Patent Abstract:
A liquid container of the invention has a container body including a storage space and a liquid feed port and a liquid injection port which are installed on the container body. The liquid feed port is structured so as to interconnect the storage space and the liquid ejecting head with each other, when the liquid container is mounted on a liquid ejecting unit. The liquid injection port is structured so as to interconnect the storage space of the container body and a liquid tank of a stationary unit with each other, when the liquid ejecting unit is united with the stationary unit. The invention provides a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 11/391,943, filed on Mar. 29, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     This application is based upon the prior Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2005-98704, 2005-98787, 2005-98816 and 2005-98931, all of which were filed on Mar. 30, 2005, and Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2006-48694 and 2006-48711, both of which were filed on Feb. 24, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a liquid container removably mounted on a portable liquid ejecting unit having a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid to an object. 
     The present invention relates to a liquid container removably mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus having a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid to an object. 
     The present invention relates to a waste liquid collection container for collecting a waste liquid sucked and ejected from the liquid ejecting head of the liquid ejecting apparatus, a waste liquid ejecting method from the container, and a cartridge equipped with the container. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As a representative example of the conventional liquid ejecting apparatus, there is an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head for image recording. As other liquid ejecting apparatuses, for example, an apparatus having a coloring material ejecting head used to manufacture color filters such as a liquid crystal display, an apparatus having an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head used to form electrodes such as an organic EL display and a face emission display (FED), an apparatus having a biological organic substance ejecting head used to manufacture biological chips, and an apparatus having a sample ejecting head as a precise pipette may be cited. 
     The ink jet recording apparatus which is a representative example of the liquid ejecting apparatus produces a comparatively low noise during printing and can form small dots in high density, so that in recent years, it is used for various printing including color printing. 
     As a liquid feed method for the liquid ejecting apparatus represented by the ink jet recording apparatus, there is an available method for feeding a liquid from a liquid container storing a liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus. Furthermore, in the liquid feed method by the liquid container, to simply exchange the liquid container by a user when the liquid in the liquid container is consumed, the liquid container is generally formed as a cartridge installed removably on the liquid ejecting apparatus. 
     Generally, the ink jet recording apparatus has a carriage having a recording head for ejecting ink drops for moving back and forth along the recording face of a recording medium (an object). As an ink feed method from the ink cartridge to the recording head, there is an available method for mounting the ink cartridge on the carriage and feeding ink from the ink cartridge moving back and forth together with the recording head to the recording head (the so-called on-carriage method). As another method, there is an available method for mounting the ink cartridge in the casing of the apparatus body and feeding ink from the ink cartridge via an ink flow path formed by a flexible tube to the recording head (the so-called off-carriage system). 
     User&#39;s needs relating to the status in use of the ink jet recording apparatus are widely diversified, and there is a need for an ink jet recording apparatus for continuously performing a comparatively large amount of printing process, and on the other hand, there is also a need for a portable ink jet recording apparatus which is handy, small, and light in weight. 
     Therefore, if there is an available ink jet recording apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary, it is very convenient. 
     However, in the ink jet recording apparatus suited for a large mount of printing, an ink cartridge having a large capacity and a suction pump having a large capacity for sucking and ejecting ink from the recording head are necessary and the whole recording apparatus becomes comparatively large and greatly heavy. Therefore, it is very difficult to manufacture an ink jet recording apparatus suited for a large amount of printing in a small and light state. 
     Further, the portable ink jet recording apparatus must be made small and light to realize convenient transport, so that it is necessary to use a compact ink cartridge and suction pump, thus the ink cartridge and suction pump are inevitably reduced in capacity. Therefore, it is also very difficult to manufacture a portable ink jet recording apparatus in a state suitable for a large mount of printing. 
     Further, the stationary ink jet recording apparatus, compared with a portable ink jet recording apparatus, can easily adopt an ink cartridge having a comparatively large capacity and particularly, a stationary and off-carriage type ink jet recording apparatus can easily adopt a large-capacity cartridge. However, depending on the use object of a user, there still is a possibility that a sufficient ink amount cannot be reserved. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to supply properly ink when necessary. 
     Further, when supplying ink to the ink cartridge, it is desirable to keep the ink cartridge be mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus during ink supply. On the other hand, regardless of existence of necessity of ink supply, if a supply device for ink supply is always kept connected to the ink cartridge, useless occupation of the installation space will result undesirably. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to simply connect the supply device for ink supply to the ink cartridge only when necessary. Moreover, when the supply device for ink supply is removed from the ink cartridge, it is desired to simply ensure the sealability of the storage space in the ink cartridge. 
     Furthermore, even if an ink cartridge capable of smoothly supplying ink can be manufactured, if the manufacturing cost is increased greatly compared with the conventional ink cartridge, the value as a product is halved. Further, it is also requested to suppress not only the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge but also the manufacturing cost relating to the supply device for supplying ink to the ink cartridge as low as possible. 
     Further, the portable ink jet recording apparatus must be made small and light to realize convenient transport, so that it is necessary to use a compact ink cartridge and suction pump, thus the ink cartridge and suction pump are inevitably reduced in capacity. Therefore, it is also very difficult to manufacture a portable ink jet recording apparatus in a state suitable for a large mount of printing. 
     Furthermore, in the ink jet recording apparatus, at time of the initial filling of ink to the recording head and at time of the cleaning operation for eliminating of clogging of the nozzle of the recording head, ink is sucked and ejected from the recording head and it is necessary to appropriately collect an ejected waste liquid. 
     However, the portable ink jet recording apparatus, as mentioned above, is required to realize miniaturization and lightweight, so that it is difficult to install a large-capacity collection container to collect a waste liquid. Therefore, in the portable ink jet recording apparatus, there is a possibility that a waste liquid may overflow the collection container when in use. 
     Furthermore, not only in the portable ink jet recording apparatus but also in the stationary ink jet recording apparatus, if a waste liquid collected by the collection container is ejected appropriately and the storage capacity of the collection container can be recovered, it is very convenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention of a first aspect was developed with the foregoing in view and is intended to provide a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary. 
     The present invention of a second aspect was developed with the foregoing in view and is intended to provide a liquid container for appropriately mounting or demounting a supply device for supplying a liquid when necessary in the state that the liquid container is mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus, and particularly is intended to provide a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary. 
     The present invention of a third aspect was developed with the foregoing in view and is intended to provide a liquid container for appropriately mounting or demounting a supply device for supplying a liquid when necessary in the state that the liquid container is mounted in a liquid ejecting apparatus and moreover avoiding a great rise in the manufacturing cost compared with the conventional one, and particularly is intended to provide a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary. 
     The present invention of a fourth aspect was developed with the foregoing in view and is intended to provide a waste liquid collection container for collecting a waste liquid sucked and ejected from a liquid ejecting head of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can appropriately eject a collected waste liquid from the inside thereof, thereby recovering the storage capacity thereof. 
     Particularly, the present invention of the fourth aspect is intended to provide a waste liquid collection container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus having a desired waste liquid collection function necessary to meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary, a waste liquid ejection method from the container, and a cartridge having the container. 
     To solve the above problems, the present invention of the first aspect is a liquid container adapted to be removably mounted on a portable liquid ejecting unit having a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid toward an object, the portable liquid ejecting unit being able to independently perform a liquid ejection operation to the object by itself and also being mounted on and separably united with a stationary unit having a liquid tank storing a liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head, including: a container body including a storage space for storing a liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head; a liquid feed port installed on the container body, the liquid feed port being structured so as to interconnect the storage space of the container body and the liquid ejecting head with each other when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid ejecting unit; and a liquid injection port installed on the container body, the liquid injection port being structured so as to interconnect the storage space of the container body and the liquid tank of the stationary unit with each other when the liquid ejecting unit is united with the stationary unit. 
     Preferably, the liquid feed port is structured so that a liquid feed needle installed on the liquid ejecting unit is inserted therein when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid ejecting unit. The liquid injection port is structured so that a liquid injection needle installed on the stationary unit is inserted therein when the liquid ejecting unit is united with the stationary unit. 
     Preferably, the liquid injection port is arranged on an axis of an insertion direction of the liquid feed needle into the liquid feed port. 
     Preferably, when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid ejecting unit and the liquid ejecting unit is not united with the stationary unit, the liquid injection port isolates the storage space of the container body from an outside, and when the liquid ejecting unit is united with the stationary unit, the liquid injection needle installed on the stationary unit is inserted into the liquid injection port. 
     Preferably, the liquid feed port and the liquid injection port are arranged respectively on a pair of opposite walls composing a part of the container body. 
     Preferably, the storage space of the container body includes a plurality of storage spaces which are formed in the container body so as to be separated from each other. The liquid feed port and the liquid injection port respectively includes a plurality of liquid feed ports and a plurality of liquid injection ports which are installed in the plurality of storage spaces respectively. 
     To solve the above problems, the present invention of the second aspect is a liquid container adapted to be removably mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus having a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid toward an object, the liquid container being structured to be fixed in the liquid ejecting apparatus separately from the liquid ejecting head so that a liquid is fed to the liquid ejecting head via a flexible pipe member, including: a container body including a storage space for internally storing the liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head; a liquid feed port installed on the container body, the liquid feed port being structured so as to interconnect the storage space of the container body and the liquid ejecting head with each other when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid ejecting unit; and a liquid injection port installed on the container body so that a liquid injection needle for injecting a liquid into the container body is inserted therein, the liquid injection port being structured so as to isolate the storage space of the container body from an outside when the liquid injection needle is not inserted therein. 
     Preferably, the liquid feed port is structured so that a liquid feed needle installed on the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted therein when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus. 
     Preferably, the liquid injection port is arranged on an axis of an insertion direction of the liquid feed needle into the liquid feed port. 
     Preferably, the liquid feed port and the liquid injection port are arranged respectively on a pair of opposite walls composing a part of the container body. 
     Preferably, the storage space of the container body includes a plurality of storage spaces which are formed in the container body so as to be separated from each other. The liquid feed port and the liquid injection port respectively includes a plurality of liquid feed ports and a plurality of liquid injection ports which are installed in the plurality of storage spaces respectively. 
     To solve the above problems, the present invention of the third aspect is a liquid container adapted to be removably mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus having a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid toward an object, including: a container body including a storage space for internally storing a liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head; and a pair of liquid flow ports installed on the container body, the pair of liquid flow ports having a common structure and common dimensions, the pair of liquid flow ports being structured so that the storage space of the container body is isolated from an outside when the liquid container is not mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus, and the storage space of the container body and the liquid ejecting head are interconnected with each other when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus so that a liquid feed needle installed on the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted into either of the pair of liquid flow ports. 
     Preferably, the pair of liquid flow ports are respectively arranged on a pair of opposite walls composing a part of the container body. 
     Preferably, the pair of liquid flow ports are arranged on an axis of an insertion direction of the liquid feed needle into the either of the pair of liquid flow ports. 
     Preferably, the storage space of the container body includes a plurality of storage spaces which are formed in the container body so as to be separated from each other. The pair of liquid flow ports includes a plurality of pairs of liquid flow ports which are installed in the plurality of storage spaces respectively. 
     To solve the above problems, the present invention of the fourth aspect is a waste liquid collection container for collecting a waste liquid sucked and ejected from a liquid ejecting head of a liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a container body having at least a part formed by a flexible container wall; a flexible liquid absorber installed inside the container body; a waste liquid injection port through which a waste liquid sucked and ejected from the liquid ejecting head is injected into the container body; and a waste liquid ejection port through which a liquid from an inside of the container body is ejected. The waste liquid collection container is structured so that an inner pressure of the container body becomes negative in correspondence with an ejection of the liquid through the waste liquid ejection port, thereby the flexible container wall is deformed and a volume of the container body is reduced so that the liquid absorber is contracted. 
     Preferably, the waste liquid ejection port is arranged on an axis of an insertion direction of a waste liquid injection needle into the waste liquid injection port. 
     Preferably, the waste liquid collection container is structured as a cartridge removably mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus. 
     To solve the above problems, the present invention of the fourth aspect is a waste liquid ejection method of ejecting a waste liquid inside a waste liquid collection container mentioned above, including: sucking the inside of the container body through the waste liquid ejection port in a state that a flow path on a side of the waste liquid injection port is blocked so as to make the inner pressure of the container body negative; and contracting the flexible liquid absorber so that a waste liquid is ejected from the inside of the container body through the waste liquid ejection port. 
     To solve the above problems, the present invention of the fourth aspect is a cartridge including: a waste liquid collection container mentioned above; and a liquid container united with the container body of the waste liquid collection container, the liquid container having a container body internally storing a liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head. 
     According to the present invention of the first aspect, a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary can be provided. 
     Further, the present invention of the second aspect can provide a liquid container to which a supply device for supplying a liquid to the liquid container can be appropriately connected when necessary in the state that the liquid container is mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus, and particularly a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary. 
     Further, the present invention of the third aspect can provide a liquid container to which a supply device for supplying a liquid to the liquid container can be appropriately connected when necessary in the state that the liquid container is mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus, and moreover, which can avoid a great rise in the manufacturing cost compared with the conventional one, and particularly a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary. 
     Further, according to the present invention of the fourth aspect, in a waste liquid collection container for collecting a waste liquid sucked and ejected from a liquid ejecting head of a liquid ejecting apparatus, a waste liquid collected by the waste liquid collection container can be appropriately ejected from the container, thereby the storage capacity of the container can be recovered. 
     Particularly, the present invention of the fourth aspect functions very effectively to realize a liquid ejecting apparatus having a desired waste liquid collection function necessary to meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus having a mounted ink container of an embodiment of a liquid container according to the present invention, showing the condition that an ink jet unit is removed from a cradle unit; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the enlarged essential section of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing showing an enlarged tube pump of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the ink jet unit of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the ink jet unit of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a cartridge having the ink container of the embodiment of the present invention, which is a drawing viewed in the direction in which an ink injection port of the ink container can be seen; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the cartridge having the ink container of the embodiment of the present invention, which is a drawing viewed in the direction in which an ink feed port of the ink container can be seen; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view showing the cartridge having the ink container of the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view showing the condition that the top of the ink container of the embodiment of the present invention is opened; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing an ink storage member of the ink container of the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view showing an ink injection port (ink feed port) of the ink container of the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing an ink container structured as a cartridge which is separate from a waste liquid collection container as a modification of the embodiment of the present invention, which is a drawing viewed in the direction in which the ink injection port can be seen; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing an ink container structured as a cartridge which is separate from a waste liquid collection container as a modification of the embodiment of the present invention, which is a drawing viewed in the direction in which the ink feed port can be seen; 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view showing the waste liquid collection container of the ink jet recording apparatus on which the ink container of the embodiment of the present invention is mounted; 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view showing the waste liquid collection container of the ink jet recording apparatus on which the ink container of the embodiment of the present invention is mounted; 
         FIG. 17  is a system diagram showing the schematic constitution of the ink jet recording apparatus having the mounted ink container of the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a front view showing a modification of the ink jet recording apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, the ink container to be mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus will be explained as an embodiment of the liquid container according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Further, as an embodiment of the waste liquid collection container according to the present invention and the cartridge having the container, the waste liquid collection container and cartridge which are mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Furthermore, as an embodiment of the waste liquid ejection method according to the present invention, the waste liquid ejection method from the waste liquid collection container mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus will be explained. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an ink jet recording apparatus  1  has a portable ink jet unit  10  which is small and light in weight and a stationary cradle unit (stationary unit)  100  where the ink jet unit  10  is loaded and is separably united physically and functionally. The ink jet unit  10  is separated from the cradle unit  100  and can perform independently a printing process and the ink jet unit itself functions as an ink jet recording apparatus. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the ink jet unit  10  has an ink jet recording head  12  mounted on a carriage  11 , an ink container  14  including a storage space  13  for storing ink to be fed to the recording head  12 , and a battery  15  for supplying power of the ink jet unit  10 . 
     The recording head  12 , while performing an alternating motion together with the carriage  11 , ejects ink fed from the ink container  14  toward recording paper (an object) in liquid drops. The ink container  14  is formed as an ink cartridge which can be removably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of the ink jet unit  10 . 
     For the recording head  12 , various conventional recording heads can be used and for example, a conventional type recording head for ejecting ink drops from nozzle openings respectively interconnected to pressure chambers by changing the pressure in the pressure chambers filled with ink by deformation operations of piezo-electric elements. 
     The portable ink jet unit  10  further has an ink suction means  16  for sucking and ejecting ink from the recording head  12  and a waste liquid collection container  17  for collecting the ink sucked and ejected from the recording head  12  by the ink suction means  16 . 
     The ink suction means  16  includes a cap member  18  for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head  12  during the suction operation and a tube pump  20  connecting to a tube member  19  for connecting the cap member  18  and the waste liquid collection container  17 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the ink container  14  and the recording head  12  are interconnected with each other via a flexible tube member  26  for forming a liquid flow path and the ink container  14  is fixed in the ink jet unit  10 . Namely, the ink jet unit  10  adopts the so-called off-carriage system regarding the arrangement of the ink container. 
     On the upper part of the recording head  12 , a pressure regulator  48  is installed and the end of the flexible tube member  26  on the ejecting head side is connected to the pressure regulator  48 . The pressure regulator  48  functions as a pressure adjustment means for keeping the pressure on the ejecting head side constant regardless of the pressure on the ink container side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the tube pump  20  includes a pulley  22  for rotating round its axis and revolving round the center with crushing a flexible tube  21 . A rotation shaft  23  of the pulley  22  is inserted slidably through a curved guide hole  25  formed on a rotary plate  24 . 
     And, when the rotary plate  24  is rotated forward, the pulley  22  is pressed against the flexible tube  21  so that the tube is deformed and enters the interruption state. When the forward rotation of the rotary plate  24  is continued in this state, the pumping function of the tube pump  20  is realized. Even if the forward rotation of the rotary plate  24  is stopped, the interruption state of the tube  21  by the pulley  2  is kept. On the other hand, when the rotary plate  24  is rotated backward, the pulley  22  moves in the direction separating from the flexible tube  21  along the guide hole  25 , thus the tube  21  enters the communication state. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cradle unit  100  includes an ink tank  101  for storing ink to be fed to the recording head  12  and a waste liquid collection tank  102  for collecting waste ink ejected from the waste liquid collection container  17 . The ink tank  101  is structured as a removable cartridge similarly to the ink container  14 , though it has a larger capacity than that of the ink container  14 . The waste liquid collection tank  102  has a larger capacity than that of the waste liquid collection container  17 . 
     The ink tank  101  is arranged at a higher location than that of the ink container  14 , and when an ink supply valve  126  is opened, ink flows from the ink tank  101  into the ink container  14  by the gravity. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cradle unit  100  has a cradle side power source  103  which is connected to the ink jet unit  10  when the portable ink jet unit  10  is united with the cradle unit  100  and a charging circuit  104  for starting to charge the battery  15  of the ink jet unit  10  when the ink jet unit  10  is united with the cradle unit  100 . 
     The charging condition (during charging or charging completed) of the battery  15  of the ink jet unit  10  is reported by a charging condition indicator  125 . On the cradle side display unit including the charging condition indicator  125 , a supply condition indicator  123  and a collection condition indicator  124  are also installed. 
     On the cradle unit  100 , when uniting the portable ink jet unit  10  with the cradle unit  100 , a plurality of ink injection needles  105  composing a part of the ink tank connection means for enabling liquid communication between the ink tank  101  and the recording head  12  are installed. 
     Further, on the cradle unit  100 , a waste liquid ejection needle  106  composing a part of the waste liquid collection tank connection means for enabling liquid communication between the waste liquid collection container  17  and the waste liquid collection tank  102  when uniting the ink jet unit  10  with the cradle unit  100  is installed. 
     Furthermore, the cradle unit  100  includes a power source connector  107  for electrically connecting the cradle side power source  103  to the battery  15  of the ink jet unit  10  and an interface connector  108  for transferring signals between the cradle unit  100  and the ink jet unit  10 . The power source connector  107  and the interface connector  108 , when the ink jet unit  10  is united with the cradle unit  100 , are connected respectively to a power source connector  118  and an interface connector  119  which are installed on the back of the ink jet unit  10  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cradle unit  100  includes a paper feed mechanism  109 , a paper feed tray  110 , and a paper ejection receptor  127 . When the ink jet unit  10  is united with the cradle unit  100 , a paper feed mechanism  27  of the ink jet unit  10  and the paper feed mechanism  109  of the cradle unit  100  are cooperated. When the ink jet unit  10  is loaded on and united with the cradle unit  100  like this, the recording paper feed and ejection function can be expanded. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , on a loading surface  115  of the cradle unit  100  whereon the ink jet unit  10  is loaded, a pair of projections  111  are installed. On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 6 , on the bottom of the ink jet unit  100 , a pair of concavities  28  into which the pair of projections  111  are fit are formed. The pair of projections  111  are fit into the pair of concavities  28 , thus the ink jet unit  10  is positioned to and loaded on the cradle unit  100 . 
     The ink injection needles  105  and waste liquid ejection needle  106  aforementioned are installed on a first movement member  113  moving back and forth according to the swinging operation of an operation lever  112  installed on the front of the cradle unit  100 . Further, the power source connector  107  and the interface connector  108  are installed on a second movement member  114  moving back and forth according to the swinging operation of the operation lever  112 . 
     And, when loading and uniting the ink jet unit  10  with the loading surface  115  of the cradle unit  100 , firstly, the operation lever  112  is operated to put the first movement member  113  and second movement member  114  into a retracted state. In this state, the concavities  28  of the ink jet unit  10  are fit into the pair of projections  111  of the cradle unit  100  and the ink jet unit  10  is loaded on the loading surface  115  of the cradle unit  100 . 
     Next, the operation lever  112  is operated to move forward the first movement member  113  and second movement member  114  and the ink injection needles  105 , waste liquid ejection needle  116 , power source connector  107 , and interface connector  108  are connected to the back of the cradle unit  100 . By doing this, the operation of uniting the ink jet unit  10  with the cradle unit  100  is completed. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the cradle unit  100  has a unification detection means  117  for detecting that the ink jet unit  10  is united with the cradle unit  100 . The unification detection means  117  is composed of a push-button type switch operated when the first movement member  113  moves forward by an operation of the operation lever  112  and is pressed against the back of the ink jet unit  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in this embodiment, the ink container  14  and the waste liquid collection container  17  are united with each other to form a cartridge  54  and the cartridge  54  is removably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the ink jet unit  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the ink container  14  has a container body  29  involving the storage  13  for storing ink. To a pair of opposite walls  30  and  31  composing a part of the container body  29 , a plurality of ink feed ports  32  and a plurality of ink injection ports  33  are respectively fixed. The ink feed port  32  and ink injection port  33  compose a pair of liquid flow ports of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the ink injection ports  33  are exposed on the back of the ink jet unit  10 . When the ink jet unit  10  is loaded and united with the cradle unit  100 , the ink injection needles  105  of the cradle unit  100  are inserted into the ink injection ports  33 , thus the storage space  13  of the container body  29  and the recording head  12  are interconnected with each other for a fluid communication. 
     The ink feed ports  32  and ink injection ports  33  are respectively arranged on the opposite walls  30  and  31 , so that the connection surface (the wall  30 ) of the ink container  14  for the ink jet unit  10  and the connection surface (the wall  33 ) of the ink container  14  for the cradle unit  100  are respectively positioned on the opposite sides. Therefore, the ink container  14  mounted on the ink jet unit  10  can be smoothly connected to the cradle unit  100 . 
     The ink tank connection means aforementioned is composed of the ink injection ports  33  of the ink container  14  and the ink injection needles  105  of the cradle unit  100 . 
     It is preferably possible to form the inside of the container body  29  as a closed space, send a compressed fluid (compressed air, etc.) into the closed space, thereby ensure the ink pressure for supplying ink to the recording head  12 . 
     In the ink jet recording apparatus  1 , the projections  111  on the loading surface  115  and ink injection needles  105  of the cradle unit  100  are fit into the concavities  28  and ink injection ports  33  on the side of the cradle unit  10 , thus the ink jet unit  10  is fixed to the cradle unit  100 . Further, an additional fixing means for connecting the body casing of the ink jet unit  10  and the body casing of the cradle unit  100  may be installed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , inside the container body  29  of the ink container  14 , a plurality of ink storage members  34  are stored. As shown in  FIG. 11 , each ink storage member  34  has a flexible ink storage bag  35 , and the ink storage space  13  is formed inside the ink storage bag  35 . The ink feed ports  32  and ink injection ports  33  are respectively attached to the front and back ends of the ink storage bags  35 . 
     As clearly shown in  FIG. 10 , each of the ink injection ports  33  is arranged on the axis of the insertion direction of an ink feed needle  39  into the ink feed port  32 . The ink feed ports  32  and ink injection ports  33  are arranged on the same axis like this, so that when the ink injection needles  105  are inserted into the ink injection ports  33 , no force for rotating the container body  29  will be exerted. Therefore, on the ink feed ports  32  and the ink feed needles  39  inserted therethrough, no undesirable force will be exerted and the liquid-tightness of the ink feed ports  32  will not be obstructed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , each of the ink injection ports  33  of the ink container  14  includes a annular seal member  36  composed of an elastic member, a valve body  37  cooperative with the flat rear end surface of the annular seal member  36  as a valve seat, and a spring member  38  for pressing the valve body  37  toward the annular seal member  36 . 
     The ink injection port  33  having such a constitution, when the ink injection needle  105  of the cradle unit  100  is not inserted, isolates the storage space  13  in the ink container  14  from the outside. Therefore, when the ink jet unit  10  is not united with the cradle unit  100 , the storage space  13  in the ink container  14  is kept insolated from the outside. 
     On the other hand, when the ink injection needle  105  is inserted into the ink injection port  33 , the valve body  37  is pushed in, thus the flow path is opened, and via the ink injection needle  105 , the ink container  14  and the ink tank  101  are put into the fluid communication state. Therefore, when the ink jet unit  10  is united with the cradle unit  100 , the fluid communication state is kept between the storage space  13  in the ink container  14  and the ink tank  101 . 
     Further, in this embodiment, the ink feed port  32  of the ink container  14  has the same structure and dimensions as those of the ink injection port  33  shown in  FIG. 12 . Namely, the ink container  14  has a constitution having a pair of ink injection ports. Therefore, the ink feed ports  32  and ink injection ports  33  can be formed by common parts. 
     Further, in this embodiment, the ink container  14  and waste liquid collection container  17  are united with each other to form the cartridge  54 , though the ink container  14  and waste liquid collection container  17  may be formed respectively as a separate cartridge. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the ink container  14  formed as a cartridge separate from the waste liquid collection container  17  can be used regardless of its position in terms of the front and rear thereof, when the ink feed ports  32  and ink injection ports  33  are installed respectively in common arrangement on the pair of opposite walls  30  and  31  of the container body  29 . Namely, the ink feed port  32  and ink injection ports  33  have the common structure and dimensions to each other, so that when inserting the ink container  14  into the ink jet unit  10 , the front/rear direction of the ink container  14  at time of insertion is disregarded. In this case, the ink feed port  32  and ink injection port  33  are not distinguished. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a container body  40  of the waste liquid collection container  17  is composed of a flat cover member  41  made of a rigid member and a pan-shaped member  42  made of a flexible member. In the closed space formed by sealing the top opening of the pan-shaped member  42  with the cover member  41 , a flexible ink absorber  43  made of sponge is stored. 
     On the cover member  41 , a waste liquid injection port  44  for injecting a waste liquid sucked and ejected from the recording head  12  into the container body  40  and a waste liquid ejection port  45  for ejecting a waste liquid from the inside of the container body  40  are installed. The waste liquid injection port  44  and waste liquid ejection port  45  are arranged respectively at the opposite positions in the area neighboring with one end of the container body  40  in the longitudinal direction thereof. More concretely, the waste liquid ejection port  45  is arranged on the axis of the insertion direction of a waste liquid injection needle  49  into the waste liquid injection port  44 . 
     The waste liquid ejection port  45  of the waste liquid collection container  17  and the waste liquid ejection needle  106  of the cradle unit  100  compose the waste liquid collection tank connection means aforementioned. The waste liquid injection needle  49  of the ink jet unit  10  is inserted into the waste liquid injection port  44  of the waste liquid collection container  17 . At this time, the waste liquid injection port  44  and waste liquid ejection port  45  are arranged on the same axis, so that when inserting the waste liquid ejection needle  106  into the waste liquid ejection port  45 , no force for rotating the container body  40  will be exerted. Therefore, on the waste liquid injection port  44  and the waste liquid injection needle  49  inserted therethrough, no undesirable force will be exerted and the liquid-tightness of the waste liquid injection port  44  will not be obstructed. 
     In the flexible ink absorber  43 , a longitudinal slit  46  is formed at the central part in the width direction. The end of the slit  46  on the side neighboring to the waste liquid injection port  44  and waste liquid ejection port  45  is open and the end on the opposite side ends in the middle of the ink absorber  43 . A through hole  47  is formed at the position of the ink absorber  43  corresponding to the waste liquid ejection port  45   
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , in the cradle unit  100 , a waste liquid collection pump  116  is installed in the middle of the flow path interconnecting the waste liquid collection container  17  to the waste liquid collection tank  102 . The waste liquid collection pump  116  has a higher ability (capacity) than that of the tube pump  20  installed on the portable ink jet unit  10 . 
     When the waste liquid collection container  17  and the waste liquid collection tank  102  are put into the fluid communication state by the waste liquid collection tank connection means, a waste liquid in the waste liquid collection container  17  can be sucked and forcibly ejected into the waste liquid collection tank  102  by the waste liquid collection pump  116 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the ink jet unit  10  has a print control means  50  and the alternating motion of the carriage  11 , the injection operation of ink drops from the recording head  12 , and the ink suction-ejection operation from the recording head  12  by the ink suction means  16  are controlled by the print control means  50 . 
     Further, the print control means  50  includes a consumption amount storing means  51  for storing the liquid consumption amount in the ink container  14  and an ejection amount storing means  52  for storing the ejection amount of a waste liquid into the waste liquid collection container  17 . 
     The cradle unit  100  has a cradle-side control means  120 . The cradle-side control means  120  includes an ink supply control means  121  for controlling the ink supply operation from the ink tank  101  to the ink container  14  and a waste liquid collection control means  122  for controlling the waste liquid collection operation from the waste liquid collection container  17  to the waste liquid collection tank  102 . 
     To the cradle-side control means  120 , a supply condition indicator  123  for reporting completion of ink supply to the ink container  14  and a collection condition indicator  124  for reporting completion of collection of a waste liquid in the waste liquid collection container  17  by the waste liquid collection tank  102  are connected. 
     In the ink container  14 , an ink amount detection means  53  for detecting the ink amount in the storage space  13  thereof is installed. The ink amount detection means  53  can detect at least that the storage space  13  of the ink container  14  is full of ink. 
     The ink supply control means  121 , at the point of time when it is detected by the ink amount detection means  53  that the storage space  13  of the ink container  14  is full of ink, closes an ink supply valve  126 , stops the ink supply from the ink tank  101  into the ink container  14 , and reports by the supply condition indicator  123  that the ink supply to the ink container  14  is completed. 
     The waste liquid collection control means  122 , at the point of time when predetermined time elapses after starting of the waste liquid collection pump  116 , stops the waste liquid collection pump  116  and reports by the collection condition indicator  124  that the waste liquid collection from the waste liquid collection container  17  is completed. Or, it is possible to install a means for detecting the liquid amount in the waste liquid collection container  17 , stop the waste liquid collection pump  116  on the basis of a signal from the detection means, and operate the collection condition indicator  124 . 
     Next, the ink supply operation and waste liquid collection operation to be performed when uniting the ink jet unit  10  in the portable state with the cradle unit  100  will be explained. 
     When it is detected by the unification detection means  117  aforementioned that the ink jet unit  10  is united with the cradle unit  100 , a detection signal is transmitted to the cradle-side control means  120 . 
     The cradle-side control means  120 , when receiving the unification detection signal, starts the ink supply operation and waste liquid collection operation by the ink supply control means  121  and waste liquid collection control means  122 . 
     Namely, the ink supply control means  121 , upon receipt of the unification detection signal, opens the ink supply valve  126  which is always kept closed. Then, ink in the ink tank  101  flows into the ink container  14  by the gravity. 
     And, when it is detected by the ink amount detection means  53  that the ink container  14  is full of ink, the ink supply control means  121  closes the ink supply valve  126  and reports completion of the ink supply by the supply condition indicator  123 . At this time, the memory of the consumption amount storing means  51  of the print control means  50  is reset. 
     The waste liquid collection control means  122 , upon receipt of the unification detection signal, operates the waste liquid collection pump  116 . Here, at the point of operation time of the waste liquid collection pump  116 , the tube pump  20  is put into the non-communication state by the print control means  50  of the ink jet unit  10 . Namely, the flexible tube  21  is crushed by the pulley  22  of the tube pump  20  and the flow path blocked state is kept. 
     When the waste liquid collection pump  116  is operated in the state that the tube pump  20  is kept in the non-communication state like this, the inner pressure of the container body  40  of the waste liquid collection container  17  becomes negative, and the flexible pan-shaped member  42  is deformed in correspondence with ejection of ink from the waste liquid collection container  17 . Thereby, the volume of the container body  40  is reduced so that the ink absorber  43  is contracted. By doing this, the ink absorbed and retained by the ink absorber  43  is squeezed and the waste liquid in the waste liquid collection container  17  can be ejected surely. 
     When predetermined time elapses after starting of the operation of the waste liquid collection pump  116 , the crushed state of the flexible tube  21  by the pulley  22  of the tube pump  20  is canceled and the tube pump  20  is put into the communication state. 
     Hereafter, the waste liquid collection pump  116  is stopped and the suction and ejection operation of a waste liquid from the waste liquid collection container  17  is stopped. At the same time the completion of collection of a waste liquid from the waste liquid collection container  17  into the waste liquid collection tank  102  is reported by the collection condition indicator  124 . At this time, the memory of the ejection amount storing means  52  of the print control means  50  is reset. 
     As mentioned above, in the ink jet recording apparatus on which the ink container  13  according to this embodiment is mounted, the portable ink jet unit  10  can be used independently in the state that it is separated from the cradle unit  100  and can be also used in the state that it is united with the cradle unit  100 . 
     The ink jet unit  10  itself can be miniaturized and reduced in weight as a minimum specification since a large amount of printing can be executed when the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on and united with the cradle unit  100 . 
     Further, since ink is supplied into the ink container of the ink jet unit  10  when the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on the cradle unit  100 , a situation of exhaust of ink in the ink container  14  can be prevented when next the ink jet unit  10  is used after being removed from the cradle unit  100 . 
     Similarly, when the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on the cradle unit  100 , a waste liquid is collected from the waste liquid collection container  17 , so that when next removing and using the ink jet unit  10  from the cradle unit  100 , a situation of overflow of a waste liquid from the waste liquid collection container  17  when in use can be prevented. 
     Further, the same may be said with the battery  15  of the ink jet unit  10 . Namely, when the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on the cradle unit  100 , the battery  15  is charged, so that when the ink jet unit is next used independently, the battery  15  can be prevented from running down. 
     When printing in the state that the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on the cradle unit  100 , the ink supply control means  121  controls the ink supply valve  126  on the basis of a signal from the ink amount detection means  53  and supplies appropriately ink from the ink tank  101  to the ink container  14 . 
     At this time, the pressure on the ejecting head side is kept constant regardless of the pressure on the ink container side by the pressure regulator  48  installed on the upper part of the recording head  12 , so that even if ink is supplied to the ink container  14  during printing, ink will not overflow the recording head  12 . 
     Furthermore, when printing in the state that the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on the cradle unit  100 , the ink container  14  functions as the so-called sub-tank, so that ink can be filled up smoothly even during printing at heavy duty. Namely, the ink container  14  in this embodiment, when using independently the ink jet unit  10 , functions as a main ink tank, and when mounting and using the ink jet unit  10  on the cradle unit  100 , functions as a sub-tank. 
     Further, even if the removal operation of the ink jet unit  10  from the cradle unit  100  is performed many times so that the annular seal member (elastic member)  36  composing the ink injection ports  33  of the ink container  14  is deteriorated and the leakage resistance is deteriorated, since the ink injection ports  33  are installed in the ink container  14  which is structured as an exchangeable ink cartridge, it is easy to deal with this situation by exchanging the ink container  14 . 
     When the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on the cradle unit  100 , the waste liquid collection pump  11  is controlled by the waste liquid collection control means  122  and in place of the tube pump  20  (the tube pump  20  is put into the communication state), ink can be sucked and ejected from the recording head using the waste liquid collection pump  116 . 
     At the time of initial filling of the recording head  12  or at the time of strong suction necessary after long-term non-use, the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on the cradle unit  100  and ink can be sucked and ejected by the waste liquid collection pump  116 . 
     Therefore, the portable ink jet unit  10  does not require a large-capacity pump and the ink jet unit  10  can be miniaturized and reduced in weight. Further, when a large-capacity pump is used, the battery is consumed greatly, thus also from this viewpoint, it is desirable to make the capacity of the pump of the portable ink jet unit  10  smaller. 
     Further, when the meniscus of the recording head  12  is damaged due to vibration, ink can be sucked by a low-flow speed pump such as the tube pump  20 . 
     In the ink jet recording apparatus  1  in which the cartridge  54  of this embodiment is mounted like this, miniaturization and lightweight which are important factors in a portable apparatus can be realized in the ink jet unit  10 , and when the ink jet unit  10  is mounted on the cradle unit  100 , an outstanding effect can be obtained that not only a large amount of printing can be performed but also when using next the ink jet unit  10  independently, a sufficient ink amount, waste liquid processing capacity, and battery charging amount can be always ensured. 
     Further, the ink container  14  according to this embodiment is structured so that the ink feed ports  32  and ink injection ports  33  have the common structure and dimensions and the ink feed ports  32  are paired, so that the ink feed ports  32  and ink injection ports  33  can be formed by common parts. Therefore, as compared with a case of using different kinds of parts, the manufacturing cost can be decreased. 
     Moreover, the ink feed needles  39  inserted into the ink feed ports  32  and the ink injection needles  105  inserted into the ink injection ports  33  can be formed by common parts, so that the manufacturing cost of the ink jet recording apparatus  1  can be decreased. 
     Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus  1 , the ink container  14  of the ink jet unit  10  is mounted according to the off-carriage system, so that even when the ink injection needles  105  are connected to the ink injection ports  33  of the ink container  14 , the alternating motion of the carriage  11  will not be obstructed. Namely, in a case of the on-carriage system instead of the off-carriage system, an ink injection pipe is connected to the ink container loaded on the carriage, so that there is a possibility that the alternating motion of the carriage may be obstructed by the weight and rigidity of the connected pipe. On the other hand, the ink jet recording apparatus  1  adopting the off-carriage system will not cause such a problem. 
     Further, as a modification of the ink jet recording apparatus  1 , as shown in  FIG. 18 , the cradle unit  100  can be structured so as to be mounted with a plurality of portable ink jet units  10 . 
     Further, the ink feed needles  39  and the ink injection needles  105  composing a part of the ink tank connection means may have any other forms for permitting ink to flow by connection to the ink feed ports  32 , and ink injection ports  33  and are not limited to the needle shape. 
     Similarly, the waste liquid injection needle  49  and the waste liquid ejection needle  106  composing a part of the waste liquid collection tank connection means may have any other forms for permitting a waste liquid to flow by connection to the waste liquid injection port  44  and waste liquid ejection port  45  and are not limited to the needle shape. 
     Although the invention has been described in its preferred embodiments with a certain degree of particularity, obviously many changes and variations are possible therein. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1