each other by providing the link  40 , making it possible to gain a larger lift amount. 
     The holder  30  forms a bottomed box shape having an open upper part, and the liquid containers  9  are mounted inside thereof. The holder  30  includes a lock mechanism (not shown). This lock mechanism locks the liquid containers  9  in the holder  30 . An opening  30   a  through which the connected parts of the liquid containers  9  connected to the supplying portions  13  pass is formed at the bottom of the holder  30 . A rotation shaft  32  is provided on the side of the holder  30 . One end portion  41  of the link  40  is rotatably coupled to the rotation shaft  32 . 
     Sliders  31  engaging with the guide portion  55  are provided on the side of the holder  30 . The sliders  31  are shafts in this embodiment and can slide the guide portion  55  freely. The holder  30  and the liquid containers  9  move vertically by guidance of the guide portion  55 .  FIG. 2A  shows a case in which the holder  30  is positioned at a position (to be referred to as a connection position) where the liquid containers  9  and the supplying portions  13  are connected to each other.  FIG. 2B  shows a case in which the holder  30  is positioned at a position (to be referred to as a replacement position) where the liquid containers  9  and the supplying portions  13  are spaced apart from each other, and the liquid containers  9  are replaced. 
     The link  40  is a rod-shaped member, and its one end portion  41  is coupled to the holder  30  rotatably by the rotation shaft  32 . The operation handle  20  is coupled to other end portion  42  of the link  40  rotatably by a rotation shaft  21 . The length of the link  40  is set so as to expose the operation handle  20  from the containing portion  50  when the holder  30  is positioned at the connection position. 
     A slider  40   c  engaging with the guide portion  56  is provided in an intermediate part of the link  40 . The slider  40   c  is a shaft in this embodiment and can slide the guide portion  56  freely. The guide portion  56  guides movement of the link  40  and restricts its free movement. Restriction portions  40   a  and  40   b  are provided on the side of the other end portion  42  of the link  40 . The restriction portions  40   a  and  40   b  are shafts in this embodiment, and can restrict rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  as will be described later. 
     The operation handle  20  is configured to operate connection and disconnection of the liquid containers  9  mounted on the holder  30  to and from the supplying portions  13  by rotation with respect to the link  40 . The rotation shaft  21  to which the link  40  is coupled is provided at the center of the operation handle  20 . An engaging portion  20   c  engaging with the engaging portion  51  is formed at one end portion of the operation handle  20 . A grip portion  20   a  assumed to be gripped by the user is provided at the other end portion of the operation handle  20 . 
     The engaging portion  20   c  can engage with the engaging portion  51 .  FIG. 2A  shows an engaged state. A connection state between the supplying portions  13  and the liquid containers  9  mounted on the holder  30  is maintained by this engagement and the rotation restriction of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . 
     The supply apparatus  8  also includes two rotation restriction units  14  and  15 . Both of these rotation restriction units  14  and  15  are mechanisms capable of restricting rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . 
     The rotation restriction unit  14  can releasably restrict rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  by a user operation. The rotation restriction unit  14  includes a restriction member  27  provided in the operation handle  20  and a restriction portion  40   b  provided in the link  40 . The restriction member  27  is a lever-shaped member and is rotatably supported in the operation handle  20  via a rotation shaft  27   c . A hook-shaped hook portion  27   a  is provided at one end portion of the restriction member  27 . A grip portion  27   b  assumed to be gripped by the user is provided at the other end portion of the restriction member  27 . The hook portion  27   a  engages with the restriction portion  40   b  as shown in  FIG. 2A , disabling the operation handle  20  from rotating with respect to the link  40 . Engagement between the hook portion  27   a  and the restriction portion  40   b  is canceled as shown in  FIG. 2B , enabling the operation handle  20  to rotate with respect to the link  40 . 
     An elastic member  28  such as a spring is provided between the grip portion  20   a  and the grip portion  27   b . The elastic member  28  always biases the restriction member  27  in a direction in which the hook portion  27   a  engages with the restriction portion  40   b . The user grips the grip portion  20   a  and the grip portion  27   b  so as to move the grip portion  27   b  closer to the grip portion  20   a  against biasing by the elastic member  28  as indicated by an arrow E in  FIG. 2A , rotating the restriction member  27  in a direction in which the hook portion  27   a  does not engage with the restriction portion  40   b.    
     An operation of disabling the operation handle  20  from rotating with respect to the link  40  by the rotation restriction unit  14  (release of the grip portion  20   a  and the grip portion  27   b ) is performed at the completion of attachment of the liquid containers  9 , that is, when the holder  30  is maintained at the connection position in  FIG. 2A . This maintains engagement between the engaging portion  51  and the engaging portion  20   c , and the connection state between the liquid containers  9  and the supplying portions  13 . 
     An operation of enabling the operation handle  20  to rotate with respect to the link  40  by the rotation restriction unit  14  (gripping on the grip portion  20   a  and the grip portion  27   b ) is performed when the attached liquid containers  9  are retrieved. That is, the operation is performed when the holder  30  is moved from the connection position in  FIG. 2A  to the replacement position. Engagement between the engaging portion  51  and the engaging portion  20   c  is canceled by rotating the operation handle  20 , setting a disengaged state. Connection between the liquid containers  9  and the supplying portions  13  is also canceled. At this time, the user can shift to a lift operation while gripping the grip portion  20   a  and the grip portion  27   b  without switching his/her hand holding the operation handle  20  from one to the other. This improves operability. This also eliminates a twist of a wrist of the user associated with the operation, improving the operability. 
     However, if the operation handle  20  can rotate with respect to the link  40  during the lift operation, the operation handle  20  may wobble and lack stability during the lift operation this time. The rotation restriction unit  15  is a mechanism for that measure. The rotation restriction unit  15  can restrict rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  when the engaging portion  51  and the engaging portion  20   c  of the operation handle  20  are in the disengaged state. This can improve the stability of the operation handle  20 . 
     The rotation restriction unit  15  includes a restriction member  25  provided in the operation handle  20  and the restriction portion  40   a  provided in the link  40 . The restriction member  25  is a lever-shaped member and is rotatably supported in the operation handle  20  via a rotation shaft  25   b . A hook-shaped hook portion  25   a  is provided at one end portion of the restriction member  25 . A canceling portion  25   c  adjacent to the engaging portion  20   c  of the operation handle  20  is provided at the other end portion of the restriction member  25 . The hook portion  25   a  engages with the restriction portion  40   a  as shown in  FIG. 2B , disabling the operation handle  20  from rotating with respect to the link  40 . When the abutment portion  53  abuts against the canceling portion  25   c  as shown in  FIG. 2A , engagement between the hook portion  25   a  and the restriction portion  40   a  is canceled, enabling the operation handle  20  to rotate with respect to the link  40 . 
     The rotation restriction unit  15  includes an elastic member  15   a  which always biases the restriction member  25  in a direction in which it engages with the restriction portion  40   a . The elastic member  15   a  is, in this embodiment, a coil spring wound around the rotation shaft  25   b , its one end portion is locked to the operation handle  20 , and its other end is locked to the restriction member  25 . The hook portion  25   a  engages with the restriction portion  40   a  unless the canceling portion  25   c  is pressed by the abutment portion  53  because of biasing by the elastic member  15   a . It is therefore possible to prevent the operation handle  20  from rotating with respect to the link  40  during the lift operation. 
     &lt;Attaching/Detaching Operation of Liquid Container&gt; 
     An operation of the supply apparatus  8  regarding attachment/detachment of the liquid containers  9  will be described. First, an attachment method of the liquid container  9  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3A to 4B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , the holder  30  is arranged at the replacement position by a manual operation of the user, and the liquid container  9  is mounted on the holder  30 . The liquid container  9  has, at its bottom, connecting portions  9   a  detached from/attached to the supplying portions  13 . The liquid container  9  is locked to the holder  30  in a state in which the connecting portions  9   a  have passed through the opening  30   a . Each connecting portion  9   a  includes, for example, a rubber member into/from which the supplying portion  13  is inserted/removed. An extremely thin slit is cut in each rubber member. Each supplying portion  13  is inserted into/removed from this slit. The rotation restriction unit  15  is in a state of restricting rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . 
     When the liquid container  9  is mounted on the holder  30 , the user grips the operation handle  20  and moves the operation handle  20  in accordance with guidance of the guide portion  56  with respect to the slider  40   c  as shown in  FIG. 3B . By gripping the grip portion  20   a  and the grip portion  27   b , the rotation restriction unit  14  enters a state of releasing restriction of rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 , but the rotation restriction unit  15  is in the state of restricting the rotation. It is therefore possible to prevent the operation handle  20  from wobbling and improve the stability. 
     In this embodiment, the engaging portion  51 , the abutment portion  53 , the engaging portion  20   c , and the canceling portion  25   c  are arranged such that the rotation restriction unit  15  releases restriction of rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  upon the start of engagement between the operation handle  20  and the rotation restriction unit  15 . This makes it possible to perform a series of operations smoothly. Details will be given as follows. 
     The operation handle  20  is raised a bit, and then pushed down in a direction of an arrow D. Consequently, the canceling portion  25   c  of the restriction member  25  abuts against the abutment portion  53 . The restriction member  25  rotates in a direction of an arrow G, canceling engagement between the hook portion  25   a  and the restriction portion  40   a . This releases restriction of rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 , setting a rotatable state. As shown in  FIG. 3C , the user presses the operation handle  20  in a direction of an arrow K. Accordingly, the operation handle  20  rotates with respect to the link  40  in a direction of the arrow K, and the engaging portion  20   c  of the operation handle  20  engages with the engaging portion  51 . The operation handle  20  cannot move upward owing to its engagement with the engaging portion  51 . The liquid container  9  is pushed down toward the supplying portions  13  by leverage with each of the engaging portion  20   c  and the engaging portion  51  functioning as a fulcrum. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the connecting portions  9   a  contact the supplying portions  13 , and the supplying portions  13  are inserted into the connecting portions  9   a . When reaching a position at which connection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13  is completed, the user releases the grip portion  27   b  as shown in  FIG. 4B . Consequently, the restriction portion  40   b  rotates by biasing by the elastic member  28 , and the rotation restriction unit  14  restricts rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . After that, the user can take his/her hand off the operation handle  20 . During the series of operations, the operations can be performed with very little change in an operational posture such as the position of the hand or the angle of the wrist, causing no deterioration in the operability. 
     By a reaction force of the connecting portions  9   a , a force of pushing up the liquid container  9  is received. However, the rotation restriction unit  14  restricts rotation (in a direction of an arrow H of  FIG. 4B , in particular) of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 , and an upward displacement of the operation handle  20  by engagement between the engaging portion  51  and the engaging portion  20   c . It is therefore possible to suppress the floating of the liquid container  9 , and maintain connection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13 . Then, ink is discharged from the supplying portions  13 . 
     A removal method of the liquid container  9  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 5A to 5C . The removal method is basically performed in a reverse procedure to that of the attachment method. The rotation restriction unit  14  enters the state of releasing restriction of rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  when the user grips the grip portion  20   a  and the grip portion  27   b.    
     Subsequently, the operation handle  20  is pulled up in a direction of an arrow J in  FIG. 5B  while rotating the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  as indicated by the arrow H in  FIG. 5A . Consequently, the liquid container  9  starts to lift, canceling connection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13 . In addition, the canceling portion  25   c  of the restriction member  25  is separated from the abutment portion  53 . Consequently, the restriction member  25  rotates by biasing by the elastic member  15   a , engaging the hook portion  25   a  and the restriction portion  40   a  with each other. Then, rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  is restricted. 
     The holder  30  reaches the replacement position as shown in  FIG. 5C  when the user further pulls up the operation handle  20 . In switching to this lift operation, the user can perform the operation without changing his/her fingers holding the operation handle  20 . During this lift operation, the rotation restriction unit  15  restricts rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . This makes it possible to improve the stability without the operation handle  20  wobbling. 
     &lt;Second Embodiment&gt; 
     If a resistance in inserting/removing supplying portions  13  into/from connecting portions  9   a  of liquid containers  9  is high, an insertion/removal operating force becomes large. In this insertion/removal, it is effective to reduce the insertion/removal operating force by utilizing leverage. This lever ratio is advantageously twice to three times. As described above, however, if the large and small liquid containers  9  can be used in combination, and the lift amount of the small liquid container  9  becomes 150 mm, the total length of a link  40  or the like tends to be longer in an arrangement in which leverage is utilized including a lift operation. 
     To cope with this, in the first embodiment, an arrangement is adopted in which the leverage is in effect in connecting the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13  to each other, and the leverage is not utilized in the lift operation. In this embodiment, an arrangement is adopted in which the leverage is also in effect in canceling connection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13  while the leverage is not utilized in the lift operation. 
       FIGS. 6A to 7C  are views for explaining an attaching/detaching operation of the liquid containers  9  according to this embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 6A , in this embodiment, an engaging portion  51 ′ and an engaging portion  20   c ′ replacing the engaging portion  51  and the engaging portion  20   c  of the first embodiment are employed. Other structures are the same as in the first embodiment. 
     The engaging portion  51 ′ is formed protruding from a side  50   b  so that the engaging portion  20   c ′ can abut against it not only from below but also from above, and is formed into a spherical shape in this embodiment. The engaging portion  20   c ′ has a portion which abuts against the engaging portion  51 ′ from below and a portion which abuts against the engaging portion  51 ′ from above. In this embodiment, the engaging portion  20   c ′ has a bifurcated beak shape. 
     Note that illustration of a rotation restriction unit  15  and an abutment portion  53  is omitted in  FIGS. 6A to 7C  for the sake of descriptive simplicity, but they are shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . The arrangements thereof are the same as in the first embodiment. When a canceling portion  25   c  of a restriction member  25  abuts against an abutment portion  53  as shown in  FIG. 8A , engagement between a hook portion  25   a  and a restriction portion  40   a  is canceled. When the canceling portion  25   c  of the restriction member  25  is separated from the abutment portion  53  as shown in  FIG. 8B , the hook portion  25   a  and the restriction portion  40   a  are engaged with each other by biasing by an elastic member  15   a.    
     An attachment method of the liquid container  9  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6A to 7A . As shown in  FIG. 6A , a holder  30  is arranged at a replacement position by a manual operation of a user, and the liquid container  9  is mounted on the holder  30 . Although not shown, the rotation restriction unit  15  is in a state of restricting rotation of an operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . 
     The user grips the operation handle  20  and moves the operation handle  20  in accordance with guidance of a guide portion  56  with respect to a slider  40   c . By gripping a grip portion  20   a  and a grip portion  27   b , a rotation restriction unit  14  enters a state of releasing restriction of rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 , but the rotation restriction unit  15  is in a state of restricting the rotation. It is therefore possible to prevent the operation handle  20  from wobbling and improve stability. 
     The operation handle  20  is raised a bit, and then pushed down in a direction of an arrow D as shown in  FIG. 6B . Consequently, the canceling portion  25   c  of the restriction member  25  abuts against the abutment portion  53 , restriction of rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  is released and the handle  20  becomes a rotatable state, though not shown. 
     The user presses the side of the grip portion  20   a  of the operation handle  20  downward. Accordingly, the engaging portion  20   c   40   abuts against the engaging portion  51 ′ from below while rotating the operation handle  20 . The liquid container  9  is pushed down toward the supplying portions  13  by leverage with each of the engaging portion  20   c ′ and the engaging portion  51 ′ being a fulcrum. Accordingly, connection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13  is started. 
     At this time, the lever ratio L 4 /L 3  of a distance L 4  between the grip portion  20   a  and the fulcrum between the engaging portion  20   c ′ and the engaging portion  51 ′ to a distance L 3  between the fulcrum and the rotation center of the operation handle  20  acts on a rotation shaft  21 . As a result, an operating force is doubled by this lever ratio. 
     By pressing the operation handle  20  further, the liquid container  9  is lowered, and connection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13  is completed. The user releases the grip portion  27   b . Consequently, a restriction portion  40   b  rotates by biasing by an elastic member  28 , and the rotation restriction unit  14  restricts rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . After that, the user can take his/her hand off the operation handle  20 . During a series of operations, the operations can be performed with very little change in an operational posture such as the position of the hand or the angle of the wrist, causing no deterioration in the operability. 
     By a reaction force of the connecting portions  9   a , a force of pushing up the liquid container  9  is received. However, the rotation restriction unit  14  restricts rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 , and an upward displacement of the operation handle  20  by engagement between the engaging portion  51 ′ and the engaging portion  20   c ′. It is therefore possible to suppress the floating of the liquid container  9 , and maintain connection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13 . Then, ink is discharged from the supplying portions  13  as shown in  FIG. 7A . 
     A detachment method of the liquid container  9  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 7A to 7C . The rotation restriction unit  14  enters the state of releasing restriction of rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  when the user grips the grip portion  20   a  and the grip portion  27   b.    
     Subsequently, by rotating the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40  as indicated by an arrow A in  FIG. 7A , the engaging portion  20   c ′ abuts against the engaging portion  51 ′ from above as shown in  FIG. 7B . The liquid container  9  is pushed up with respect to the supplying portions  13  by the leverage with each of the engaging portion  20   c ′ and the engaging portion  51 ′ being the fulcrum. Accordingly, disconnection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13  is started. 
     At this time, the lever ratio L 2 /L 1  of a distance L 2  between the grip portion  20   a  and the fulcrum between the engaging portion  20   c ′ and the engaging portion  51 ′ to a distance L 1  between the fulcrum and the rotation center of the operation handle  20  acts on the rotation shaft  21  as shown in  FIG. 7C . As a result, the operating force is doubled by this lever ratio. 
     When connection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13  is canceled, the user pulls up the operation handle  20 . Consequently, the liquid container  9  is lifted, and also the canceling portion  25   c  of the restriction member  25  (not shown) is separated from the abutment portion  53 . Consequently, the rotation restriction unit  15  restricts rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . 
     The holder  30  reaches the replacement position as shown in  FIG. 6A  when the user further pulls up the operation handle  20 . In switching to this lift operation, the user can perform the operation without changing his/her fingers holding the operation handle  20 . During this lift operation, the rotation restriction unit  15  restricts rotation of the operation handle  20  with respect to the link  40 . This makes it possible to improve the stability without the operation handle  20  wobbling. 
     &lt;Third Embodiment&gt; 
     In connection or disconnection between the connecting portions  9   a  and the supplying portions  13  in the first and second embodiments, the leverage acts more effectively by restricting the displacement of the rotation shaft  21 . Therefore, a displacement restriction unit may be provided which restricts the displacement of a rotation shaft  21  in a predetermined direction. 
       FIG. 9  shows an example of this. In the example of  FIG. 9 , displacement restriction units  16  are provided in the arrangement of the second embodiment. However, they can also be applied to the arrangement of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the displacement restriction units  16  form a pair of wall portions sandwiching a boss portion around the rotation shaft  21  and are fixed to, for example, one of sides  50   c  facing the containing portion  50 . 
     The displacement restriction units  16  are disposed at a position to sandwich the boss portion around the rotation shaft  21  when connecting portions  9   a  and supplying portions  13  are connected to or disconnected from each other, and restrict a displacement in their N direction. The N direction is a direction crossing (for example, a direction perpendicular to) a direction in which the connecting portions  9   a  and supplying portions  13  are connected to and disconnected from each other. In this embodiment, the direction in which the connecting portions  9   a  and supplying portions  13  are connected to and disconnected from each other is a vertical direction, and thus the N direction is a left-and-right direction. 
     By providing such displacement restriction units  16 , leverage can act more effectively. 
     &lt;Other Embodiment&gt; 
     In each of the first to third embodiments, the example has been exemplified in which the liquid containers  9  are the ink tanks containing ink. However, the present invention can also be applied to a liquid container containing a liquid other than ink. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefits of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-194401, filed Sep. 30, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.