Patent Description:
For example, as disclosed in <CIT>, there is a liquid discharge device including a mounting portion, which is an example of a supply unit, and a recording head, which is an example of a liquid discharge head. The mounting portion includes an ink receiving tube, which is an example of a liquid introducing portion, a discharging spring, which is an example of a pressing member, and a locking lever, which is an example of an engaging portion.

An ink cartridge, which is an example of a liquid container, is removably mounted in the mounting portion. The ink cartridge mounted in the mounting portion is coupled to the ink receiving tube and locked by the locking lever. Ink, which is an example of a liquid, is supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head via the ink receiving tube. The recording head performs recording on a recording medium by discharging the ink toward the recording medium.

The ink cartridge disclosed in <CIT> receives a force in a removing direction by the discharging spring. For that reason, when locking provided by the locking lever is released, the ink cartridge may be suddenly uncoupled from the ink receiving tube, causing the ink to drip.

<CIT> discloses a liquid container configured to be inserted into a mounting portion in an insertion direction and to be removed from the mounting portion in a removal direction opposite the insertion direction. The liquid container includes a main body comprising a liquid chamber configured to store liquid therein, a liquid supply portion positioned at the main body and configured to supply liquid from an interior of the liquid chamber to an exterior of the liquid chamber, and a first cartridge-surface positioned vertically below the main body and extending in the insertion direction and the removal direction, wherein the first cartridge-surface comprises a first deformable portion configured to be resiliently deformable in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the removal direction, and the first deformable portion comprises a first protrusion.

A supply unit according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

A liquid discharge device according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

Embodiments of a supply unit, a liquid discharge device, and a liquid container will be described below with reference to the drawings. The liquid discharge device is, for example, an inkjet type printer that discharges ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium such as paper, fabric, vinyl, a plastic component, or a metal component to perform printing on it.

In the drawings, a direction of gravity when a liquid discharge device <NUM> is assumed to be placed on a horizontal plane will be indicated by a Z axis, and directions along the horizontal plane will be indicated by an X axis and a Y axis. The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are orthogonal to one another. When a user faces the front of the liquid discharge device <NUM>, the Y axis indicates an inward direction of the liquid discharge device <NUM>, and the X axis indicates a width direction of the liquid discharge device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge device <NUM> may include one or more medium accommodating units <NUM> capable of accommodating media <NUM>. The liquid discharge device <NUM> may include a stacker <NUM>, an operation panel <NUM>, an image reading unit <NUM>, and an automatic feeding unit <NUM>.

The medium accommodating unit <NUM> is, for example, a cassette. The medium accommodating unit <NUM> may accommodate a bundle of unprinted media <NUM>. The stacker <NUM> receives printed media <NUM>. The operation panel <NUM> is, for example, a touch panel for operating the liquid discharge device <NUM>. The operation panel <NUM> may be provided to face the front of the liquid discharge device <NUM>. The image reading unit <NUM> reads an image of a document. The automatic feeding unit <NUM> sends a document to the image reading unit <NUM>. The image reading unit <NUM> and the automatic feeding unit <NUM> are disposed above the stacker <NUM>, for example.

The liquid discharge device <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM> that controls various operations performed by the liquid discharge device <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may be configured as a circuit including α: one or more processors that perform various processing in accordance with computer programs, β: one or more dedicated hardware circuits that perform at least some of the various processing, or γ: a combination thereof. The hardware circuit is, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit. The processors include CPUs and memories such as a RAM and a ROM, and the memories store program codes or instructions that cause the CPUs to perform processing. Memories, that is, computer-readable media, include any readable media that can be accessed by general-purpose or dedicated computers.

The liquid discharge device <NUM> includes a supply unit <NUM>, a supply flow path <NUM>, and a liquid discharge head <NUM>. The liquid discharge device <NUM> may include a cover <NUM>.

The supply unit <NUM> may include a mounting portion <NUM>. One or more liquid containers <NUM> are detachably mounted in the mounting portion <NUM>. That is, the supply unit <NUM> is provided with the liquid containers <NUM> detachably mounted therein. In other words, the liquid containers <NUM> are detachably mounted in the supply unit <NUM>.

Four liquid containers <NUM> can be mounted in the mounting portion <NUM> of the embodiment. The mounting portion <NUM> may include a plurality of slots corresponding to each of a plurality of liquid containers <NUM>. The mounting portion <NUM> may include an insertion port <NUM> for inserting the liquid containers <NUM>. The insertion port <NUM> opens toward, for example, the front of the liquid discharge device <NUM>.

The liquid containers <NUM> of the embodiment are cartridges capable of containing a liquid. The liquid containers <NUM> are inserted into the mounting portion <NUM> by being moved in an inserting direction Dp from the insertion port <NUM> inwardly into the mounting portion <NUM>. The liquid containers <NUM> are removed from the mounting portion <NUM> by being moved in an extracting direction De opposite to the inserting direction Dp. The inserting direction Dp and the extracting direction De of the embodiment are parallel to the Y axis.

The plurality of liquid containers <NUM> may contain different types of liquids. The different types of liquids are, for example, inks of different colors. In the embodiment, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are stored in the four liquid containers <NUM>.

The plurality of liquid containers <NUM> may have the same configuration or may have different configurations. For example, the plurality of liquid containers <NUM> may have different liquid storage capacity from each other. For example, the liquid storage capacity of the liquid container <NUM> that contains black ink may be larger than those of other liquid containers <NUM>. A width of the liquid container <NUM> with a large capacity, that is, a length thereof along the X axis, may be longer than that of the liquid container <NUM> with a small capacity.

The cover <NUM> may be movable between a closed position illustrated in <FIG> and an open position (not illustrated). The cover <NUM> located at the closed position covers the insertion port <NUM>. The cover <NUM> located at the open position opens the insertion port <NUM>. An operator can individually replace the plurality of liquid containers <NUM> by positioning the cover <NUM> at the open position.

The supply flow path <NUM> couples the liquid containers <NUM> mounted in the supply unit <NUM> to the liquid discharge head <NUM>. The supply flow path <NUM> supplies the liquids contained in the liquid containers <NUM> to the liquid discharge head <NUM>. The liquid discharge device <NUM> may include a plurality of supply flow paths <NUM>. The plurality of supply flow paths <NUM> may individually correspond to the plurality of liquid containers <NUM> mounted in the supply unit <NUM>.

The liquid discharge head <NUM> discharges the liquids from one or more nozzles (not illustrated). The liquid discharge head <NUM> may be disposed in a posture in which a nozzle surface <NUM> on which the nozzle is open is inclined with respect to the horizontal. The liquid discharge head <NUM> performs printing by discharging liquid onto the medium <NUM>. The liquid discharge head <NUM> may perform color printing by discharging ink of a plurality of colors. The liquid discharge head <NUM> of the embodiment is a line type provided over the width direction of the medium <NUM>. The liquid discharge head <NUM> may be a serial type that performs printing while moving in the width direction of the medium <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis in a posture in which the liquid container <NUM> is inserted into the mounting portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the liquid container <NUM> may include, for example, a first end wall <NUM>, an upper wall <NUM>, a pressure receiving portion <NUM>, a first side wall <NUM>, a second side wall <NUM>, and a second end wall <NUM>. The pressure receiving portion <NUM> of the embodiment is also a bottom wall of the cartridge. The second end wall <NUM> may have a step. When the liquid container <NUM> is mounted in the liquid discharge device <NUM>, the first end wall <NUM> is inserted first.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid container <NUM> may include an engaged portion <NUM>, a release portion <NUM>, a positioning hole <NUM>, a coupling portion <NUM>, a receiving recessed portion <NUM>, and a circuit board <NUM>.

The engaged portion <NUM> may be provided on the second end wall <NUM>. The engaged portion <NUM> of the embodiment is a recessed portion that opens to the second end wall <NUM>. The engaged portion <NUM> may be provided at a center of the second end wall <NUM> in the width direction. The engaged portion <NUM> may be provided on the release portion <NUM>.

The release portion <NUM>, the positioning hole <NUM>, the coupling portion <NUM>, the receiving recessed portion <NUM>, and the circuit board <NUM> may be provided in the pressure receiving portion <NUM>. The release portion <NUM>, the positioning hole <NUM>, the coupling portion <NUM>, the receiving recessed portion <NUM>, and the circuit board <NUM> may be arranged in order from the second end wall <NUM> toward the first end wall <NUM>.

The release portion <NUM> may protrude downward from the pressure receiving portion <NUM>. The positioning hole <NUM> and the receiving recessed portion <NUM> may be recessed portions that are open to the pressure receiving portion <NUM>. The coupling portion <NUM> may open to the pressure receiving portion <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> may be provided in a portion obtained by cutting out a corner at which the pressure receiving portion <NUM> and the first end wall <NUM> intersect each other. The circuit board <NUM> may store information relating to the liquid container <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid container <NUM> may include a containing chamber <NUM> that contains liquid and a draw-out valve <NUM>. The draw-out valve <NUM> may be provided in the coupling portion <NUM>. The draw-out valve <NUM> opens the coupling portion <NUM>, and thus the liquid stored in the containing chamber <NUM> is drawn out through the coupling portion <NUM>. The draw-out valve <NUM> closes the coupling portion <NUM>, and thus drawing-out of the liquid from the coupling portion <NUM> is restricted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the supply unit <NUM> may include a box-shaped frame <NUM>, an electrical coupling portion <NUM>, a first shaft <NUM>, and a support portion <NUM>. The supply unit <NUM> may include a positioning protruding portion <NUM>, a liquid introducing portion <NUM>, a pressing member <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, and a speed reduction portion <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM>, the positioning protruding portion <NUM>, the liquid introducing portion <NUM>, the speed reduction portion <NUM>, the electrical coupling portion <NUM>, and the first shaft <NUM> may be arranged in order along the Y axis. The supply unit <NUM> may include a plurality of electrical coupling portions <NUM>, first shafts <NUM>, support portions <NUM>, positioning protruding portions <NUM>, liquid introducing portions <NUM>, pressing members <NUM>, operation units <NUM>, and speed reduction portions <NUM>.

The electrical coupling portion <NUM> and the first shaft <NUM> may be provided on an inner side of the frame <NUM>, that is, at a position separated from the insertion port <NUM> in the inserting direction Dp. The electrical coupling portion <NUM> comes into contact with the circuit board <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> mounted in the mounting portion <NUM>. The electrical coupling portion <NUM> electrically couples the circuit board <NUM> to the control unit <NUM>. The first shaft <NUM> may extend along the X axis. The first shaft <NUM> may support a plurality of support portions <NUM> to be rotatable individually.

The support portion <NUM> is movable between a guide position Pg illustrated in <FIG> and a coupling position Pc illustrated in <FIG> by rotating about the first shaft <NUM>. The support portion <NUM> of the embodiment supports the liquid container <NUM> inserted from the insertion port <NUM>. The liquid container <NUM> supported by the support portion <NUM> moves together with the support portion <NUM>. In the embodiment, positions of the liquid container <NUM> that moves together with the support portion <NUM> are also referred to as the guide position Pg and the coupling position Pc, similarly to the positions of the support portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the guide position Pg of the support portion <NUM> is a position for guiding the liquid container <NUM> in the inserting direction Dp and the extracting direction De. The guide position Pg of the liquid container <NUM> is a position at which the liquid container <NUM> can move in the inserting direction Dp and the extracting direction De.

The coupling position Pc of the support portion <NUM> is a position at which the liquid container <NUM> is coupled to the liquid introducing portion <NUM>. The coupling position Pc of the liquid container <NUM> is a position at which the coupling portion <NUM> is coupled to the liquid introducing portion <NUM> and is a position at which the liquid can be supplied to the liquid discharge device <NUM>.

The support portion <NUM> located at the guide position Pg moves to the coupling position Pc by moving in the coupling direction Dc. That is, the coupling direction Dc is a direction in which the liquid container <NUM> is coupled to the liquid introducing portion <NUM>. The support portion <NUM> located at the coupling position Pc moves to the guide position Pg by moving in the uncoupling direction Do, which is a direction opposite to the coupling direction Dc. That is, the uncoupling direction Do is a direction in which the coupling between the liquid container <NUM> and the liquid introducing portion <NUM> is released. The coupling direction Dc and the uncoupling direction Do of the embodiment are rotating directions around the first shaft <NUM>.

The support portion <NUM> may include a first hole <NUM> and a second hole <NUM>.

When the support portion <NUM> is located at the guide position Pg, the first hole <NUM> is located above the liquid introducing portion <NUM> and the positioning protruding portion <NUM>. The first hole <NUM> allows the positioning hole <NUM> and the coupling portion <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> located at the guide position Pg to face the positioning protruding portion <NUM> and the liquid introducing portion <NUM>. The support portion <NUM> moving from the guide position Pg in the coupling direction Dc allows the liquid introducing portion <NUM> and the positioning protruding portion <NUM> to pass through the first hole <NUM>.

When the support portion <NUM> is located at the guide position Pg, the second hole <NUM> is located above the speed reduction portion <NUM>. The second hole <NUM> causes the receiving recessed portion <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> located at the guide position Pg and the speed reduction portion <NUM> to face each other. The support portion <NUM> moving from the guide position Pg to the coupling position Pc allows the speed reduction portion <NUM> to pass through the second hole <NUM>. When the support portion <NUM> is located at the coupling position Pc, the receiving recessed portion <NUM> receives at least a part of the speed reduction portion <NUM>.

The positioning protruding portion <NUM> may protrude in the uncoupling direction Do. The positioning protruding portion <NUM> positions the liquid container <NUM> by engaging with the positioning hole <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> located at the coupling position Pc. By providing the positioning protruding portion <NUM> near the liquid introducing portion <NUM>, it is possible to improve positional accuracy of the liquid introducing portion <NUM> and the coupling portion <NUM>. The positioning protruding portion <NUM> may extend substantially parallel to the liquid introducing portion <NUM>.

The liquid introducing portion <NUM> can introduce the liquid drawn out from the liquid container <NUM>. The liquid introducing portion <NUM> is provided at an upstream end of the supply flow path <NUM>. The liquid introduced into the liquid introducing portion <NUM> is supplied to the liquid discharge head <NUM> via the supply flow path <NUM>.

The liquid introducing portion <NUM> is coupled to the coupling portion <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> located at the coupling position Pc. Specifically, the liquid introducing portion <NUM> may be inserted into the coupling portion <NUM> as the liquid container <NUM> moves in the coupling direction Dc and may open the draw-out valve <NUM>.

The liquid introducing portion <NUM> may be disposed in a posture inclined with respect to the Y axis and the Z axis. For example, a center line of the liquid introducing portion <NUM> may form an angle in a range of more than <NUM>° and at most <NUM>° with respect to the Z axis. In the inserting direction Dp, a distance between the insertion port <NUM> and a tip of the liquid introducing portion <NUM> may be smaller than a distance between the insertion port <NUM> and a base end of the liquid introducing portion <NUM>.

The inclination angle of the liquid introducing portion <NUM> may be set in accordance with the distance from the first shaft <NUM> and the length of the liquid introducing portion <NUM>. By setting a linear distance between the tip of the liquid introducing portion <NUM> and the first shaft <NUM> to be substantially the same as a linear distance between the base end of the liquid introducing portion <NUM> and the first shaft <NUM>, the liquid container <NUM> moving in the coupling direction Dc and the liquid introducing portion <NUM> can be smoothly coupled to each other.

The pressing member <NUM> presses the liquid container <NUM> in the uncoupling direction Do. Pressing is applying pressure to the liquid container <NUM> by pushing the liquid container <NUM> at rest. The pressing member <NUM> of the embodiment presses the liquid container <NUM> via the support portion <NUM>. The pressing member <NUM> of the embodiment is a compression coil spring that applies pressure to the support portion <NUM> from below.

The pressing member <NUM> can generate a pressing force. The pressing force of the pressing member <NUM> is larger than a force required to move the support portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM>, which needs to be replaced after the contained liquid has been drawn out, from the coupling position Pc to the guide position Pg. For that reason, in an initial state in which the liquid container <NUM> is not in the mounting portion <NUM>, the support portion <NUM> is located at the guide position Pg. The pressing force of the pressing member <NUM> may be larger than a force required to move the support portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM>, which is new before the liquid is drawn out, from the coupling position Pc to the guide position Pg.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the operation unit <NUM> may be disposed to face the tip of the support portion <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> may include a fixed portion <NUM>, a movable portion <NUM>, a second shaft <NUM>, and a first spring <NUM>. The movable portion <NUM> may include an engaging portion <NUM>, a protrusion <NUM>, and a lever <NUM>. The fixed portion <NUM> may be fixed to the frame <NUM>.

The movable portion <NUM> may rotate about the second shaft <NUM> to move between a release position illustrated in <FIG> and a lock position illustrated in <FIG>. The second shaft <NUM> may extend along the X axis. The release position is a position at which engagement between the engaging portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM> is released. The lock position is a position at which the engaging portion <NUM> engages with the engaged portion <NUM>.

The first spring <NUM> pushes the movable portion <NUM> so that the movable portion <NUM> is separated from the fixed portion <NUM>. The first spring <NUM> pushes the movable portion <NUM> toward the lock position. The first spring <NUM> presses the engaging portion <NUM> and the protrusion <NUM> against the support portion <NUM> or the liquid container <NUM> in the inserting direction Dp.

The engaging portion <NUM>, the protrusion <NUM>, and the lever <NUM> may be integrally formed. The engaging portion <NUM> and the protrusion <NUM> may be provided above the second shaft <NUM> and the lever <NUM>. In the movable portion <NUM> located at the lock position, while the engaging portion <NUM> and the protrusion <NUM> protrude toward the support portion <NUM> in the inserting direction Dp, the lever <NUM> protrudes in the extracting direction De. The operator moves the movable portion <NUM> to the release position by pushing down the lever <NUM> of the movable portion <NUM> located at the lock position.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the support portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM> are located at the guide position Pg, the movable portion <NUM> is located at the release position as a result of the protrusion <NUM> abutting the support portion <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> slides with respect to the support portion <NUM> moving in the coupling direction Dc. That is, the movable portion <NUM> allows the support portion <NUM> located at the guide position Pg and the liquid container <NUM> to move in the coupling direction Dc.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the support portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM> are located at the coupling position Pc, the movable portion <NUM> is located at the lock position, and the engaging portion <NUM> engages with the engaged portion <NUM>. That is, the engaging portion <NUM> engages with the liquid container <NUM> when the liquid container <NUM> is coupled to the liquid introducing portion <NUM>. In other words, the engaged portion <NUM> engages with the engaging portion <NUM> when the liquid container <NUM> is coupled to the liquid introducing portion <NUM>.

The engaging portion <NUM> that engages with the engaged portion <NUM> restricts movement of the liquid container <NUM> located at the coupling position Pc in the uncoupling direction Do. Accordingly, the support portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM> are located at the coupling position Pc against the pressing force of the pressing member <NUM>. By pushing down the lever <NUM>, the engaging portion <NUM> is disengaged from the liquid container <NUM>. When the engagement with the liquid container <NUM> by the engaging portion <NUM> is released, the support portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM> move in the uncoupling direction Do by being pressed by the pressing member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the speed reduction portion <NUM> reduces moving speeds of the support portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM> moving in the uncoupling direction Do. The speed reduction portion <NUM> of the embodiment reduces the moving speed of the liquid container <NUM> by reducing the moving speed of the support portion <NUM>.

The speed reduction portion <NUM> may include an oil damper <NUM> and a moving unit <NUM>. The moving unit <NUM> may include a rotating body <NUM> that rotates about a rotation shaft <NUM> and an arm <NUM>. At least a part of the moving unit <NUM> is movable in an intersecting direction Di intersecting the uncoupling direction Do in response to the movement of the support portion <NUM> in the uncoupling direction Do. The intersecting direction Di of the embodiment is a direction in which the rotating body <NUM> rotates about the rotation shaft <NUM>. The rotation shaft <NUM> of the embodiment may extend along the X axis. In other words, the rotation shaft <NUM> extends in a direction intersecting the uncoupling direction Do and the intersecting direction Di.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the oil damper <NUM> may include a piston <NUM> and a stopper <NUM>. The oil damper <NUM> applies a load to a member that pushes the piston <NUM> by absorbing energy when the piston <NUM> is pushed in. In the embodiment, the rotating body <NUM> pushes the piston <NUM>. The oil damper <NUM> reduces a speed of the rotating body <NUM> rotating in the intersecting direction Di. The stopper <NUM> stops the rotating body <NUM> by coming into contact with the rotating body <NUM> pushing the piston <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, one end of the arm <NUM> is rotatably coupled to the support portion <NUM>, and the other end is rotatably coupled to the rotating body <NUM>. The support portion <NUM>, the arm <NUM>, and the rotating body <NUM> constitute a link mechanism. The arm <NUM> converts movement of the support portion <NUM> in the uncoupling direction Do into movement of the rotating body <NUM> in the intersecting direction Di. The arm <NUM> converts movement of the support portion <NUM> in the coupling direction Dc into movement of the rotating body <NUM> in a direction opposite to the intersecting direction Di.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the rotating body <NUM> moves in the direction opposite to the intersecting direction Di, the piston <NUM> that has been pushed in is pushed out by a spring (not illustrated). A speed at which the spring included in the oil damper <NUM> pushes the piston <NUM> may be lower than a speed at which the support portion <NUM> pushed by the pressing member <NUM> moves the rotating body <NUM>. The rotating body <NUM> may be separated from the piston <NUM> when it moves in the direction opposite to the intersecting direction Di.

The speed reduction portion <NUM> restricts rotation of the moving unit <NUM> when the liquid container <NUM> moves in the uncoupling direction Do. The speed reduction portion <NUM> permits rotation of the moving unit <NUM> when the liquid container <NUM> moves in the coupling direction Dc.

An operation when the liquid container <NUM> is mounted in the supply unit <NUM> will be described.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the operator inserts the liquid container <NUM> through the insertion port <NUM> and pushes the liquid container <NUM> in the inserting direction Dp. A portion of the liquid container <NUM> pushed into the mounting portion <NUM> including its rear end in the inserting direction Dp may be located outside the insertion port <NUM>.

Subsequently, the operator pushes down the liquid container <NUM>. The operator may push a portion of the liquid container <NUM> located outside the insertion port <NUM> downward. Thus, the liquid container <NUM> moves in the coupling direction Dc together with the support portion <NUM>. That is, the liquid container <NUM> and the support portion <NUM> move in the coupling direction Dc against the force with which the pressing member <NUM> presses the support portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the positioning protruding portion <NUM> enters the positioning hole <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> moving in the coupling direction Dc. The coupling portion <NUM> is coupled to the liquid introducing portion <NUM>. The coupling portion <NUM> may be coupled to the liquid introducing portion <NUM> in a state in which the positioning protruding portion <NUM> enters the positioning hole <NUM> to position the liquid container <NUM>. The liquid container <NUM> that has moved to the coupling position Pc is restricted from moving in the uncoupling direction Do by the engaging portion <NUM> engaging with the engaged portion <NUM>. While located at the coupling position Pc, the pressure receiving portion <NUM> receives the pressing force generated by the pressing member <NUM> in the uncoupling direction Do.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the support portion <NUM> moves in the coupling direction Dc, the rotating body <NUM> rotates in the direction opposite to the intersecting direction Di. The rotating body <NUM> moves to be separated from the oil damper <NUM> from the state illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the rotating body <NUM> is separated from the oil damper <NUM>, the piston <NUM> is pushed out. When the liquid container <NUM> and the support portion <NUM> are located at the coupling position Pc, at least a portion of the oil damper <NUM> may be located inside the receiving recessed portion <NUM>.

Next, an operation when the liquid container <NUM> is removed from the supply unit <NUM> will be described.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the liquid container <NUM> is removed from the mounting portion <NUM>, the operator operates the lever <NUM>. Specifically, when the lever <NUM> is pushed down, the engaging portion <NUM> is disengaged from the engaged portion <NUM>. When the engaging portion <NUM> is disengaged, the support portion <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM> which are pressed by the pressing member <NUM> move in the uncoupling direction Do.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the support portion <NUM> moves in the uncoupling direction Do, the rotating body <NUM> moves in the intersecting direction Di to push the piston <NUM> in. The speed reduction portion <NUM> reduces a moving speed of the rotating body <NUM> due to resistance of the oil damper <NUM>. The speed reduction portion <NUM> reduces the moving speed of the liquid container <NUM> via the support portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid container <NUM> moves in the uncoupling direction Do, and thus the coupling portion <NUM> is separated from the liquid introducing portion <NUM>. The positioning hole <NUM> is separated from the positioning protruding portion <NUM>. In this case, the moving speed in the uncoupling direction Do is reduced by the speed reduction portion <NUM>. For that reason, inertial forces applied to the liquid contained in the liquid container <NUM> and the liquid remaining in the coupling portion <NUM> are smaller than that when the speed is high. Accordingly, dripping of the liquid from the coupling portion <NUM> is reduced.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the liquid container <NUM> and the support portion <NUM> move to the guide position Pg, the liquid container <NUM> can move in the extracting direction De. The operator removes the liquid container <NUM> by pulling out the liquid container <NUM> in the extracting direction De.

Effects of the embodiment will be described.

The embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a range in which they are not technically impossible.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the speed reduction portion <NUM> may be provided deep in the mounting portion <NUM> in the inserting direction Dp. The liquid container <NUM> may be configured not to include the receiving recessed portion <NUM>. The support portion <NUM> may be configured not to include the second hole <NUM>. The moving unit <NUM> may be configured to include the rotating body <NUM> and not to include the arm <NUM>.

The speed reduction portion <NUM> may be provided in the support portion <NUM>. The speed reduction portion <NUM> may move together with the support portion <NUM> to the guide position Pg illustrated in <FIG> and the coupling position Pc illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the speed reduction portion <NUM> located at the guide position Pg, the piston <NUM> is pushed in by the rotating body <NUM> being sandwiched between the frame <NUM> and the oil damper <NUM>.

When the operator pushes down the liquid container <NUM>, the liquid container <NUM>, the support portion <NUM>, and the speed reduction portion <NUM> move in the coupling direction Dc.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the rotating body <NUM> moves relative to the frame <NUM>, so that it can move in a direction separated from the oil damper <NUM>. The oil damper <NUM> pushes out the piston <NUM> due to a spring (not illustrated).

When the liquid container <NUM>, the support portion <NUM>, and the speed reduction portion <NUM> move in the uncoupling direction Do, the rotating body <NUM> pushed by the frame <NUM> rotates in the intersecting direction Di and pushes the piston <NUM> in. The speed reduction portion <NUM> reduces the moving speed of the liquid container <NUM> when the liquid container <NUM> moves in the uncoupling direction Do by reducing the moving speed of the rotating body <NUM> due to the resistance of the oil damper <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the supply unit <NUM> may include a second spring <NUM>. The second spring <NUM> may push the liquid container <NUM> mounted in the mounting portion <NUM> in the extracting direction De. The liquid container <NUM> that has moved from the coupling position Pc to the guide position Pg may move in the extracting direction De by being pressed by the second spring <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the supply unit <NUM> may include a lock portion <NUM> that restricts movement of the support portion <NUM>. The lock portion <NUM> may allow movement of the support portion <NUM> by engaging with the release portion <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> mounted in the mounting portion <NUM>.

The pressing member <NUM> may press the liquid container <NUM> in the uncoupling direction Do by pulling the support portion <NUM> in the uncoupling direction Do. In this case, the pressing member <NUM> may be configured of a tension spring, a spiral spring, rubber, a well bucket with a weight, or the like.

Claim 1:
A supply unit (<NUM>) in which a liquid container (<NUM>) including a coupling portion (<NUM>) is detachably mounted, the supply unit comprising:
a liquid introducing portion (<NUM>) to which the coupling portion of the liquid container is coupled;
a pressing member (<NUM>) configured to press the liquid container in an uncoupling direction (Do) being a direction opposite to a coupling direction (Dc) when a direction in which the liquid container is coupled to the liquid introducing portion is defined as the coupling direction;
an engaging portion (<NUM>) configured to engage with the liquid container when the liquid container is coupled to the liquid introducing portion;
a moving unit (<NUM>) including a rotating body (<NUM>) configured to rotate in an intersecting direction (Di) intersecting the uncoupling direction (Do); and
a speed reduction portion (<NUM>) configured to reduce, when engagement of the engaging portion with the liquid container (<NUM>) is released, a moving speed of the liquid container moving in the uncoupling direction, characterized in that
at least a part of the moving unit (<NUM>) is configured to move in the intersecting direction (Di) with the movement of the liquid container in the uncoupling direction (Do), and
the speed reduction portion (<NUM>) is configured to reduce the moving speed of the liquid container by reducing a moving speed of the moving unit (<NUM>) in the intersecting direction (Di).