Patent Description:
<CIT> discusses an inkjet recording apparatus in which black ink, which is used frequently for printing, is supplied from an ink bag to a recording head by a tube and color ink, which is not used frequently for printing, is supplied from a recording unit detachably mounted on a carriage to the recording head. The recording apparatus can perform a recording operation irrespective of the presence or absence of a color printing recording unit, and can change control of a carriage driving motor based on the presence or absence of an ink cartridge.

In the configuration discussed in <CIT>, however, if the recording operation is continued in a state where the color printing recording unit is not mounted, ink mist may adhere to a contact unit, that performs electric connection, provided on the carriage. Further, contact failure of the contact unit may occur due to adhesion of the ink mist.

The present invention is directed to an inkjet recording apparatus that can ameliorate contact failure between a carriage and an ink cartridge.

<CIT> discusses an ink protection device for an inkjet printhead comprises a flap member associated with the printhead and extending generally parallel to the ink ejection surface of the printhead so that when the printhead is mounted in the carriage the flap member extends between the carriage and a face of the printhead, particularly the electrical interconnect face. The device may be in a two part laminar form attached to the bottom of a carriage of the printer and having a flexible part for contacting all four faces of the printheads and a stiff part for support. Both parts having openings aligned with the openings in the carriage through which the printhead snout passes.

<CIT> discusses a device for retrofitting a printer which has a cartridge receiving device for holding interchangeable consumable material cartridges. In order to reduce the cost of production, transport and storage, the device has an insert which has fastening means for attachment in the cartridge receiving device of a printer, on the insert a locking means being made which blocks the fastening means in the fastening position when a consumable material insert cartridge is connected in the cartridge receiving device.

<CIT> discusses a maintenance cartridge having no recording head is loaded in a space generated in the carriage by removing the recording head.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inkjet recording apparatus as specified in claims <NUM> to <NUM>. A second aspect of the present invention relates to use of a protection member as specified in claim <NUM>.

Each of the embodiments of the present invention described below can be implemented solely or as a combination of a plurality of the embodiments. Also, features from different embodiments can be combined where necessary or where the combination of elements or features from individual embodiments in a single embodiment is beneficial.

Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to drawings. The following exemplary embodiments do not limit the present invention, and all of combinations of features described in the exemplary embodiments are not necessarily essential for the present invention. Further, relative arrangement, shapes, etc. of components described in the exemplary embodiments are illustrative, and do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention to the described relative arrangement, shapes, etc..

<FIG> is an external perspective view illustrating an inkjet recording apparatus (hereinafter, recording apparatus) <NUM> according to a first exemplary embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the recording apparatus <NUM>. The recording apparatus <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, a recording unit <NUM> that performs recording operation on a recording medium, and a tank <NUM> that serves as an ink container containing ink to be supplied to the recording unit <NUM>. In the present exemplary embodiment, the ink tank <NUM> is disposed on a front surface of the housing <NUM> and is fixed to an apparatus body. Further, an operation unit <NUM> that enables a user to perform operation such as instruction input to the recording apparatus <NUM> is also provided on the front surface of the housing <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a display panel that can display error, etc. of the recording apparatus <NUM>.

A sheet feeding cassette <NUM> that is insertable into and removable from the housing <NUM> by the user is provided on the front surface of the housing <NUM>. The sheet feeding cassette <NUM> includes a window 6a that enables the user to visually recognize recording media stacked inside the sheet feeding cassette <NUM>. The window 6a is desirably configured by a transparent member such as glass and plastic.

A scanner unit <NUM> that performs document reading operation is provided at an upper part of the housing <NUM> so as to be openable/closable to the housing <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the recording apparatus <NUM> from which the scanner unit <NUM> and a part of the housing <NUM> are removed. When the scanner unit <NUM> is opened, a tank cover <NUM> that can cover a top surface of the ink tank <NUM> is exposed. In <FIG>, the tank cover <NUM> is closed. The detail of the tank cover <NUM> will be described below. Alternatively, a body cover not mounted with the scanner unit <NUM> may be openable/closeable to the housing <NUM>.

The recording apparatus <NUM> feeds a recording medium stacked in the sheet feeding cassette <NUM> provided on the front surface of the housing <NUM> or in a sheet feeding tray <NUM> provided on a rear surface of the housing <NUM>, by a feeding roller (feeding unit) <NUM>. The recording medium fed by the feeding roller <NUM> is conveyed onto a platen <NUM> disposed at a position facing the recording unit <NUM>, by a conveyance roller (conveyance unit) <NUM>. The platen <NUM> is a member that guides and supports the recording medium recorded by the recording unit <NUM>. The recording medium on which recording by the recording unit <NUM> has been completed is discharged by a discharge roller onto a sheet discharge tray (discharge unit) <NUM>. The sheet discharge tray <NUM> is disposed above the sheet feeding cassette <NUM>.

A direction (Y direction illustrated in <FIG>) in which the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyance roller <NUM> is referred to as a conveyance direction. In other words, an upstream side in the conveyance direction corresponds to the rear surface side of the housing <NUM>, and a downstream side in the conveyance direction corresponds to the front surface side of the housing <NUM>.

The recording unit <NUM> is mounted on a carriage <NUM> that reciprocates in a main scanning direction (X direction illustrated in <FIG>) intersecting with the conveyance direction, along a guide rail, etc. In the present exemplary embodiment, the conveyance direction and the main scanning direction are orthogonal to each other. The recording unit <NUM> ejects ink droplets while moving together with the carriage <NUM> in the main scanning direction, to record an image for one band to the recording medium (recording operation). After the image for the one band is recorded, the recording medium is conveyed by a predetermined amount by the conveyance roller <NUM> in the conveyance direction (intermittent conveyance operation). The image is recorded on the entire recording medium based on recording data by repeating the recording operation for one band and the intermittent conveyance operation.

The recording apparatus <NUM> includes a recovery unit inside a moving area of the carriage <NUM> and outside a recording area where the recording operation by the recording unit <NUM> is performed. The recovery unit performs recovery operation to maintain ejection performance of the recording unit <NUM>, and is disposed at a position facing an ejection port surface on which ejection ports of ink are arranged. The recovery unit includes a cap <NUM> that seals the ejection port surface, and a wiper <NUM> that can wipe the ejection port surface. The detailed configuration of the recovery unit is described below.

The ink tank <NUM> is provided on a left side of the sheet feeding cassette <NUM> and the sheet discharge tray <NUM> when the recording apparatus <NUM> is viewed from the front side. The ink tank <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment contains black ink. The ink tank <NUM> is connected to the recording unit <NUM> by a flexible supply tube <NUM> that configures an ink supply path for supplying the ink to the recording unit <NUM>. In the present exemplary embodiment, the ink tank <NUM> and the recovery unit are disposed separately from each other in the main scanning direction.

<FIG> are external perspective views each illustrating a tank unit <NUM> that includes the ink tank <NUM> and a peripheral configuration thereof. <FIG> illustrates a state where the tank cover <NUM> is closed, and <FIG> illustrates a state where the tank cover <NUM> is open. The user can access a tank cap <NUM> by opening the tank cover <NUM> in a direction S1.

An injection portion <NUM> for injection of the ink is provided on an upper surface of the ink tank <NUM>, and is sealable by the tank cap <NUM>. The tank cap <NUM> includes a cap portion 13a to seal the injection portion <NUM>, and a lever portion 13b that supports the cap portion 13a and is operable by the user. The lever portion 13b is turnably supported to a main body of the recording apparatus <NUM>. The user can inject the ink by removing the cap portion 13a from the injection portion <NUM> while turning the lever portion 13b in a direction S2 illustrated in <FIG> (see <FIG>). The lever portion 13b may be turnably supported to the ink tank <NUM> or the tank cover <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a state where an ink bottle <NUM> serving as an ink replenishing container is inserted into the injection portion <NUM> and the ink is injected in a state where the tank cap <NUM> is removed. In the present exemplary embodiment, the ink of the ink bottle <NUM> is injected into the ink tank <NUM> through gas-liquid exchange with air inside the ink tank <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic top perspective view of an ink supply unit, and <FIG> is a front schematic view of the ink supply unit. A tube guide plate <NUM>, a tube guide sheet <NUM>, a plurality of tube holder sliders <NUM>, and a plurality of tube holders <NUM> are attached to the supply tube <NUM>. The supply tube <NUM> is laid from the left side on which the ink tank <NUM> is provided to the right side in the X direction on which the recovery unit is provided, is then laid so as to bend upward in a vertical direction (Z direction), and is connected to the recording unit <NUM>. The supply tube <NUM> extends over the recording area by the recording unit <NUM> in the X direction. Further, the supply tube <NUM> includes a portion that moves with movement of the recording unit <NUM>, and a portion that does not move with the movement of the recording unit <NUM>.

The tube guide plate <NUM> fixes the portion of the supply tube <NUM> that does not move with the movement of the recording unit <NUM>, and supports and guides the portion of the supply tube <NUM> that moves with the movement of the recording unit <NUM>. The tube guide plate <NUM> fixes the supply tube <NUM> to a lower part of the recording apparatus <NUM>, thereby preventing the user from easily touching the supply tube <NUM>. This prevents the user from pulling the supply tube <NUM> and causing the supply tube to be disconnected from the recording unit <NUM> which would then prevent the ink inside the supply tube <NUM> from scattering.

At a portion of the supply tube <NUM> that may abut on the housing <NUM> and the tube guide plate <NUM> when the portion of the supply tube <NUM> moves with the movement of the carriage <NUM>, the tube guide sheet <NUM> is provided to reduce abrasion of the supply tube <NUM>. One end of the tube guide sheet <NUM> is fixed to the tube guide plate <NUM>, and the other end is fixed to the recording unit <NUM>. The tube guide sheet <NUM> also can move together with the supply tube <NUM> along with reciprocation of the recording unit <NUM>.

Further, the supply tube <NUM> is held by the tube holders <NUM> at a plurality of positions. <FIG> are enlarged cross-sectional views each illustrating a detail of one tube holder <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, each of the tube holders <NUM> holds the supply tube <NUM> so as to pinch the supply tube <NUM> from a lower side, and includes an opening 84a at an upper part. The tube holders <NUM> prevent abutting of the supply tube <NUM> and the tube guide sheet <NUM> to reduce abrasion of the supply tube <NUM>. A direction of the opening 84a is not limited to the upper part, and the opening 84a may be directed in lateral directions as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a detail of one tube holder slider <NUM>. The tube holder sliders <NUM> each include a fixing part 83a for fixing the supply tube <NUM> and an opening 83b into which the tube guide sheet <NUM> is insertable, and are provided at a plurality of positions. The supply tube <NUM> is held by the fixing part 83a and the tube guide sheet <NUM> is inserted into the opening 83b, which prevents the supply tube <NUM> and the tube guide sheet <NUM> from separating due to the reciprocation of the recording unit <NUM>. The fixing part 83a opens in a lateral direction as illustrated in <FIG>. This makes it possible to restrict motion of the supply tube <NUM> in a direction separating from the tube guide sheet <NUM> (upward direction in <FIG>). Even when the fixing part 83a of the tube holder slider <NUM> opens on a right side in <FIG>, similar effects are achievable.

Subsequently, the detailed configuration of the recording unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The recording unit <NUM> includes a black recording head (a black head cartridge) <NUM> that can eject black ink, and a color recording head (a color head cartridge) <NUM> that can eject color ink. The black recording head <NUM> is mounted on a first mounting portion 31b of the carriage <NUM>, and the color recording head <NUM> is mounted on a second mounting portion 31c of the carriage <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> includes a turnable first headset cover <NUM> and a turnable second headset cover <NUM>. The first headset cover <NUM> covers the black recording head <NUM> to fix the black recording head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>. The second headset cover <NUM> covers the color recording head <NUM> to fix the color recording head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a state where the first headset cover <NUM> and the second headset cover <NUM> are located at respective covering positions, and <FIG> illustrates a state where the first headset cover <NUM> and the second headset cover <NUM> are located at respective exposure positions where the respective heads are exposed.

<FIG> is a top perspective view illustrating the recording unit <NUM> from which the first headset cover <NUM> is removed. The black recording head <NUM> is connected to the supply tube <NUM> through a joint <NUM>, and the black ink contained in the ink tank <NUM> is supplied by the supply tube <NUM>. The joint <NUM> is integrated with the first headset cover <NUM>, and joint connection is realized through operation of the first headset cover <NUM> by the user.

More specifically, when the user turns the first headset cover <NUM> from the exposure position to the covering position, the black recording head <NUM> is positioned to the carriage <NUM>. Further, when the user presses a pressing part 32c of the first headset cover <NUM>, the joint connection of the black recording head <NUM> and the supply tube <NUM> by the joint <NUM> is completed. As a result, the ink can be supplied from the ink tank <NUM> to the black recording head <NUM>. Note that the black recording head <NUM> may be provided integrally with an ink tank that can contain the ink supplied from the supply tube <NUM>.

On the other hand, the color recording head <NUM> is an ink cartridge in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, and is optionally detachable from the carriage <NUM> in the recording apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate the detailed configuration of the recording unit <NUM> and the supply tube <NUM>. <FIG> is a top perspective view in which illustration of a top surface of the first headset cover <NUM> is omitted, and <FIG> is a top enlarged view of the first headset cover <NUM>. The supply tube <NUM> is held by a first fixing part 32a and a second fixing part 32b provided on the first headset cover <NUM>, and is fixed to the recording unit <NUM>.

The first fixing part 32a holds the supply tube <NUM> disposed along the X direction by the tube guide sheet <NUM>, etc. illustrated in <FIG>, and fixes the supply tube <NUM> in the Y direction. The second fixing part 32b holds the supply tube <NUM> fixed by the first fixing part 32a while the extending direction of the supply tube <NUM> is changed from the X direction to the Y direction, and fixes the supply tube <NUM> in the X direction. As illustrated in <FIG>, the supply tube <NUM> fixed by the second fixing part 32b is connected to the joint <NUM> along the Y direction.

When the first fixing part 32a and the second fixing part 32b hold and fix the supply tube <NUM> in the two different directions, force is hardly applied in the Y direction in which the supply tube <NUM> is connected to the joint <NUM> even when the user pulls the supply tube <NUM> in the X direction. This makes it possible to prevent the supply tube <NUM> from being disconnected from the joint <NUM>. As described above, the supply tube <NUM> is connected to the joint <NUM> after the supply tube <NUM> is fixed in the direction different from the connection direction with the joint <NUM>, which prevents the supply tube <NUM> from being disconnected from the joint <NUM>.

<FIG> is an external perspective view of the recording apparatus <NUM> in a state where the scanner unit <NUM> is open, and <FIG> is a top view thereof. In <FIG>, illustration of the scanner unit <NUM> is omitted. When the scanner unit <NUM> is opened, a frame <NUM> attached to the housing <NUM> is exposed. The frame <NUM> includes an opening 50a that is largely open to enable the user to perform operation such as attachment/detachment of the recording head, and a notch 50b that is a part of the opening 50a.

<FIG> illustrate a state where the recording unit <NUM> is located at a recovery position (home position) facing the cap <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. When the recording unit <NUM> is located at the home position, the most part of the recording unit <NUM> is covered with the frame <NUM>, and the user cannot easily touch the recording unit <NUM>. As described above, the frame <NUM> protects the internal unit so as to prevent the user from touching the recording unit <NUM> and the carriage <NUM> through a part other than the opening 50a and the notch 50b.

Further, as described with reference to <FIG>, the supply tube <NUM> is bent from the lower side to the upper side on the right side (i.e., side provided with recovery unit in X direction) as viewed from the front side of the recording apparatus <NUM>. Thus, when the recording unit <NUM> is located at the home position facing the cap <NUM> (recovery unit), a bent part 8a of the supply tube <NUM> is also covered with the frame <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent the user from pulling the supply tube <NUM>, etc. The supply tube <NUM> exposed from the opening 50a irrespective of the position of the recording unit <NUM> is fixed to the lower part of the recording apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front view when the recording unit <NUM> is located at the home position. The tube guide plate <NUM> includes an inclined part 81a that is inclined downward toward the recovery unit. The supply tube <NUM> is guided and supported downward by the inclined part 81a. As a result, even in the configuration in which the recovery unit is provided near the side surface of the housing <NUM> and the bent part 8a of the supply tube <NUM> is provided at a position near the recovery unit in the X direction, a curvature radius of the bent part 8a can be made large. In other words, as compared with a case where the inclined part 81a is not provided and the tube guide plate <NUM> is flat, bending of the supply tube <NUM> can be moderated, and deformation of the supply tube <NUM> can be suppressed.

Typically, when the recording unit <NUM> is not performing the recording operation, the recording unit <NUM> stands by at the home position. Accordingly, even in a case where the recording unit <NUM> stands by at the home position for a long time, providing the inclined part 81a on the tube guide plate <NUM> makes it possible to suppress creep deformation of the supply tube <NUM>.

A configuration relating to replacement of the black recording head <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is an external perspective view illustrating a replacement position of the recording unit <NUM> when the black recording head <NUM> is replaced, and <FIG> is a top view thereof. The position of the recording unit <NUM> in the recording apparatus <NUM> at this time is referred to as a first replacement position.

At the first replacement position, both of the first headset cover <NUM> and the second headset cover <NUM> are exposed from the opening 50a of the frame <NUM>. Therefore, both of the first headset cover <NUM> and the second headset cover <NUM> are operable by the user. When the user turns the first headset cover <NUM> to the open state while the recording unit <NUM> is located at the first replacement position, the supply tube <NUM> connected to the first headset cover <NUM> also moves. At this time, since the notch 50b is provided in the frame <NUM>, the supply tube <NUM> moving with the first headset cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM> do not abut on each other as illustrated in <FIG>. This enables the user to smoothly replace the black recording head <NUM>.

A configuration relating to replacement of the color recording head <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is an external perspective view illustrating a replacement position of the recording unit <NUM> when the color recording head <NUM> is replaced, and <FIG> is a top view thereof. The position of the recording unit <NUM> in the recording apparatus <NUM> at this time is referred to as a second replacement position.

The second replacement position of the recording unit <NUM> is a position closer to the recovery unit than the first replacement position in the X direction. At the second replacement position, the entire second headset cover <NUM> for replacing the color recording head <NUM> is exposed from the opening 50a of the frame <NUM>, and the second headset cover <NUM> is operable by the user. In contrast, the first headset cover <NUM> for replacing the black recording head <NUM> is partially covered with the opening 50a and the notch 50b. Therefore, the first headset cover <NUM> is not operable by the user.

As described above, at the second replacement position, the first headset cover <NUM> is covered with the frame <NUM> so as to prevent replacement of the black recording head <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent the first headset cover <NUM> from being erroneously operated by the user. Further, when the recording unit <NUM> is located at the second replacement position, the connection portion of the supply tube <NUM> and the first headset cover <NUM> is also covered with the frame <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent the user from accessing the supply tube <NUM>.

As described in the present exemplary embodiment, the first recording head to which the ink is supplied from the ink tank <NUM> by the supply tube <NUM> is disposed on the side close to the recovery unit in the recording unit <NUM>. In contrast, the second recording head that is integrated with the ink tank and is higher in replacement frequency than the first recording head is disposed on the side far from the recovery unit in the recording unit <NUM>. Further, the supply tube <NUM> includes the bent part 8a that bends upward on the side provided with the recovery unit in the X direction, and is connected to the recording unit <NUM> (first headset cover) above the tube guide plate <NUM>. Moreover, the tube guide plate <NUM> guiding the supply tube <NUM> includes the inclined part 81a that is inclined downward toward the side provided with the recovery unit in the X direction.

The above-described configuration makes it possible to suppress deformation of the supply tube <NUM> while preventing the user from carelessly touching the supply tube <NUM>.

The recording apparatus <NUM> in the state where the color recording head <NUM> is mounted has been described above. As illustrated in <FIG>, the carriage <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment can be mounted with a contact protector <NUM> as a protection member, in place of the color recording head <NUM>. In other words, the contact protector <NUM> can be mounted to the second mounting portion 31c mounted with the color recording head <NUM>. In <FIG>, the carriage <NUM> is mounted with the black recording head <NUM> and the contact protector <NUM>. The recording apparatus <NUM> is normally usable as a monochrome printer that performs recording only with the black ink; however, when the user mounts the color recording head <NUM> in replace of the contact protector <NUM>, the recording apparatus <NUM> can perform color printing. The detail thereof will be described below.

<FIG> is a block diagram of the recording apparatus <NUM>. A microprocessor unit (MPU) <NUM> as a control unit controls operation of each unit, data processing, etc. A read-only memory (ROM) <NUM> stores programs to be executed by the MPU <NUM> and data. A random access memory (RAM) <NUM> as a storage unit temporarily stores data of the processing executed by the MPU <NUM> and data received from a host computer <NUM>. The recording unit <NUM> is controlled by a recording unit driver <NUM>.

A carriage motor <NUM> that drives the carriage <NUM> is controlled by a carriage motor driver <NUM>. The feeding roller <NUM> and the conveyance roller <NUM> are driven by a feeding/conveyance motor <NUM>. The feeding/conveyance motor <NUM> is controlled by a feeding/conveyance motor driver <NUM>. The discharge roller (not illustrated) is driven by the feeding/conveyance motor <NUM> in synchronization with the conveyance roller <NUM>.

The host computer <NUM> includes a printer driver <NUM> that collects recorded images and recorded information such as recorded image quality and communicates with the recording apparatus <NUM> when execution of the recording operation is instructed by the user. The MPU <NUM> exchanges the recorded images, etc. with the host computer <NUM> via an interface (I/F) unit <NUM>. A sensor controller <NUM> is a controller that controls operation of various kinds of sensors <NUM>. For example, the sensors <NUM> are detection units that can detect electric connection between the carriage <NUM> and the recording head.

Subsequently, referring back to <FIG>, the detailed configuration of the recovery unit in the recording apparatus <NUM> will be described. The cap <NUM> of the recovery unit includes a color cap 21a that seals the ejection port surface of the color recording head <NUM>, and a black cap 21b that seals the ejection port surface of the black recording head <NUM>. The cap <NUM> is movable to a capping position that seals (caps) the ejection port surface and to a separated position separated from the ejection port surface. When the recording unit <NUM> does not perform the recording operation, the cap <NUM> seals the ejection port surface, thereby protecting the ejection port and preventing evaporation of the ink inside the ejection port.

The wiper <NUM> that is provided adjacent to the cap <NUM> includes a color wiper 22a that wipes the ejection port surface of the color recording head <NUM>, and a black wiper 22b that wipes the ejection port surface of the black recording head <NUM>. The wiper <NUM> performs wiping operation to wipe the ink adhered to the ejection port surface of the recording head by moving along the Y direction while abutting on the ejection port surface of the recording head. Further, the color wiper 22a and the black wiper 22b integrally move in the Y direction by the same driving source.

<FIG> illustrate the detailed configuration of the contact protector <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view of a state where the recording unit <NUM> is located at the home position and the cap <NUM> is located at the capping position.

The contact protector <NUM> includes a substrate 72a that can abut on a connector (contact portion) 31a of the carriage <NUM>. When the contact protector <NUM> is mounted on the carriage <NUM>, the connector 31a and the substrate 72a abut on each other to establish electric connection, and the connector 31a is shielded by the substrate 72a. As a result, even when the ink mist is scattered due to the recording operation by the black recording head <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the ink from adhering to the connector 31a to cause connection failure.

The contact protector <NUM> further includes a cap shielding part 72b that can shield the color cap 21a. <FIG> is a front view corresponding to <FIG>, and illustration of the color wiper 22a is omitted. As illustrated in <FIG>, the cap shielding part 72b can prevent a foreign matter from adhering to the color cap 21a by shielding the color cap 21a at the capping position in the X direction. In other words, the cap shielding part 72b includes a protrusion that protrudes downward so as to overlap with the color cap 21a at the capping position in the Z direction. As a result, even in a case where the recording unit <NUM> stands by for a long time, the color cap 21a is not left in the exposed state. This makes it possible to prevent a foreign matter from adhering to the color cap 21a.

<FIG> is a front view corresponding to <FIG>, and illustration of the color cap 21a is omitted. The cap shielding part 72b has a downward recessed shape retracted from a moving locus when the color wiper 22a performs the wiping operation in the Y direction. Accordingly, when the wiping operation for the black recording head <NUM> is performed, it is possible to prevent the color wiper 22a that integrally moves with the black wiper 22b in the Y direction, from coming into contact with the contact protector <NUM>. As a result, abrasion of the color wiper 22a is also reduced.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating operation after the recording apparatus <NUM> is turned on. When the recording apparatus <NUM> is turned on, the MPU <NUM> detects an electric connection state of the connector 31a in step S161. In other words, the MPU <NUM> determines which of the contact protector <NUM> and the color recording head <NUM> has been mounted on the carriage <NUM>.

In a case where non-mounting is detected (NO in step S161), the MPU <NUM> notifies the user of "cartridge non-mounting error" in step S162, and disables the recording operation by the recording unit <NUM>. The "cartridge non-mounting error" may be notified by being displayed, for example, on a display panel of the operation unit <NUM> or on a screen of the host computer <NUM> via the printer driver <NUM>. Alternatively, a notification unit that performs notification by sound, etc. may be used.

In contrast, in a case where mounting is detected in step S161 (YES in step S161), the MPU <NUM> determines in step S163 which of the contact protector <NUM> and the color recording head <NUM> has been mounted. In a case where the contact protector <NUM> has been mounted (YES in step S163), the MPU <NUM> determines in step S164 whether a color printing instruction is present.

In a case where the color printing instruction is present (YES in step S164), the MPU <NUM> notifies "color cartridge non-mounting error" in step S165. The error notification in this case is also notified by being displayed on the display panel of the operation unit <NUM>, on the screen of the host computer <NUM>, or by sound. This can prompt the user to change the instruction to a monochrome printing instruction or to mount the color cartridge.

Alternatively, in step S166, the MPU <NUM> may function as a conversion unit to convert the image data to monochrome image data, and the monochrome printing may be performed by the black recording head <NUM>. This improves usability by eliminating the necessity of reinput of the printing instruction by the user.

In contrast, in a case where mounting of the color recording head <NUM> is detected in step S163 (NO in step S163), it is determined in step S167 whether the color printing instruction is present. In a case of the color printing instruction (YES in step S167), the color printing is performed in step S168. In contrast, in a case of a monochrome printing instruction in step S167 (NO in step S167), the processing proceeds to step S169, and monochrome printing is performed.

As described above, in a case where it is determined in step S162 that neither the color recording head <NUM> nor the contact protector <NUM> have been mounted, the recording apparatus <NUM> cannot perform the recording operation. This prevents the recording operation from being performed while the connector 31a of the carriage <NUM> is exposed, and reduces electric contact failure caused by adhesion of the ink. Alternatively, after the error is notified in step S162, the user may select error cancellation to perform the recording operation in a state where neither the color recording head <NUM> nor the contact protector <NUM> are mounted.

<FIG> are enlarged perspective views illustrating storage of the contact protector <NUM> in the recording apparatus <NUM>. The recording apparatus <NUM> includes a storage portion <NUM> at a position on the front surface of the apparatus and adjacent to the right side of the sheet feeding cassette <NUM>. The contact protector <NUM> can be placed on and stored in the storage portion <NUM>. The storage portion <NUM> is exposed when the scanner unit <NUM> is opened.

<FIG> illustrates a state where the contact protector <NUM> is not placed on the storage portion <NUM>, and <FIG> illustrates a state where the contact protector <NUM> is placed on the storage portion <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, an illustration <NUM> of the contact protector <NUM> is drawn on a bottom surface of the storage portion <NUM>, and guides the user to store the contact protector <NUM> in the storage portion <NUM>.

As described with reference to <FIG>, when neither the contact protector <NUM> nor the color recording head <NUM> is mounted on the carriage <NUM>, the recording apparatus <NUM> cannot perform the recording operation. In a case where the user mounts the color recording head <NUM> on the carriage <NUM> in place of the contact protector <NUM>, the user may lose the unused contact protector <NUM>. In the present exemplary embodiment, providing the storage portion <NUM> in the recording apparatus <NUM> makes it possible to reduce the risk of the user losing the contact protector <NUM>. Note that the color recording head <NUM> may be placed on the storage portion <NUM>.

Next, the shape of the contact protector <NUM> and the shape of the color recording head <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>. In the present exemplary embodiment, the contact protector <NUM> and the color recording head <NUM> have substantially the same shape. This gives the user the same kind of usability in mounting the contact protector <NUM> and the color recording head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>, which makes it possible to improve usability.

<FIG> is a front view of the contact protector <NUM>, and <FIG> is a side view of the contact protector <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view of the color recording head <NUM>, and <FIG> is a side view of the color recording head <NUM>. In <FIG>, illustration of the substrate 72a of the contact protector <NUM> and the substrate of the color recording head <NUM> is omitted.

The contact protector <NUM> includes a plurality of positioning parts for positioning the contact protector <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>. More specifically, the contact protector <NUM> includes a first positioning part 72c provided on an upper surface, a second positioning part 72d and a third positioning part 72e provided at a lower part, a fourth positioning part 72f provided on a side surface, and a fifth positioning part <NUM> provided on the lower part.

The first positioning part 72c is provided so as to abut on the second headset cover <NUM>, and receives urging force by an urging member of the second headset cover <NUM>. The first positioning part 72c is urged in a direction in which the contact protector <NUM> is positioned to the carriage <NUM>. The second positioning part 72d positions the contact protector <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> in the X direction.

Further, the third positioning part 72e and the fourth positioning part 72f position the contact protector <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> in the Y direction. Further, the fifth positioning part <NUM> positions the contact protector <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> in the Z direction.

The color recording head <NUM> also includes a plurality of positioning parts that positions the color recording head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>, as with the contact protector <NUM>. More specifically, the color recording head <NUM> includes a sixth positioning part 101c provided on an upper surface, a seventh positioning part 101d and an eighth positioning part 101e provided at a lower part, a ninth positioning part 101f provided on a side surface, and a tenth positioning part <NUM> provided at the lower part.

The sixth positioning part 101c corresponds to the first positioning part 72c of the contact protector <NUM>, and the seventh positioning part 101d and the eighth positioning part 101e respectively correspond to the second positioning part 72d and the third positioning part 72e. Likewise, the ninth positioning part 101f corresponds to the fourth positioning part 72f, and the tenth positioning part <NUM> corresponds to the fifth positioning part <NUM>.

As described above, when the positioning of the contact protector <NUM> and the positioning of the color recording head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> are made common, the user operation to mount the contact protector <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> and the user operation to mount the color recording head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> are also made common, which improves usability.

Further, a weight of the contact protector <NUM> is within a range from a weight of the color recording head <NUM> when the ink tank of the color recording head is filled up with the ink to a weight of the color recording head <NUM> when no ink is present in the ink tank. Therefore, when either of the contact protector <NUM> and the color recording head <NUM> is mounted on the carriage <NUM>, the weight of the carriage <NUM> is within a prescribed range. This eliminates necessity to change the driving control of the carriage <NUM>.

In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the combination of one tube-supply-type recording head and one ink-cartridge-type recording head has been described as an example. The exemplary embodiment is applicable to a combination in which the number of tube-supply-type recording heads or the number of ink-cartridge-type recording heads is two or more, and similar effects are achievable.

<FIG> illustrates another exemplary embodiment. In the first exemplary embodiment, the configuration in which the recovery unit and the ink tank <NUM> are disposed separately from each other in the main scanning direction has been described. The exemplary embodiment, however, is applicable to a configuration in which the ink tank <NUM> is disposed on the side same as the recovery unit (cap <NUM>) in the main scanning direction as illustrated in <FIG>.

The supply tube <NUM> connected to the ink tank <NUM> is laid in a direction (upstream in X direction) separating from the recovery unit in the main scanning direction, and is then folded back and is laid toward the opposite direction (downstream in X direction). Further, as with the first exemplary embodiment, the supply tube <NUM> is bent upward in the X direction on the side provided with the recovery unit in the main scanning direction, and is connected to the recording unit <NUM>. As described above, in the exemplary embodiment, the position to dispose the ink tank <NUM> is not limited.

Further, the configuration including the injection portion <NUM> to inject the ink into the ink tank <NUM> has been described, however, the configuration is not limited thereto. The ink tank <NUM> is applicable to a cartridge that is detachable from the recording apparatus <NUM>.

According to the exemplary embodiments, it is possible to provide the inkjet recording apparatus that can prevent contact failure between the carriage and the ink cartridge.

Claim 1:
An inkjet recording apparatus, comprising:
a first recording head (<NUM>) configured to perform a recording operation to record an image by ejecting ink;
an ink tank (<NUM>) configured to contain the ink to be supplied to the first recording head;
a tube (<NUM>) configured to connect the first recording head (<NUM>) and the ink tank (<NUM>); and
a carriage (<NUM>), configured to move reciprocally, the carriage (<NUM>) including a first mounting portion (31b) on which the first recording head (<NUM>) is mounted, a second mounting portion (31c) on which a second recording head (<NUM>) is detachably mounted, and a contact portion (31a) electrically connected to the second recording head,
wherein the contact portion (31a) is protected by a protection member (<NUM>) arranged to be detachably mounted on the second mounting portion, the protection member (<NUM>) including an electric contact portion (72a) which is provided on a side face along a moving direction of the carriage (<NUM>) and contacts the contact portion (31a).