Ink jet recording apparatus

Abstract

A tube support member that puts a tube connected to an ink jet head and an ink tank in a bent state is provided. Accordingly, when a pulling force acts between the bent support member and the tube, a component force acting as contact force occurs at the surface that makes contact with the tube, and a high degree of friction is generated in response to this component force. The tube is thus strongly supported in a state in which the tube does not shift with the dimensions of the tube changing. Meanwhile, when the pulling force is released, the component force is also eliminated, and the tube is freed; the dimensions of the tube return to normal, and the tension is eliminated.An ink jet recording apparatus that prints using an ink jet head is provided. The apparatus includes an ink tube that is connected to the ink jet head and an ink tank that is provided separately from the main body of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a tube support member that supports the ink tube. The tube support member includes a first tube support member that forms a tube guide and a second tube support member that is located at a side of the ink tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ink jet recording apparatus that prints using an ink jet head, the apparatus comprising:
 a main recording apparatus body that includes the ink jet head and an apparatus case that houses the ink jet head; 
 an ink tank unit, including an ink tank, that includes a case that is separate from the apparatus case, the ink tank being located within the case of the ink tank unit, such that the ink tank unit and the ink tank are provided separate from and outside of the main recording apparatus body; 
 an ink tube, connected to the ink jet head and the ink tank, that supplies ink from the ink tank to the ink jet head; and 
 a tube support member supported by the ink tank unit, the tube support member having a bent-shape surface that makes contact with the ink tube, that, when the ink tube is pulled, causes friction to arise between the bent-shape surfaces surface and the ink tube, the friction working against the pulling force in order to suppress the ink tube from moving in an extension direction of the ink tube, the ink tube being regulated by a first regulation portion located on the ink tank unit and a second regulation portion located on a portion of the tube support member, the first and second regulation portions both being disposed outside of the main recording apparatus body and regulating the extension direction of the ink tube within a predetermined angular range, the bent-shape surface that make makes contact with the ink tube being formed so as to correspond to the predetermined angular range; and 
 a guide member provided in a carriage that houses the inkjet head, the guide member bends and holds the plurality of ink tubes along a guide portion in a moving direction of the carriage. 
 
     
     
       2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the ink tank unit is connected to the apparatus case in a removable state. 
 
     
     
       3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the ink tube includes a bridging tube portion that spans from the tank unit to the main recording apparatus body; and 
 the tube support member causes friction to arise, on the side of the main recording apparatus body, that works against a pulling force acting on the bridging tube portion. 
 
     
     
       4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the ink tube includes a bridging tube portion that spans from the tank unit to the main recording apparatus body; and 
 the tube support member causes friction to arise, on the side of the ink tank unit, that works against a pulling force acting on the bridging tube portion. 
 
     
     
       5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the ink tank unit is connected to the apparatus case in a removable state; 
 the apparatus case further houses a carriage unit in which the ink jet head is installed and that moves back and forth, and a tube guide that receives the ink tube that extends in the direction of the movement of the carriage unit; and 
 the tube support member is disposed between a side wall of the apparatus case on the side that is connected to the ink tank unit, and the tube guide. 
 
     
     
       6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ink can be refilled into the ink tank. 
     
     
       7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the ink can be refilled into the ink tank. 
     
     
       8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the ink can be refilled into the ink tank. 
     
     
       9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the ink can be refilled into the ink tank. 
     
     
       10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the ink can be refilled into the ink tank. 
     
     
       11. An ink jet recording apparatus that prints using an ink jet head, the apparatus comprising:
 a main recording apparatus body that includes the ink jet head and an apparatus case that houses the ink jet head;   an ink tank unit with a first regulation portion located on the ink tank unit, the ink tank unit including an ink tank and a case that is separate from the apparatus case, wherein the ink tank is located within the case of the ink tank unit such that the ink tank unit and the ink tank are provided separate from and outside the main recording apparatus body;   an ink tube that is connected to the ink jet head and the ink tank and that supplies ink from the ink tank to the ink jet head, the ink tube being regulated by the first regulation portion;   a tube support member supported by the ink tank unit, the tube support member supports the ink tube, a second regulation portion located on a portion of the tube support member, the second regulation portion having with a bent-shape surface that makes contact with the ink tube and is formed so as to correspond to a predetermined angular range, wherein the first regulation portion and the second regulation portion both being disposed outside of the main recording apparatus body and regulating an extension direction of the ink tube within the predetermine angular range; and   a guide member provided in a carriage that houses the inkjet head, the guide member bends and holds the plurality of ink tubes along a guide portion in a moving direction of the carriage.   
     
     
       12. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a transport unit that includes a discharge roller, wherein the tube support member is disposed above the transport unit. 
     
     
       13. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the ink tube includes a U-shaped tube portion that is bent in an upward direction from the tube support member, and wherein the U-shaped tube portion is disposed at an opposite side of the ink tank. 
     
     
       14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a carriage unit, wherein the carriage unit includes the ink jet head, wherein a bent tube portion leads to a downstream side of the U-shaped tube portion and is bent toward the carriage unit in a horizontal plane. 
     
     
       15. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a guide unit,
 wherein the guide unit includes a guide member and a tube holding member,   wherein the guide member bends the bent tube portions to the horizontal plane and leads from the bent tube portions to the ink jet head,   wherein the tube holding member is provided on an upstream side of the guide member and holds the ink tube, and   wherein the guide member and the tube holding member are formed in the carriage unit.   
     
     
       16. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the guide member and the tube holding member are formed on a left side of the carriage unit and in a discharge direction of the carriage unit. 
     
     
       17. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a carriage unit, wherein the tube guide is disposed so as to overlap in a height direction with a side of the carriage unit.