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 that is housed in a carriage is provided. The apparatus includes an ink tank that is provided outside of the carriage and is capable of being refilled. The apparatus includes an ink tube that is connected to the ink jet head and the ink tank and that has various flow paths that are arranged in a horizontal direction on a downstream side in a medium conveying direction. The ink tube has curved portion that forms a turn shape upward from the ink tank toward the ink head when the carriage reciprocates.

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 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, 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 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 regulating the extension direction of the ink tube within a predetermined angular range, the bent-shape surface that make contact with the ink tube being formed so as to correspond to the predetermined angular range.   
     
     
       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 a carriage that houses the head unit;   an ink tank which is provided outside the carriage and which supplies the ink to the ink jet head and is capable of refill into the ink tank;   an ink tube connected from the ink tank to the inkjet head and having a plurality of flow paths arranged in a horizontal direction on a downstream side in a medium conveying direction,   wherein the ink tube has a curved portion that forms a turn shape upward from the ink tank side toward the inkjet head, the ink tube being controlled by a first portion located on the ink tank unit and a second portion located on a portion of a tube support member, the first and second portions controlling the extension direction of the ink tube within a predetermined angular range, a bent-shape surface of the second portion making contact with the ink tube being formed so as to correspond to the predetermined angular range,   wherein a tube guide that guides the ink tube is positioned on a front side of the carriage on a downstream side in the medium conveying direction, and extends in the horizontal direction,   wherein a guide member is provided on the carriage and bends and holds the ink tube along a guide portion, the ink tube extending in a moving direction of the carriage,   wherein the tube guide and the guide member are overlapping viewed from the vertical direction.   
     
     
       12. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 11,
 wherein a discharge frame for supporting a roller is provided on a downstream side of the carriage in the transport direction of the medium, and   wherein the curved portion is positioned above the discharge frame.   
     
     
       13. The inkjet recording according to claim 12, wherein a tube guide that guides the tube is positioned on the front side of the carriage and above the discharge frame. 
     
     
       14. The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the tube guide has a bottom plate, and a standing portion that stands from the bottom plate. 
     
     
       15. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a guide member is provided in the carriage and bends and holds the ink tube along a guide portion, the ink tube extending in a moving direction of the carriage, and
 wherein the guide member extends in a horizontal direction on a discharge frame side of the carriage.   
     
     
       16. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the ink tank is positioned on a side opposite to the curved portion. 
     
     
       17. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a protective plate for protecting the ink tube is formed on the ink tube. 
     
     
       18. 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 a carriage that houses the head unit;   an ink tank which is provided outside the carriage and which supplies the ink to the ink jet head and is capable of refill into the ink tank; and   an ink tube which connects from the ink tank to the head unit,   wherein the ink tank is provided with a connecting portion to which one end side of the ink tube is connected and a shift prevention member for preventing disengagement of the ink tube from the connecting portion,   wherein the shift prevention member is composed of two parts, with one of the two parts having a curve-shaped surface formed so as to correspond to a predetermined angular range within which the shift prevention member controls movement of the ink tube, and   wherein the ink tube is supported by the two parts.