Patent Publication Number: US-2022227135-A1

Title: Liquid consuming apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/012,213, filed Sep. 4, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/407,265, filed May 9, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,766,266, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/845,001, filed Dec. 18, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,286,674, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/293,585, filed Oct. 14, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,844,947, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/000,545, filed Jan. 19, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,475,298, and further claims priorities from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2015-008172 filed on Jan. 19, 2015 and No. 2015-008173 filed on Jan. 19, 2015, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a liquid consuming apparatus such as an ink-jet printer, etc. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there is known a liquid consuming apparatus such as an ink-jet printer which is provided with a tank configured to store liquid such as ink, and which is configured to consume the liquid stored in the tank. For example, conventionally, there is known an ink-jet printer provided with an accommodation case configured to accommodate a tank (storage container) configured to store ink, which is to be supplied via a liquid tube to a liquid discharge head (liquid-jet head) configured to consume the ink, separately from a casing configured to accommodate the liquid discharge head, wherein the accommodation case is detachably engaged with respect to the casing. An inlet (inlet port), formed in the tank, is provided with a cap which is to be removed when the ink is poured into the tank. A space or area located above the cap is covered by an upper cover arranged pivotably on an upper portion of the accommodation case. Then, when a user pours ink into the tank, the user firstly releases the upper cover so as to expose the cap to the outside, and then removes the cap from the inlet port, thereby releasing the inlet port. Afterwards, the user pours the ink into an ink chamber defined inside the tank, via the released inlet port. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a case that any vibration is externally applied to the liquid consuming apparatus as described above, for example, during transportation or the like, there is such a fear that the cap installed in the inlet port of the tank might be loosened and/or detached from the inlet port. Normally, the ink chamber when shipped from a factory, etc., is empty. Accordingly, in a distribution channel from the factory to the user, there is no fear that the ink might leak from the tank of the liquid consuming apparatus during the transportation thereof. However, in such a case that a liquid consuming apparatus, which has been used once, is transported to any destination, for example, as a returned product or due to any repair, etc., there is such a possibility that the ink remains in the ink chamber of the tank. If the cap installed in the inlet port of the tank in this case were loosened or detached from the inlet port, there is such a fear that the ink might leak from the tank. 
     Alternatively, in the liquid consuming apparatus as described above, the cap is left without being installed in the inlet port after pouring the ink into the tank, in some cases. Still alternatively, there is such a case that although the cap is once installed in the inlet port, the cap floats or inclines and thus the installment of the cap in the inlet port is not sufficient or is not appropriate, the tank and the cap are not appropriately sealed in some cases. In a case that the cap is not appropriately installed in the inlet port of the tank, as in the examples described above, the water-tightness between the tank and the cap is not secured, which in turn leads to such a fear that the ink might leak from the tank. 
     The present teaching has been made in view of the situations as described above. An object of the present teaching is to prevent the cap installed in the inlet port of the tank in the liquid consuming apparatus from being detached from the inlet port, for example, during the transportation of the liquid consuming apparatus, etc. 
     Further, another object of the present teaching is to provide, in a case that the cap is not appropriately installed in the inlet port of the tank, such a configuration capable of notifying the user of such a situation regarding the inappropriate attachment of the cap in the inlet port of the tank. 
     In a case that the liquid consuming apparatus is transported to its destination as a returned product, for any repair, etc., the liquid consuming apparatus is wrapped with a packing material, etc., so that any movable member including the tank cover is not moved during the transportation. In the liquid consuming apparatus in a packed state, the tank cover is normally fixed so that the tank cover is not moved from a closed state. The inventor of the present teaching arrived at restricting the movement of the cap installed in the tank, by using the tank cover. 
     According to an aspect of the present teaching, there is provided a liquid consuming apparatus configured to consume liquid, the liquid consuming apparatus including: 
     a liquid consuming section; 
     a tank having a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid which is to be consumed by the liquid consuming section, and an inlet port which is formed in the tank and which is configured to allow the liquid to be poured into the liquid storage chamber via the inlet port; 
     a cap configured to be detachably installable in the inlet port to open/close the inlet port, the cap having an outer surface which is configured to intersect with an opening central line of an opening of the inlet port and to face outside of the tank under a condition that the cap is installed in the inlet port; and 
     a casing having a cover configured to be movable with respect to the tank between a closed position at which the cover covers a surface, of the tank, formed with the inlet port, and an open positon at which the cover is released (opened) so as to allow the surface, of the tank, formed with the inlet port to be exposed, the casing being configured to accommodate the liquid consuming section, the tank, and the cap therein, 
     wherein the cover has an inner surface configured to face the surface, of the tank, formed with the inlet port, and a projection projected from the inner surface toward the tank; 
     the projection of the cover is provided with a pressing portion configured to face the outer surface of the cap at a predetermined spacing distance in a direction parallel to an insertion direction (insertion-removal direction), in which the cap is inserted into or removed from the inlet port, under a condition that the liquid consuming apparatus is in a normal state in which the cover is in the closed position and that the cap is installed in the inlet port, and the pressing portion is configured to abut firstly against (makes contact firstly with) the outer surface, among other portion of the cap different from the outer surface, under a condition that the cap is moved, in the liquid consuming apparatus in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap to be removed (separated and away) from the inlet port. 
     In the liquid consuming apparatus, under the condition that the cap is moved, in the liquid consuming apparatus in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap to be removed from the inlet port, the outer surface of the cap and the pressing portion of the projection of the cover interfere with each other to thereby restrict any further movement of the cap. In such a manner, it is possible to prevent the cap installed in the inlet port of the tank from being removed (detached) from the inlet port under a condition that the cover covering the tank is closed. 
     The liquid consuming apparatus according to another aspect of the present teaching may further include an arm which is formed of an elastic material and which has a forward end portion joined to the cap; and 
     wherein the cap further has an operation projection projected from the outer surface; 
     the arm may have a basal portion joined to the tank or to the casing such that the arm is bent by elastic deformation under the condition that the cap is installed in the inlet port, and that the arm is elastically recovered and holds the cap at a location apart (away) from the inlet port under a condition that the cap is removed from the inlet port; and 
     the projection of the cover may have a wall portion configured to be located to surround (located in the vicinity of surrounding of) the operation projection, without contacting the cap and the arm, under the condition that the liquid consuming apparatus is in the normal state in which the cover is in the closed position and that the cap is installed in the inlet port, and configured to contact the cap or the arm so that movement of the cover from the opened position to the closed position is hindered by the cap or the arm interposed between the tank and the inner surface of the cover under a condition that the cap is not appropriately installed in the inlet port. 
     In the above-described liquid consuming apparatus, under the condition that the cap is not appropriately installed in the inlet port, the movement of the cover from the opened position to the closed position is hindered or inhibited by the cap interposed between the tank and the inner surface of the cover. Namely, under this condition, the cover cannot be moved from the opened position to the closed position. Since the cover cannot be moved from the opened position to the closed position, the user can be notified that the cap is not appropriately installed in the inlet port. 
     According to the present teaching, it is possible to prevent the cap installed in the inlet port of the tank from being removed or detached from the inlet port when the cover covering the tank is closed, for example, during the transportation of the liquid consuming apparatus. Further, according to the present teaching, in a case that the cap is not appropriately installed in the inlet port of the tank, it is possible to notify the user of such a situation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views each depicting an example of a multifunction peripheral having a printer function of an ink-jet system according to an embodiment of the present teaching, wherein  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view depicting a state that a cover is at a closed position, and  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view depicting a state that the cover is at an opened position. 
         FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically depicting the internal structure of a printer unit. 
         FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view partially depicting a state that the cover is in the closed position and that a cap is appropriately installed in an inlet port of a tank of a tank unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view partially depicting a state that the cover is in the opened position and that the cap is appropriately installed in the inlet port. 
         FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the multifunction peripheral partially depicting those in the vicinity of the inlet port of the tank of the tank unit. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the tank unit. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of the multifunction peripheral, depicting the tank unit and the cover in the state that the cover is the opened position and the cap is appropriately installed in the inlet port. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the cover. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the multifunction peripheral in a state that the cover is in the closed position and the cap installed in the inlet port is moved in an insertion direction in which the cap is inserted into or removed from the inlet port. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the multifunction peripheral in a state that the cap is not appropriately installed in the inlet port during a process in which the cover is moved from the opened position toward the closed position. 
         FIG. 11  is a view explaining the relationship between a rib provided on the cover and the cap appropriately installed in the inlet port of the tank. 
         FIG. 12  is a view explaining the relationship between the rib provided on the cover and the cap which is not appropriately installed in the inlet port of the tank. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Next, an embodiment of the present teaching will be explained with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, explanation will be given about a multifunction peripheral having a printer function (printer multifunction peripheral, hereinafter referred to also simply as “multifunction peripheral  10 ”), as an example of a liquid consuming apparatus. The concepts of up-down direction, front-rear direction and left-right direction in the documents of the present specification and the claims are deemed to be same as an up-down direction  7 , a front-rear direction  8  and a left-right direction  9  in the multifunction peripheral  10  as depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
     &lt;Overall Configuration of Multifunction Peripheral  10 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the multifunction peripheral  10  according to the present embodiment is formed to have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and is provided with a scanner unit  13  provided on an upper portion of the multifunction peripheral  10 , a printer unit  11  provided on a lower portion of the multifunction peripheral  10 , and a controller  12  configured to control the operation of the multifunction peripheral  10 . The printer unit  11  is capable of forming an image on a paper sheet P (paper P; see  FIG. 2 ) in an ink-jet recording system. In the multifunction peripheral  10  having the above-described configuration, the operations of the scanner unit  13  and the printer unit  11  are controlled by the controller  12 , thereby allowing the multifunction peripheral  10  to exhibit a plurality of functions such as a copying machine, an ink-jet printer, an image scanner, a facsimile machine, etc. 
     The external shape of the multifunction peripheral  10  is substantially formed of a casing  14  having a rectangular parallelopiped shape, and a top cover  28  configured to cover an upper portion of the casing  14 . An opening  14   b  is formed in the casing  14  on a front wall  14   a  at a substantially central portion thereof in the left-right direction  9 , and a discharge tray  21  and a feeding tray  20  are arranged inside the opening  14   b . Further, an operation panel  17  supported to be tiltable by the casing  14  is disposed at a location above the opening  14   b . A liquid crystal display  17   a  as an output means from the controller  12 , an input button  17   b  as an input means to the controller  12 , etc., are provided on the display panel  17 . 
     Furthermore, an opening  14   c  is provided on the front wall  14   a  of the casing  14 , at a right portion thereof in the left-right direction  9 , and the opening  14   c  is covered by the cover  70  which is openable/closable and which may form a portion of the front wall  14   a . The cover  70  is rotatable between the closed position ( FIG. 1A ) at which the cover  70  covers the opening  14   c  and the opened position ( FIG. 1B ) at which the cover  70  allows the opening  14   c  to be exposed to the outside of the multifunction peripheral  10  (at which the cover  70  does not cover the opening  14   c ) (see  FIG. 1B ). The cover  70  will be described in detail later on. 
     &lt;Printer Unit  11 &gt; 
     Next, the printer unit  11  will be explained in detail.  FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically depicting the overall structure of the printer unit  11 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the printer unit  11  includes a feeding section  15 , the feeding tray  20 , the discharge tray  21 , a conveyance roller section  18 , a recording section  24 , a discharge roller section  19 , a platen  22 , and a tank unit  100 . These constituent elements of the printer unit  11  are accommodated inside the casing  14 . 
     The feeding section  15  is provided with a feeding roller  15   a  which is urged by the self-weight or an elastic force by a spring, etc. toward a sheet or plurality of sheets of paper P accommodated in the feeding tray  20 . By the rotation of the feeding roller  15   a , the sheets of paper P accommodated in the feeding tray  20  are fed one by one to a conveyance route  65 . 
     The conveyance route  65  is a route which extends upward from a rear end portion of the feeding tray  20  while making a U-turn forwardly, and then the conveyance route  65  reaches the discharge tray  21  via a space between the recording section  24  and the platen  22 . The conveyance roller section  18 , the recording section  24 , and the discharge roller section  19  are arranged in this order from the upstream toward downstream along the conveyance route  65 . 
     The conveyance roller section  18  includes a conveyance roller  18   a  and a pinch roller  18   b  which face each other in the up-down direction  7  with the conveyance route  65  interposed therebetween. The pinch roller  18   b  rotates following the rotation of the conveyance roller  18   a . The paper P is fed toward the recording section  24  by being pinched between the conveyance roller  18   a  and the pinch roller  18   b.    
     The recording section  24  is provided with the liquid discharging head  25 , and a carriage  23  on which the liquid discharging head  25  is mounted. The recording section  24  is an example of the liquid consuming section. The recording section  24  is arranged to face the platen  22  in the up-down direction  7 , with the conveyance route  65  interposed therebetween. Namely, the recording section  24  is arranged to be above the conveyance route  65  in the up-down direction  7 , and to face the conveyance route  65 . Note that the platen  22  is arranged to face the recording section  24  in the up-down direction  7 , and the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller section  18  is supported by the platen  22  from below. 
     The carriage  23  is provided with a guide rail extending in the left-right direction  9  and a carriage motor which causes the liquid discharging head  25  to reciprocate in the left-right direction  9  along the guide rail (both of the guide rail and the carriage motor are not depicted in the drawings). Further, a flexible flat cable, which electrically connects the liquid discharging head  25  with a control board having the controller  12  mounted thereon, is extended from the carriage  23  (the flexible flat cable is not depicted in the drawings). The flexible flat cable transmits a control signal output from the controller  12  to the liquid discharging head  25 . Furthermore, an ink tube (not depicted in the drawings), which connects a tank  4  of the tank unit  100  with the liquid discharging head  25 , is extended from the carriage  23 . The ink tube supplies an ink stored in the tank  4  to the liquid discharging head  25 . More specifically, four pieces of the ink tube via which inks of respective colors (black, magenta, cyan and yellow) flow are extended from the tank  4 , and are connected to the carriage  23  in a bundled form. 
     The liquid discharging head  25  is an example of the liquid consuming apparatus. A plurality of nozzles  25   a  are formed in the lower surface of the liquid discharging head  25 . The liquid discharging head  25  discharges the ink as minute ink droplets from the nozzles  25   a  toward the paper P supported by the platen  22  from below, thereby forming an image on the paper P. 
     The discharge roller section  19  includes a discharge roller  19   a  and a spur  19   b  which face each other in the up-down direction  7  with the conveyance route  65  interposed therebetween. The spur  19   b  rotates following the rotation of the discharge roller  19   a . The paper P having the image formed thereon by the recording section  24  is fed toward the discharge tray  21  by being pinched between the discharge roller  19   a  and the spur  19   b . Note that the feeding roller  15   a , the conveyance roller  18   a  and the discharge roller  19   a  are driven by an unillustrated conveyance motor which is controlled by the controller  12 . 
     The tank unit  100  is constructed of the tank  4  which accommodates the inks of respective colors, caps  6  which close inlet ports  50 , respectively, formed in the tank  4 . Although the tank unit  100  is accommodated inside the casing  14 , when the cover  70  is opened, the front surface of the tank unit  100  is thereby exposed to the outside of the casing  14 . Namely, when the cover  70  is opened, the caps  6  of the tank unit  100  become accessible via the opening  14   c  of the casing  14 . 
     &lt;Tank Unit  100 &gt; 
     Here, the tank unit  100  will be explained in detail.  FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view depicting the multifunction peripheral  10  in a state that the cover  70  is in the closed position and that each of the caps  6  is appropriately installed in one of the inlet ports  50  corresponding thereto (hereinafter referred to as a “normal state” in some cases).  FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view depicting the multifunction peripheral  10  in a state that the cover is in the opened position and that each of the caps  6  is appropriately installed in one of the inlet ports  50  corresponding thereto (hereinafter referred to as a “cover-opened state” in some cases).  FIG. 5  is a partial vertical cross-sectional view depicting those in the vicinity of the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  of the tank unit  100 .  FIG. 6  is a front view of the tank unit  100 . Note that in  FIG. 4 , the cap  6  and the arm  60  in a state of the multifunction peripheral  10  wherein the cover  70  is the opened position and a cap  6  is removed and the inlet port  50  is released (opened) (hereinafter referred to as a “cap-opened position”) are depicted with two-dot chain lines. Note that in  FIG. 6 , one of four caps  6  is omitted to clearly depict the configuration of an arm connecting portion  48  disposed in the tank  4 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the tank  4  has a wall formed with the inlet ports  50  via each of which the ink is poured into one of ink chambers  40  formed inside the tank  4 . The tank  4  is formed to have an external shape that is substantially rectangular parallelepiped by a front wall  41  forming the front surface of the tank  4 , two side walls  45  forming the both side surfaces in the left-right direction  9  of the tank  4 , an upper wall  46  forming the upper surface of the tank  4 , a bottom wall  47  forming the bottom surface of the tank  4 , and an inclined wall  42  which is connected to the front wall  41  and the upper wall  46  and of which outer surface faces (is oriented to face) obliquely upward. Among these walls forming the ink chamber  40 , at least the front wall  41  is a visually checking wall (see-through wall) that is transparent or semitransparent (translucent) so that an amount of the ink stored in the ink chamber  40  can be visually confirmed therethrough. A plurality of partition walls  44  are disposed between the left and right side walls  45 , and the internal space in the tank  4  is divided into a plurality of mutually independent ink chambers  40  by the partition walls  44 . The rear surface of the tank  4  is sealed by a film  49  fused and adhered to rear end portions respectively of the partition walls  44 , the side walls  45 , the upper wall  46  and the bottom wall  47 . 
     The internal space of the tank  4  is partitioned into four ink chambers  40  in the left-right direction  9 . The black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink and yellow inks are stored in the four ink chambers  40 , respectively. Each of the color inks is an example of the liquid. The number of the ink chamber  40  and the color of the ink are not limited to the above examples. Note that although the ink chambers  40  according to this embodiment are each formed of walls made of a resin, it is allowable that the ink chambers  40  are each formed of a bag made of a resin, etc. 
     The inlet ports  50  as openings configured to allow the inks to be poured into the ink chambers  40  respectively are disposed in the inclined wall  42  of the tank  4 . The ink chambers  40  are communicated with the outside of the tank  4  via the inlet ports  50 . The tank  4  according to the embodiment has the four ink chambers  40 , and four inlet ports  50  are disposed in the inclined wall  42  as a row of inlet ports arranged side by side to one another (aligned) in the left-right direction  9 , corresponding to the four ink chambers  40 , respectively. 
     The tank  4  is provided with cylindrical walls  43  projecting obliquely upward from the outer surface of the inclined wall  42 . Each of the inlet ports  50  is formed to penetrate through the inclined wall  42  and one of the cylindrical walls  43 . In other words, each of the inlet ports  50  is defined by the wall portion(s) of the tank  4 , namely, a portion of the inclined wall  42  and one of the cylindrical walls  43 . The cylindrical wall  43  according to the embodiment is projected from the inclined wall  42  in a front upward direction that is non-orthogonal to the up-down direction  7  and oriented upward from the horizontal direction. Further, the cylindrical wall  43  is projected from the inclined wall  42  in a direction orthogonal to the outer surface of the inclined wall  42 . An end portion  50   a  of the inlet port  50  is open toward the outside of the tank  4  while facing obliquely upward, at a projected end portion of the cylindrical wall  43 . On the other hand, the other end portion  50   b  of the inlet port  50  is open in the inner surface of the inclined wall  42 , while facing obliquely downward toward the ink chamber  40 . 
     As described above, each of the inlet ports  50  disposed in the front surface of the tank  4  is exposed to the outside of the multifunction peripheral  10  via the opening  14   c  of the casing  14  under a condition that the cover  70  is at the opened position (see  FIGS. 1B and 4 ). The caps  6  which are independent from each other are installed (attached to) the inlet ports  50 , respectively. Each of the caps  6  is detachably attached to one of the inlet ports  50  and is capable of opening/closing one of the inlet ports  50 . When each of the caps  6  is removed or detached from one of the inlet ports  50 , the inlet port  50  is opened, thereby allowing the ink to be poured into the ink chamber  40  via the released (open) inlet port  50 . 
     An arm  60  linking (joining, connecting) each of the caps  6  with the outer wall of the tank  4  or with the casing  14  is connected or joined to each of the caps  6 . In the embodiment, the cap  6  and the arm  60  are integrally molded with an elastically deformable material such as rubber, elastomer, etc. Note that, however, the cap  6  and the arm  60  may be separately molded, and then may be connected to each other. 
     The cap  6  has a cap body (body)  61  and a flange  62  which are integrally formed. The body  61  is a portion which is inserted into the inlet port  50  and passes through the one end portion  50   a  of the inlet port  50  when the cap  6  is being installed in the inlet port  50 . A forward end portion (tip portion)  61   a  of the body  61  reaches the inside of the ink chamber  40  in a state that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . 
     The body  61  has a cylindrical shape (columnar shape) wherein the outer diameter of the body  61  is substantially same as or greater to some extent than the inner diameter of the inlet port  50 . A claw portion  61   b  is disposed in the body  61  at a portion thereof which is configured to be located inside the ink chamber  40  under the condition that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . The claw portion  61   b  is an annular-shaped projection projecting from the outer circumferential surface of the body  61  having the cylindrical shape in the radial direction, and the outer diameter of the claw portion  61   b  as the annular-shaped projection is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet port  50 . Further, the forward end portion  61   a , of the body  61 , which is inserted into the inlet port  50  firstly among the body  61  when the cap  6  is being installed in the inlet port  50  has a tapered shape of which outer diameter is decreased toward the tip of the forward end portion  61   a ; the outer diameter of the forward end portion  61   a  (namely, the forward end portion of the body  61 ) is smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet port  50 . 
     The flange  62  is a portion located at outside of the inlet port  50  and is not inserted into the inlet port  50 , under the condition that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . The flange  62  has a cylindrical shape (columnar shape) of which outer diameter is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet port  50 . The flange  62  is provided with an outer surface  62   b  facing the outside of the tank  4  and intersecting an opening central line L of the opening of the inlet port  50  under the condition that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . A tab  66  is projected from the outer surface  62   b . The tab  66  is an operation projection held by a user with fingers, etc. so as to operate the cap  6  when the cap  6  is to be detached or removed from the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 . The tab  66  is projected from the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62 , at a location shifted from the central portion of the outer surface  62   b , rather than at the central location. The tab  66  according to the embodiment is projected from the outer surface  62   b , of the flange  62 , at a portion including the outer edge portion of the outer surface  62   b.    
     The flange  62  has a nip surface N 1  that is a reverse side of the outer surface  62   b . A nip surface N 2 , which forms a pair of nip surfaces together with the nip surface N 1 , is provided on the claw portion  61   b  of the body  61 . Under a condition that the cap  6  is in a natural state (namely, under a condition that the cap  6  is not elastically deformed), the two nip surfaces N 1  and N 2  face each other at a predetermined spacing distance (gap) therebetween. Namely, in the cap  6  in the natural state, the two nip surfaces N 1  and N 2  are separated from each other by a distance smaller to some extent than a length H (see  FIG. 5 ), of the inlet port  50 , in a direction that is parallel to the opening central line L of the inlet port  50 . 
     The arm  60  is formed to have a substantially belt-shape extending from a peripheral portion of the flange  62 . A forward end portion  60   a  of the arm  60  is connected to the peripheral portion of the flange  62  of the cap  6 . Under a condition that the cap  6  and the arm  60  are in the natural state, an extension line extended from the forward end portion  60   a  of the arm  60  extends parallel to the outer surface  62   a  of the flange  62  of the cap  6 . 
     An arm root  69  configured to support the arm  60  is integrally disposed at a basal portion  60   b  of the arm  60 . The arm root  69  is projected rearward from the basal portion  60   b  of the arm  60 . In the arm  60  in the natural state, the extending direction of the arm  60  and the extending direction of the arm root  69  are orthogonal to each other. The arm root  69  is provided with a lock piece  69   a  which is projected in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the arm root  69 . 
     The arm root  69  of the arm  60  is connected to the arm connecting portion  48  provided on the tank  4 . The arm connecting portion  48  is a wall projecting upward from the upper wall  46  of the tank  4 , at a location above and behind (rear of) the inlet port  50 . The arm connecting portion  48  of the tank  4  is formed with a groove  48   a  extending in the up-down direction  7  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the arm root  69  is inserted into the groove  48   a  of the arm connecting portion  48 , from above the groove  48   a , so that the lock piece  69   a  is located behind the arm connecting portion  48 . The arm root  69  is locked with respect to the arm connecting portion  48  by the lock piece  69   a  so that the arm root  69  is not dropped forwardly off from the groove  48   a  of the arm connecting portion  48 . Further, a vertical wall  14   f  forming a portion of the casing  14  (or a portion of the frame of the multifunction peripheral  10 ) is present at a location above the arm root  69 , and the vertical wall  14   f  prevents the arm root  69  from disengaging upwardly from the groove  48   a  of the arm connecting portion  48  of the tank  4 . 
     [Attachment and Detachment of the Cap  6  with Respect to the Inlet Port  50  of the Tank  4 ] 
     In a case that the cap  6  is to be installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 , the body  61  of the cap  6  is pressed, by an user, into the inlet port  50  in a state that the forward end portion  61   a  of the body  61  of the cap  6  is positioned with respect to the one end portion  50   a  of the inlet port  50 , until the flange  62  abuts against (makes contact with) the projected end portion of the cylindrical wall  43 . In this situation, the user presses the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  with the inner surface of a finger, thereby allowing the body  61  to pass through the one end portion  50   a  of the inlet port  50  and to be pressed into the inlet port  50 . When the claw portion  61   b , of which outer diameter is compressed inside the inlet port  50 , passes through the other end portion  50   b  of the inlet port  50  and reaches the inside of the ink chamber  40 , the claw portion  61   b  is elastically recovered (elastically restored) and returns to its original shape. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , under the condition that the cap  6  is appropriately installed in the inlet port  50 , the flange  62  is located outside the tank  4 , the body  61  of the cap  6  is located inside the inlet port  50  and in the ink chamber  40 , and the claw portion  61   b  and the forward end portion  61   a  of the body  61  have reached the ink chamber  40 . 
     In a state that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50  as described above, the nip surface N 1  as the one of the nip surfaces of the cap  6  is pressed against the projected end portion of the cylindrical wall  43  defining the one end portion  50   a  of the inlet port  50 , and the nip surface N 2  as the other of the nip surfaces of the cap  6  is pressed against the inner surface of the inclined wall  42  defining the other end portion  50   b  of the inlet port  50 . Further, the cap  6  is elastically deformed so that a distance between the nip surfaces N 1  and N 2  becomes substantially same as the length H, of the wall portion defining the opening  50 , in the direction parallel to the opening central line L of the inlet port  50 . With this, the cylindrical wall  43  and the inclined wall  42  are sandwiched and pressurized from both sides respectively with the two nip surfaces N 1  and N 2 , due to the elastic deformation of the cap  6 . In such a manner, the one end portion  50   a  of the inlet port  50  is sealed by the flange  62  of the cap  6 , and the other end portion  50   b  of the inlet port  50  is sealed by the claw portion  61   b  of the cap  6  as well. Namely, in the state that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 , the cap  6  and the tank  4  are sealed at two locations. Further, since the outer diameter of the portion, of the body  61 , which is located inside the inlet port  50  is substantially same as or greater to some extent than the inner diameter of the inlet port  50 , the body  61  makes tight contact with the wall portion, of the tank  4 , defining the inlet port  50  (namely, makes tight contact with a surface defining the inlet port  50  in the cylindrical wall  43  and the inclined wall  42 ). With this, the inlet port  50  is sealed by the outer circumferential surface of the body  61 . 
     Under the condition that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 , the arm  60  is elastically deformed and bent. In this state, a restoring force, for restoring the arm  60  to return to an standing posture in which the arm  60  is standing upward (upright) with the forward end portion  60   a  of the arm  60  connected to the cap  6  being oriented upward as depicted in  FIG. 4  with the two-dot chain lines, acts on the arm  60 . However, the nip surface N 2 , among the two nip surfaces of the cap  6 , which is provided on the claw portion  61   a  is caught (held) by the inner wall surface of the inclined wall  42  surrounding the other end portion  50   b  of the inlet port  50 , thereby resisting the restoring force of the arm  60  for elastic recovery, which in turn results in maintaining the state that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . 
     In a case that the cap  6  installed in the inlet port  50  is to be removed (detached) from the inlet port  50 , the body  61  of the cap  6  which in inserted into the inlet port  50  and into the ink chamber  40  of the tank  4  is pulled out to the outside of the tank  4  via the one end portion  50   a  of the inlet port  50 . Here, the user touches a first surface  66   a  of the tab  66  with a finger, and touches a second surface  66   b  of the tab  66  with another finger, thereby holds the tab  66  of the cap  6  with the two fingers, and pulls the tab  66  obliquely upward, namely frontward and upward, or frontward (namely, toward the side in front of the user, toward the user), thereby making it possible to pull the body  61  of the cap  6  from the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  to the outside of the tank  4 . 
     By removing the cap  6  from the inlet port  50  as described above, the arm  60  is substantially in a standing state in which the arm  60  is elastically restored and is standing upright due to the restoring force (cap-opened state). Accompanying with the standing action of the arm  60 , the cap  6  connected to the forward end portion  60   a  of the arm  60  pivots or rotates upward about the basal portion  60   b  of the arm  60  as the rotational center. When the cap  6  is removed from the inlet port  50  in such a manner, the cap  6  is moved to and maintained at a position located above and apart from the inlet port  50 . 
     &lt;Cover  70 &gt; 
     Here, the cover  70  will be explained in detail.  FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view depicting the tank unit  100  and the cover  70  of the multifunction peripheral  10  in a state that the cover  70  is the opened position and each of the caps  6  is appropriately installed in the inlet port  50 .  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the cover  70 . As depicted in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3, 4, 7 and 8 , the cover  70  is provided to be capable of opening/closing the opening  14   c  formed in the front wall  14   a  of the casing  14 . The cover  70  rotates about a rotation axis  82 L extending in a direction along (parallel to) a placement surface in which the multifunction peripheral  10  is placed, specifically extending in the left-right direction  9 . In this embodiment, the casing  14  is provided with a rotation shaft  82  projecting from the casing  14  into the inside of the opening  14   c . The rotation shaft  82  is disposed in the casing  14  so that the axis of the rotation shaft  82  is substantially coincident with the rotation axis  82 L. A C-shaped bearing  72  integrally formed in a lower portion of the cover  70  is externally fitted to the rotation shaft  82 . In this manner, the cover  70  is supported by the casing  14  to be rotatable about the rotation axis  82 L extending in the left-right direction  9  and passing through the lower portion of the cover  70 . 
     The cover  70  has an outer shape of which magnitude (size, extent) corresponds to the opening  14   c , and has a box-shape in which a side of the opening  14   c  is opened. The cover  70  covers the front wall  41  and the inclined wall  42  of the tank  4  in a state that the cover  70  is located at the closed position. When the cover  70  is located at the closed position, the caps  6  of the tank unit  100  become inaccessible from the outside of the multifunction peripheral  10 . When the cover  70  is located at the opened position, the cover  70  allows the front wall  41  and the inclined wall  42  of the tank  4  to be exposed to the outside of the casing  14 . When the cover  70  is located at the opened position, the caps  6  of the tank unit  100  become accessible from the outside of the multifunction peripheral  10 , via the opening  14   c  of the casing  14 . Here, the term “accessible” or “access” means that the user can touch the cap(s)  6  for the attaching or detaching operation of the cap  6 , an ink bottle is allowed to be inserted into the inlet port  50  for a replenishing operation for replenishing the ink chamber  40  with the ink. 
     The cover  70  has an outer surface  701  forming a portion of the front wall  14   a  of the casing  14  and an inner surface  702  facing the tank  4  under the condition that the cover  70  is located at the closed position. An engaging portion  73  projecting from the inner surface  702  toward the casing  14  is disposed at an upper end portion of the cover  70 . The engaging portion  73  maintains the cover  70  at the closed position by engaging with an engagement-object portion  83  formed in the casing  14  in the vicinity of an upper end portion of the opening  14   c.    
     A window  74  is formed in the cover  70  at a central portion thereof in the up-down direction  7  and the left-right direction  9  in the state that the cover  70  is located at the closed position. The window  74  allows light to transmit therethrough between the side of the outer surface  701  and the side of the inner surface  702  of the cover  70 , and the window  74  is formed, for example, by fitting a material allowing a visible light to transmit therethrough into an opening formed in the cover  70 . The window  74  has such a dimension or size that allows a portion located above the lower end of the front wall  41  and a portion located below the upper end of the inclined wall  42  of the tank  4  to be visually confirmable (visible) in the up-down direction  7  from the side of the front wall  14   a  of the casing  14 , and that allows a portion of the front wall  41  which is different from the left end and the right end of the front wall  41  to be visually confirmable in the left-right direction  9  from the side of the front wall  14   a  of the casing  14 . The user can visually confirm whether or not the caps  6  are installed in the inlet ports  50  provided on the inclined wall  42  of the casing  14 , via the window  74 . 
     The cover  70  has a first portion  70 A formed with the engaging portion  73 , a second portion  70 B projecting frontward from the first portion  70 A and having a holding portion (grasping portion)  80  for a user to hold or grasp when the user opens the cover  70 , and a third portion  70 C extending downward from the second portion  70 B. The window  74  is included in the third portion  70 C. A space S 1  capable of accommodating the cap  6  and the arm  60  therein under the condition that the cover  70  is in the closed position is defined between the second portion  70 B and the third portion  70  and the tank  4 . On the other hand, the upper side of the space S 1  is a narrow space which is not capable of accommodating the arm  60  therein under the condition that the cover  70  is in the closed position. 
     The inner surface  702  of the cover  70  is provided with a rib  75  (projection) projecting from the inner surface  702 . The rib  75  is integrally formed with other portion of the cover  70 . The rib  75  is located immediately above the window  74  in the third portion  70 C of the cover  70 . The rib  75  is projected in the space S 1  from the inner surface  702  of the cover  70  toward the tank  4  under the condition that the cover  70  is in the closed position. The rib  75  has a function of preventing the cap  6  from detaching or being removed from the inlet port  50  under the condition that the cover is in the closed position, in addition to the original function as the rib to reinforce the plate-shaped cover  70 . 
     The rib  75  has an upper rib  75   a  and a lower rib  75   b  which are continued (extending) in the left-right direction  9 , and a plurality of vertical ribs  75   c  linking the upper and lower ribs  75   a  and  75   b , and the rib  75  as a whole has a substantially lattice-like (or grid-like, ladder-like) shape when the cover  70  is seen from the side of the inner surface  702 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 11 , under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state (namely, in the state that the cover  70  is in the closed position and that the caps  6  are appropriately installed in the inlet ports  50 ), at least a portion of the tab  66  of each of the caps  6  is located at a position between the upper rib  75   a  and the lower rib  75   b  and between adjacent vertical ribs  75   c , among the plurality of vertical ribs  75   c , which are adjacent in the left-right direction  9 . Namely, under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state, the upper rib  75   a , the lower rib  75   b  and the adjacent vertical ribs  75   c  surround the tab  66  (surround a periphery or circumference portion of the tab  66 ) and define a space S 3  into which at least a portion of the tab  66  is inserted. 
     When the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state as described above, the tab  66  is located in the space S 3  defined by the rib  75 , and the cap  6  including the tab  66  does not contact the rib  75 . Further, when the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state, the arm  60  connected to the cap  6  does not contact the rib  75 . If such a configuration were provided wherein the cap  6  and/or the arm  60  were designed to contact the rib  75  when the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state, the cover  70  pressing the cap  6  and/or the arm  60  is easily opened by receiving the reaction force from the cap  6  and/or the arm  60 . Accordingly, it is desired that the rib  75  does not contact any one of the cap  6  and the arm  60  when the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state. 
     Further, under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state, a forward end portion of the lower rib  75   b  faces the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6 , at a predetermined spacing distance AG in a direction parallel to the insertion direction (insertion-removal direction) in which the cap  6  is inserted into or removed from the inlet port  50 . The forward end portion of the lower rib  75   b  is a pressing portion  75   e  which is configured to abut against (contact) the outer surface  62   a  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  so as to press the cap  6  and to thereby prevent the cap  6  from being removed or detached from the inlet port  50 . The pressing portion  75   e  abuts firstly against (makes contact firstly with) the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6 , among other portion(s) of the cap  6  different from the outer surface  62   b , under a condition that the cap is moved, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed (separated and away) from the inlet port  50 . Therefore, among the portions included in or forming the cap  6 , there is not anything interposed between the pressing portion  75   e  and the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62 . 
     Further, it is preferable that the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  is located on an extension of the opening central line L of the opening of the inlet port  50  under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state. With this, when the cap  6  is moved, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 , the pressing portion  75   e  consequently abuts against the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  at the point of intersection of the opening central line L with the outer surface  62   b , thereby allowing the pressing portion  75   e  to press the cap  6  in a well-balanced manner. 
     In the embodiment, the insertion direction of the cap  6  is parallel to the extending direction of the opening central line L of the inlet port  50 . Note that the term “opening central line L” of the inlet port  50  indicates a line linking the center of the one end portion  50   a  of the inlet port  50  and the center of the other end portion  50   b  of the inlet port  50 , and an extension of this line. In the embodiment, the opening central line L is parallel to a projecting direction in which the cylindrical wall  43  is projected from the inclined wall  42 . Further, the opening central line L can be considered also as being parallel to a penetrating direction in which the inlet port  50  penetrates through the cylindrical wall  43  and the inclined wall  42 . Furthermore, the extending direction of the opening central line L of the inlet port  50  is parallel to the insertion direction in which the body  61  of the cap  6  is inserted into or removed from the inlet port  50 . 
     In the above-described configuration, the term “predetermined spacing distance AG” has magnitude (size, extent) which is not more than a value within a range of a moving amount of the cap  6  by which water-tightness between the tank  4  and the cap  6  is maintained under the condition that the cap  6  installed in the inlet port  50  is moved, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . Such a predetermined spacing distance AG is determined based on the relationship between the cap  6  and the wall portion defining the inlet port  50  (the inclined wall  42  and the cylindrical wall  43 ). It is preferable, however, that the predetermined spacing distance AG is a small value in order to prevent the size of the casing  14  from becoming large. In the cap  6  according to the embodiment, when the body  61  of the cap  6  is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 , the claw portion  61   b  enters into the inside of the inlet port  50 . In a state that the claw portion  61   b  is inside the inlet port  50 , the outer circumferential surface of the body  61  is brought into pressurized contact with the outer circumferential (outer circumferential surface) of the claw portion  61   b  and the inner wall of the cylindrical wall  43 , which in turn ensures the water-tightness between the tank  4  and the cap  6 . Accordingly, in this embodiment, a preferred example of the magnitude of the predetermined spacing distance AG includes, for example, a length, of the wall portion defining the inlet port  50  (the inclined wall  42  and the cylindrical wall  43 ), in a direction parallel to the extending direction in which the opening central line L of the opening of the inlet port  50  is extended, namely, a length, of the inlet port  50 , in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the opening central line L of the opening of the inlet port  50 . 
       FIG. 9  is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the multifunction peripheral  10  in a state that the cover  70  is in the closed position and the cap  6  installed in the inlet port  50  is moved in the insertion direction of the cap  6  (moved in the direction parallel to the opening central line L) for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , when the cap  6  is appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, the surface of the pressing portion  75   e  and the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  are substantially parallel to each other. When the cap  6  is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 , then as depicted in  FIG. 9 , the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  abuts against the pressing portion  75   e  provided on the lower rib  75   b  of the rib  75 , thereby restricting any further movement of the cap  6 . In a state that the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  abuts against the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75 , the claw portion  61   b  of the body  61  of the cap  6  enters into the inside of the inlet port  50 , thereby bringing the outer circumferential surface of the claw portion  61   b  into pressurized contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall  43 , which in turn ensures the water-tightness between the tank  4  and the cap  6 . Thus, when the cover  70  is in the closed position in the above-described manner, satisfactory water-tightness can be maintained between the cap  6  and the tank  4 . Further, in a case that the cap  6  is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50  along the opening central line L to thereby cause the outer surface  62   b  to abut against the pressing portion  75   e  as depicted in  FIG. 9 , the surface of the pressing portion  75   e  and the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  are substantially parallel to each other. Accordingly, the cap  6  can be pressed by the surface of the pressing portion  75   e  in a well-balanced manner. 
     &lt;Pouring of the Ink into the Tank  4 &gt; 
     When the multifunction peripheral  10  having the above-described configuration is in a state that the multifunction peripheral  10  can be used (usable state), the cover  70  is in the closed position and the caps  6  are appropriately installed in the inlet ports  50 , respectively, of the tank  4 , and the inlet ports  50  are sealed by the caps  6 , respectively, as depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 3 . Namely, the usable state that the multifunction peripheral  10  can be used is the above-described normal state. When the ink is to be poured into the ink chamber  40  of the tank  4  of the multifunction peripheral  10 , the user firstly rotates the cover  70  from the closed position to the opened position. By doing so, the multifunction peripheral  10  which has been in the normal state is allowed to have the cover-opened state by which the cap(s)  6  of the tank  4  can be accessible via the opening  14   c  of the front wall  14   a  of the casing  14 , as depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . 
     After allowing the multifunction peripheral  10  to have the cover-opened state, the user then removes a cap  6 , among the caps  6 , corresponding to an ink chamber  40 , among the ink chambers  40 , which is to be replenished with the ink. With this, the multifunction peripheral  10  which has been in the cover-opened state is allowed to have the cap-opened state in which the arm  60  is allowed to stand substantially upright and the cap  6  connected to the forward end portion of the arm  60  is maintained at a position apart (away) from the inlet port  50 , as depicted in  FIG. 4  with the two-dot chain lines. In detail, when the cap  6  is removed from the inlet port  50 , the arm  60  which has been bent by the elastic deformation is elastically recovered by the recovering force to have a state that the arm  60  stands substantially upright. Accompanying with the standing action of the arm  60 , the cap  6  connected to the forward end portion  60   a  of the arm  60  pivots or rotates upward about the basal portion  60   b  of the arm  60  as the rotational center. When the cap  6  is removed from the inlet port  50  in such a manner, the cap  6  is moved to and maintained at a position located above and apart from the inlet port  50 . 
     Then, the user inserts a nozzle of an ink bottle (not depicted in the drawings) into the opened (released) inlet port  50  from which the cap  6  has been removed, and pours the ink inside the ink bottle into the ink chamber  40  via the inlet port  50 . After finishing the pouring of the ink into the ink chamber  40 , the user attaches (installs) the cap  6  in the inlet port  50 , thereby sealing the inlet port  50 . Afterwards, the user rotates the cover  70  from the opened position to the closed position. 
     There is assumed such a case that the inlet port  50  is not sealed by the cap  6  after the user has poured the ink into the ink chamber  40 , and that the user attempts to rotate the cover  70  from the opened position to the closed position. 
     An example of the case that the inlet port  50  is not sealed by the cap  6  includes, for example, such a case that the arm  60  stands upright and the cap  6  is maintained at a position located above the inlet port  50 , a case that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  as depicted in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , and the like. Note that  FIG. 10  is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the multifunction peripheral  10  in a state that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  during a process in which the cover  70  is moved from the opened position to the closed position; and  FIG. 12  is a view explaining the relationship between the rib  75  which is provided on the cover  70  and the cap  6  which is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 . In the case that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50 , the cap  6  is not inserted deeply enough for allowing the claw portion  61   b  of the body  61  to reach the ink chamber  40  and includes, for example, such a state that the cap  6  is floated from the inlet port  50 , and such a state that the arm  60  is bent and that the cap  6  is present in the vicinity of the inlet port  50  but the cap  6  is detached (removed) from the inlet port  50 , and the like. 
     Since a space S 2  which is defined between the first portion  70 A of the cover  70  and the casing  14  is narrower than the space S 1  which is defined among the second portion  70 B and the third portion  70 C of the cover  70  and the casing  14 , the cap  6  cannot be accommodated in the space S 2 . Accordingly, in the case that the arm  60  stands upright and the cap  6  is maintained at the position located above the inlet port  50  and that the cover is caused to rotate from the opened position toward the closed position, the movement of the cover  70  is hindered or prevented by the arm  60  (or by the cap  6 ) and thus the cover  70  cannot reach the closed position. In other words, before the cover  70  reaches the closed position, the inner surface  702  of the cover  70  makes contact with the arm  60  (or with the cap  6 ), thereby restricting any further upward movement of the cover  70 , which in turn prevents the cover  70  from reaching the closed position. 
     Further, in the case that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50 , the rib  75  provided on the inner surface  702  of the cover  70  interferes with the cap  6  and/or the arm  60 , as depicted in  FIGS. 10 and 12 . Note that in the example depicted in  FIG. 10 , the upper rib  75   a , among the rib  75 , interferes with the cap  6  which is displaced upward in the liquid consuming apparatus in the normal state; and in the example depicted in  FIG. 12 , the vertical rib(s)  75   c , among the rib  75 , interfere(s) with the tab  66  or the flange  62  of the cap  6  which is displaced in the left-right direction  9  in the liquid consuming apparatus in the normal state. 
     In the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, the space S 1  defined by the second portion  70 B and the third portion  70 C of the cover  70 , the casing  14  and the tank  4  is capable of accommodating only the caps  6  which are appropriately installed in the inlet ports  50 . Therefore, in a case that the cover  70  is made to rotate from the opened position toward the closed position in a state that the cap(s)  6  is (are) not appropriately installed in the inlet port(s)  50 , the movement of the cover  70  is hindered by the cap(s)  6  and/or the arm(s)  60  intervening between the cover  70  and the tank  4 , thereby preventing the cover  70  from reaching the closed position. More specifically, before the cover  7  reaches the closed position, the rib  75  of the inner surface  702  of the cover  70  contacts the cap(s)  6  and/or the arm(s)  60 , which in turn restricts any further upward movement of the cover  70 , thereby preventing the cover  70  to reach the closed positon, namely, thereby making it impossible to close the cover  70 . 
     As explained above, the multifunction peripheral  10  as the liquid consuming apparatus according to the embodiment is provided with the recording section  24  as the liquid consuming section; the tank  4  having the ink chamber  40  as the liquid storage chamber which is configured to store the ink (liquid), to be consumed by the recording section  24 , therein, and the inlet ports  50  which are formed in the tank  4  and via which the liquid is poured into the ink chambers  40 , respectively; the caps  6  which are detachably attached to the inlet ports  50  and which are capable of opening/closing the inlet ports  50 , respectively; and the casing  14  having the cover  70  which is movable with respect to the tank  4  between the closed position at which the cover  70  covers the surface, of the tank  4 , in which the inlet ports  50  are formed and the opened position at which the cover  70  allows the surface, of the tank  4 , in which the inlet ports  50  are formed to be exposed to the outside, and the casing  14  being configured to accommodate the recording section  24 , the tank  4  and the caps  6  therein. Each of the caps  6  has the outer surface  62   b  facing the outside of the tank  4  and intersecting the opening central line L of the opening of one of the inlet ports  50  corresponding thereto, under the condition that the caps  6  are installed in the inlet ports  50 . The cover  70  has the inner surface  702  facing the surface, of the tank, formed with the inlet ports  50 , and the rib  75  as the projection projecting from the inner surface  702  toward the tank  4 . Further, the rib  75  of the cover  70  is provided with the pressing portion  75   e  configured to face the outer surface  62   b  of each of the caps  6  at the predetermined spacing distance AG in the direction parallel to the insertion direction, in which the cap  6  is inserted into or removed from the inlet port  50 , under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state in which the cover  70  is in the closed position and that the caps  6  are installed respectively in the inlet ports  50 , and the pressing portion  75   e  is configured to abut firstly against (makes contact firstly with) the outer surface  62   b , among the other portion(s) of the cap  6  different from the outer surface  62   b , under the condition that the cap  6  is moved, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . 
     With this, under the condition that the cap  6  is moved, in the liquid consuming apparatus in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 , the outer surface  62   b  of the cap  6  and the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  of the cover  70  abut against each other to thereby restrict any further movement of the cap  6  in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . Thus, in a state that the cover  70  is in the closed positon, namely, in a state that the cover  70  is closed, the movement of the cap  6 , which is installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 , in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50  (in a direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 ) is suppressed (restricted), thereby making it possible to prevent the cap  6  installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  from being removed (detached) from the inlet port  50 . 
     Further, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the embodiment, the extent or magnitude of the “predetermined spacing distance AG” is not more than a value within a range of the moving amount of the cap  6  by which water-tightness between the tank  4  and cap  6  is maintained under the condition that the cap  6  appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  is moved, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . 
     With this, even when the cap  6  appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50  in a state that the cover  70  is in the closed position, namely that the cover  70  is closed, such movement of the cap  6  is restricted within the range of the moving amount of the cap  6  by which water-tightness between the tank  4  and cap  6  is maintained. With this, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking out of the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  when the cover  70  is in the closed position, namely when the cover  70  is closed. 
     Furthermore, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the present embodiment, the tank  4  has the wall portion defining the inlet port  50  (the cylindrical wall  43  and the inclined wall  42 ), and the cap  6  has the claw portion  61   b  configured to be located inside the ink chamber  40  and to engage with the opening edge, of the wall portion defining the inlet port  50 , on the side of the ink chamber  40  under the condition that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . Moreover, the magnitude (size, extent) of the predetermined spacing distance AG between the forward end portion of the lower rib  75   b  (namely, the pressing portion  75   e ) and the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  has a value corresponding to the length, of the wall portion defining the inlet port  50 , in the direction parallel to the extending direction in which the opening central line L of the opening of the inlet port  50  is extended. 
     With this, even when the cap  6  appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  is moved (is caused to move) in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50  in the state that the cover  70  is in the closed position, namely that the cover  70  is closed, such movement of the cap  6  is restricted within the range of the moving amount of the cap  6  by which water-tightness between the tank  4  and cap  6  is maintained. With this, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking out of the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  when the cover  70  is in the closed position, namely when the cover  70  is closed. 
     Further, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the embodiment, the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  is located on the extension of the opening central line L of the opening of the inlet port  50  under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state. 
     With this, when the cap  6  appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 , the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  abuts against the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  at the point of intersection of the opening central line L of the inlet port  50  with the outer surface  62   b , thereby allowing the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  to press the cap  6  in a well-balanced manner. 
     Furthermore, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the embodiment, the cap  6  has the tab  66  as the operation projection projecting from the outer surface  62   b . Moreover, the rib  75  of the cover  70  has the wall portion (at least one of the upper rib  75   a , lower rib  75   b  and vertical ribs  75 ) configured to be located to surround the tab  66  under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state. This wall portion of the rib  75  does not contact the cap  6  under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state, but the wall portion contacts the cap  6 , under a condition that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50 , such that the movement of the cover  70  from the opened position to the closed position is hindered by the cap  6  intervening between the cover  70  and the tank  4 , thereby preventing the cover  70  from reaching the closed position. 
     With this, the cover  70  cannot be moved from the opened position up to the closed position in the state that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 , namely in the state that the inlet port  50  is not sealed. Thus, it is possible to prevent such a situation that the cap  6  is left in a non-installed state, in an inappropriately installed state, etc. 
     Further, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the present embodiment, the rib  75  of the cover  70  has the pair of wall portions (the upper rib  75   a  and the lower rib  75   b , or adjacent vertical ribs  75   c  among the plurality of vertical ribs  75   c ) configured to face each other with at least a portion of the tab  66  interposed therebetween under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state. 
     With this, the cover  70  cannot be moved from the opened position so as to reach the closed position in the state that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 , namely in the state that the inlet port  50  is not sealed. Thus, it is possible to prevent such a situation that the cap  6  is left in a non-installed state, in an inappropriately installed state, etc. 
     Further, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the present embodiment, the rib  75  of the cover  70  has the wall portion (the upper rib  75   a , the lower rib  75   b , and the vertical ribs  75   c ) is configured to surround the tab  66  and configured to define the space S 3  into which at least a portion of the tab  66  is inserted under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state. 
     With this, the surrounding of the tab  66  of the cap  6  is surrounded by the rib  75  under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state, and thus the cover  70  cannot be moved from the opened position up to the closed position in the state that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 , namely in the state that the inlet port  50  is not sealed. Thus, it is possible to prevent such a situation that the cap  6  is left in a non-installed state, in an inappropriately installed state, etc. 
     Furthermore, the multifunction peripheral  10  of the present embodiment further includes the arm  60  formed of an elastic material and linking the cap  6  with the tank  4  (or with the casing  14 ). The forward end portion  60   a  of the arm  60  is joined to the cap  6 , and the basal portion  60   b  of the arm  60  is joined to the tank  4  (or to the casing  14 ) at a position above the inlet port  50 . Further, the arm  60  is bent by elastic deformation under the condition that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . Furthermore, the tank  4  and the cover  70  define the space S 1  in which the arm  60  is accommodated without contacting the cover  70  under the condition that the cover  70  is in the closed position and the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . 
     Due to the state that the arm  60  is joined to the cap  6  in the above-described manner, a restoring force, for pulling the cap  6  out of the inlet port  50  by the arm  60  attempting to be elastically recover, acts on the cap  6 . In view of this, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the embodiment, the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  abuts against the cap  6  in a case that the cap  6  is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 , thereby restricting the movement of the cap  6  in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . Thus, it is possible to prevent the cap  6  from being removed or detached from the inlet port  50 . 
     Further, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the present embodiment, the rib  75  of the cover  70  has the pair of wall portions (the upper rib  75   a  and the lower rib  75   b , or adjacent vertical ribs  75   c  among the plurality of vertical ribs  75   c ) configured to face each other with at least a portion of the tab  66  interposed therebetween under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state. 
     With this, in such a case that the cap  6  is displaced, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, in the up-down direction  7  and thus the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 , the tab  66  cannot be accommodated between the upper and lower ribs  75   a  and  75   b . Therefore, in this case, when the cover  70  is rotated from the opened position toward the closed position, any portion of the cap  6  abuts against the upper rib  75   a  or the lower rib  75   b . Further, in such a case that the cap  6  is displaced in the left-right direction  9  in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state and thus the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50 , the tab  66  cannot be accommodated between adjacent vertical ribs  75  among the plurality of vertical  75   c . Therefore, in this case, when the cover  70  is rotated from the opened position toward the closed position, any portion of the cap  6  abuts against the adjacent vertical rib(s)  75   c . As described above, the cover  70  cannot reach the closed position due to the cap  6  which is interposed between the cover  70  and the tank  4 . 
     Furthermore, in the multifunction peripheral  10  according to the embodiment, the rib  75  of the cover  70  has the wall portion (the upper rib  75   a , the lower rib  75   b  and the vertical ribs  75   c ) surround the tab  66  (surrounds a periphery or circumference portion of the tab  66 ) and define the space S 3  into which at least a portion of the tab  66  is inserted, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state. 
     With this, in the state that the cap  6  is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50 , namely in the state that the inlet port  50  is not sealed, the tab  66  cannot be accommodated in the space S 3 . Therefore, in this case, when the cover  70  is rotated from the opened position toward the closed position, any portion of the cap  6  abuts against the upper rib  75   a  or the lower rib  75   b . As described above, the cover  70  cannot reach the closed position due to the cap  6  which is interposed between the cover  70  and the tank  4 . 
     Moreover, in the multifunction peripheral  10  according to the embodiment, the ink chamber  40  is provided as the plurality of ink chambers  40  which are arranged side by side to each other in the left-right direction  9  (first direction), and the cap  6  is provided as the plurality of caps  6  corresponding to the plurality of ink chambers  40 , respectively, and arranged side by side to each other in the left-right direction  9  (first direction); and the rib  75  of the cover  70  has the two wall portions (upper and lower ribs  75   a  and  75   b ) extending in the left-right direction  9  and the wall portion(s) (respective vertical ribs  75   c ) linking the two wall portions. 
     with this, the rib  75  has the lattice-like (or grid-like, ladder-like) shape extending in the left-right direction  9  and thus is capable of having the original function as the rib to reinforce the cover  70 , thereby enhancing the rigidity thereof, in addition to having the function of forming the space S 3  into which the tab  66  of the cap  6  is inserted. 
     Note that the rib  75  according to the embodiment has the plurality of vertical ribs  75   c  of which number is greater than the number of the cap  6  by not less than two for the purpose of forming the spaces S 3  of which number corresponds to the number of the caps  6 , or forming the spaces S 3  of which number is not less than the number of the caps  6 , such that the tabs  66  of the respective caps  6  can be accommodated individually from one another. In a case that the spaces S 3  are provided corresponding to the respective caps  6 , each of the spaces S 3  corresponding to one of the caps  6  is allowed to have a small dimension or size, thereby making it possible to easily catch (to easily abut against) any one of the caps  6  which is not appropriately installed in the inlet port  50 . Note that, however, the rib  75  may be formed with the spaces S 3  such that one space S 3  among the spaces S 3  corresponds to two or more pieces of the cap  6 . 
     Further, in the multifunction peripheral  10  according to the embodiment, the rib  75  of the cover  70  is provided with the pressing portion  75   e  configured to face the outer surface  62   b  of each of the caps  6  at the predetermined spacing distance AG in the direction parallel to the insertion direction, in which the cap  6  is inserted into or removed from the inlet port  50 , under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state, the pressing portion  75   e  being configured to abut firstly against (makes contact firstly with) the outer surface  62   b , among the other portion(s) of the cap  6  different from the outer surface  62   b , under the condition that the cap  6  is moved, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . 
     With this, under the condition that the cap  6  is moved, in the liquid consuming apparatus in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50  (in the direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 ), the outer surface  62   b  of the cap  6  and the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  of the cover  70  abut against each other to thereby restrict any further movement of the cap  6  in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . Thus, in a state that the cover  70  is in the closed positon, namely, in a state that the cover  70  is closed, the movement of the cap  6 , which is installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4 , in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50  is restricted, thereby making it possible to prevent the cap  6  installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  from being removed (detached) from the inlet port  50 . 
     Further, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the embodiment, the magnitude (extent) of the “predetermined spacing distance AG” is not more than a value within a range of the moving amount of the cap  6  by which water-tightness between the tank  4  and cap  6  is maintained under the condition that the cap  6  installed in the inlet port  50  is moved, in the multifunction peripheral  10  in the normal state, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 . 
     With this, in the liquid consuming apparatus in the normal state, even when the cap  6  installed appropriately in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  is moved, in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 , in a state that the cover  70  is in the closed position, namely that the cover  70  is closed, such movement of the cap  6  is restricted within the range of the moving amount of the cap  6  by which water-tightness between the tank  4  and cap  6  is maintained. With this, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking out of the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  when the cover  70  is in the closed position, namely when the cover  70  is closed. 
     Furthermore, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the present embodiment, the tank  4  has the wall portion (the cylindrical wall  43  and the inclined wall  42 ) defining the inlet port  50 , and the cap  6  has the claw portion  61   b  configured to be located inside the ink chamber  40  and to engage with the opening edge, of the wall portion defining the inlet port  50 , on the side of the ink chamber  40  under the condition that the cap  6  is installed in the inlet port  50 . Moreover, the magnitude (size, extent) of the predetermined spacing distance AG between the forward end portion of the lower rib  75   b  (namely, the pressing portion  75   e ) and the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  has a value corresponding to the length, of the wall portion defining the inlet port  50 , in the direction parallel to the extending direction in which the opening central line L of the opening of the inlet port  50  is extended. 
     With this, even when the cap  6  appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50  in the state that the cover  70  is in the closed position, namely that the cover  70  is closed, such movement of the cap  6  is restricted within the range of the moving amount of the cap  6  by which water-tightness between the tank  4  and cap  6  is maintained. With this, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking out of the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  when the cover  70  is in the closed position, namely when the cover  70  is closed. 
     Further, in the multifunction peripheral  10  of the embodiment, the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  is located on the extension of the opening central line L of the opening of the inlet port  50  under the condition that the multifunction peripheral  10  is in the normal state. 
     With this, when the cap  6  appropriately installed in the inlet port  50  of the tank  4  is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap  6  to be removed from the inlet port  50 , the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  abuts against the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  of the cap  6  at the point of intersection of the opening central line L of the inlet port  50  with the outer surface  62   b , thereby allowing the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  to press the cap  6  in a well-balanced manner. 
     The embodiment of the present teaching has been explained as above. However, the configuration described above can be modified as follows. 
     For example, the cap  6  according to the embodiment has the claw portion  61   b  provided on the body  61 . It is allowable, however, that the body  61  of the cap  6  has a shape without having any waist or bulged portion (namely, a shape without the claw portion  61   b ). 
     Further, in the cap  6  according to the embodiment, for example, the tab  66  is provided to project from the outer surface  62   b , of the flange  62 , at the outer edge portion which is located to be apart from the central portion of the outer surface  62   b . According to this configuration, it is possible to press substantially the central portion of the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62  with the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75 . It is allowable, however, that the tab  66  is provided on the cap  6  such that the tab  66  is projected from the central portion of the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62 . In such a case, the pressing portion  75   e  of the rib  75  is arranged such that the pressing portion  75   e  presses the outer surface  62   b  of the flange  62 , at a location apart or shifted from the central portion of the outer surface  62   b.    
     Furthermore, for example, the cover  70  according to the embodiment is disposed in the casing  14  such that the cover  70  is rotatable in the up-down direction  7  about the rotation axis  82 L extending in the left-right direction  9  as the rotation center. It is allowable, however, that the cover  70  is disposed in the casing  14  such that the cover  70  is rotatable in the left-right direction  9  (or in the front-rear direction  8 ) about a rotation axis extending in the up-down direction  7  as the rotation center. 
     Moreover, for example, although the cap  6  and the tank  4  or the casing  14  according to the embodiment are linked by the arm  60 , the arm  60  may be omitted. 
     From the above explanation, numerous improvements and/or other embodiments of the present teaching will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above explanation should be interpreted only as an example and as being provided for the purpose of teaching the best mode for carrying out the present teaching to the person skilled in the art. The configuration and/or the detailed function of the present teaching can be substantially changed, without departing from the spirit and/or gist of the present teaching.