LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS

• US 20200130357A1
• Filed: 10/29/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: ISHIZAWA, Taku, MIZUTANI, Tadahiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,843,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 Refilling of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17569 based on the amount printed or to be printed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17573 using optical means for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17576 using a floater for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17579 Measuring electrical impedance for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers

Abstract

A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a carriage that includes a liquid ejection head and that moves inside a predetermined moving range, a plurality of liquid containers mounted on the carriage, the plurality of liquid containers including liquid refill ports respectively, an exterior member that covers the moving range, the exterior member including an opening configured to have a liquid outlet portion of the liquid refilling container be inserted therein, a selection information receiving portion that receives an input of a selected target liquid container, among the plurality of liquid containers, in which refilling of the liquid is to be performed, and a control unit that, using selection information that the selected information receiving portion has received, moves the carriage so that the liquid refill port of the target liquid container faces the opening.

Claims

1. A liquid ejection apparatus to which a liquid from a liquid refilling container is refilled, the liquid ejection apparatus comprising:

a carriage that includes a liquid ejection head and that moves inside a predetermined moving range;

a plurality of liquid containers mounted on the carriage, the plurality of liquid containers each including a liquid refill port through which the liquid is refilled;

an exterior member that covers the moving range, the exterior member including an opening configured to have a liquid outlet portion of the liquid refilling container be inserted therein;

a selection information receiving portion that receives an input of a selected target liquid container, among the plurality of liquid containers, in which refilling of the liquid is to be performed; and

a control unit that, using selection information that the selection information receiving portion has received, moves the carriage so that the liquid refill port of the target liquid container faces the opening.

2. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

regarding the opening, a number thereof is one.

3. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

regarding the opening, the number of thereof is equivalent to the number of the plurality of liquid containers, and

the liquid ejection apparatus further includes distinguishing portions provided in an intersecting direction of the openings, the distinguishing portions configured to distinguish whether a plurality of the liquid outlet portions of a plurality of the liquid refilling containers corresponding to the openings are insertable into the corresponding openings.

4. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the plurality of liquid containers are mounted on the carriage so that the liquid refill ports are disposed at first intervals, and

the plurality of openings are disposed at second intervals larger than the first intervals.

5. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display portion that displays a color of a liquid contained in the target liquid container.

6. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the selection information receiving portion does not receive the selection information of the liquid container, among the plurality of liquid containers, in which a liquid remaining amount is larger than a predetermined amount.

7. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

detection portions that each detect the liquid remaining amount of a corresponding one of the plurality of liquid containers.

8. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the selection information receiving portion does not receive the selection information of the liquid container, among the plurality of liquid containers, in which a refillable amount of the liquid determined according to the liquid remaining amount is smaller than a liquid containing amount of the liquid refilling container.