Liquid supplying device having tank and cartridge attachable thereto

Abstract

A liquid supplying device includes a tank and a cartridge. The cartridge is configured to be detachably attached to the tank in an attachment-detachment direction crossing a vertical direction. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The tank includes a second storage chamber, a liquid passage, and a gas passage. The liquid passage has a first end, a second end, and a first extending portion. The second end is formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere. The first extending portion extends from the second opening in the attachment-detachment direction. The gas passage has a third end, a fourth end, and a second extending portion. The fourth end is formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere. The second extending portion extends from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction. The second opening is at a position different from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid supplying device comprising:
 a tank; and   a cartridge configured to be attached to and detached from the tank in an attachment-detachment direction crossing a vertical direction, the cartridge comprising a first storage chamber configured to store liquid;   the tank comprising:
 a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid; 
 a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, the liquid passage having a first end connected to the second storage chamber and formed with a first opening, a second end opposite to the first end and formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere, and a first extending portion extending from the second opening in the attachment-detachment direction; 
 a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber, the gas passage having a third end connected to the second storage chamber and formed with a third opening, a fourth end opposite to the third end and formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere, and a second extending portion extending from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction; and 
 an air communication portion having an air communication opening allowing the second storage chamber to communicate with the atmosphere; 
   wherein the second opening is at a position different from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction, and   wherein, in an attachment state where the first storage chamber is in communication with both the second opening and the fourth opening, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the liquid passage and the gas passage.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second extending portion is positioned above the first extending portion. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second opening is closer to the first opening than the fourth opening is to the first opening in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the second extending portion in the attachment-detachment direction is longer than a length of the first extending portion in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second opening is farther from the first opening than the fourth opening is from the first opening in the attachment-detachment direction, and the second opening is brought into communication with the first storage chamber earlier than the fourth opening is brought into communication with the first storage chamber when the cartridge is attached to the tank. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid passage further has a first vertical portion extending upward from the first opening in a cross direction crossing the attachment-detachment direction; and
 wherein the gas passage further has a second vertical portion extending upward from the third opening in the cross direction.   
     
     
         7 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further has a communicating opening in communication with the first storage chamber and open in the attachment-detachment direction; and
 wherein the tank has a tubular joint including the first extending portion and the second extending portion, the tubular joint configured to be connected to the communicating opening of the cartridge in the attachment state.   
     
     
         8 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 1 , wherein a capacity of the first storage chamber is greater than a capacity of the second storage chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment-detachment direction is parallel with a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         10 . An image recording apparatus comprising:
 a liquid supplying device comprising:
 a tank; and 
 a cartridge configured to be attached to and detached from the tank in an attachment-detachment direction crossing a vertical direction, the cartridge comprising a first storage chamber configured to store liquid; 
   the tank comprising:
 a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid; 
 a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, the liquid passage having a first end connected to the second storage chamber and formed with a first opening, a second end opposite to the first end and formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere, and a first extending portion extending from the second opening in the attachment-detachment direction; 
 a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber, the gas passage having a third end connected to the second storage chamber and formed with a third opening, a fourth end opposite to the third end and formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere, and a second extending portion extending from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction; and 
 an air communication portion having an air communication opening allowing the second storage chamber to communicate with the atmosphere; 
   wherein, the second opening is positioned at a location different from a location of the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction, and   wherein, in an attachment state where the first storage chamber is in communication with both the second opening and the fourth opening, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the liquid passage and the gas passage.   
     
     
         11 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second extending portion is positioned above the first extending portion. 
     
     
         12 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second opening is closer to the first opening than the fourth opening is to the first opening in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
         13 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein a length of the second extending portion in the attachment-detachment direction is longer than a length of the first extending portion in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
         14 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second opening is farther from the first opening than the fourth opening is from the first opening in the attachment-detachment direction, and the second opening is brought into communication with the first storage chamber earlier than the fourth opening is brought into communication with the first storage chamber when the cartridge is attached to the tank. 
     
     
         15 . A liquid supplying device comprising a tank, to which a cartridge is detachably attached in an attachment-detachment direction crossing a vertical direction, the cartridge comprising a first storage chamber configured to store liquid;
 the tank comprising:
 a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid; 
 a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, the liquid passage having a first end connected to the second storage chamber and formed with a first opening, a second end opposite to the first end and formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere, and a first extending portion extending from the second opening in the attachment-detachment direction; 
 a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber, the gas passage having a third end connected to the second storage chamber and formed with a third opening, a fourth end opposite to the third end and formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere, and a second extending portion extending from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction; and 
 an air communication portion having an air communication opening allowing the second storage chamber to communicate with the atmosphere; 
   wherein the second opening is at a position different from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction, and   wherein, in an attachment state where both the second opening and the fourth opening of the tank are in communication with the first storage chamber of the cartridge, the liquid passage and the gas passage are positioned below a portion of the first storage chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 15 , wherein the second extending portion is positioned above the first extending portion. 
     
     
         17 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 15 , wherein the second opening is closer to the first opening than the fourth opening is to the first opening in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 15 , wherein a length of the second extending portion in the attachment-detachment direction is longer than a length of the first extending portion in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid supplying device according to  claim 15 , wherein the second opening is farther from the first opening than the fourth opening is from the first opening in the attachment-detachment direction, and the second opening is brought into communication with the first storage chamber earlier than the fourth opening is brought into communication with the first storage chamber when the cartridge is attached to the tank. 
     
     
       20. A tank configured to detachably attach to a cartridge having a first storage chamber;
 the tank comprising:
 a second storage chamber; 
 a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, the liquid passage having a first end connected to the second storage chamber and formed with a first opening a second end opposite to the first end and formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere, and a first extending portion extending from the second opening 
 a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber, the gas passage having a third end connected to the second storage chamber and formed with a third opening a fourth end opposite to the third end and formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere, and a second extending portion extending from the fourth opening and 
 an air communication portion having an air communication opening allowing the second storage chamber to communicate with the atmosphere; 
   wherein the second opening is at a position different from the fourth opening in an attachment-detachment direction of the cartridge, the attachment-detachment direction crossing a vertical direction, and   wherein, in an attachment state where both the second opening and the fourth opening of the tank are in communication with the first storage chamber of the cartridge, the liquid passage and the gas passage are positioned below a portion of the first storage chamber.   
     
     
       21. The tank according to  claim 20 , wherein the second extending portion is positioned above the first extending portion. 
     
     
       22. The tank according to  claim 20 , wherein the second opening is closer to the first opening than the fourth opening is to the first opening in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
       23. The tank according to  claim 20 , wherein a length of the second extending portion in the attachment-detachment direction is longer than a length of the first extending portion in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
       24. The tank according to  claim 20 , wherein the second opening is farther from the first opening than the fourth opening is from the first opening in the attachment-detachment direction. 
     
     
       25. The tank according to  claim 20 , wherein the liquid passage further has a first vertical portion extending upward from the first opening in a cross direction crossing the attachment-detachment direction; and
 wherein the gas passage further has a second vertical portion extending upward from the third opening in the cross direction.   
     
     
       26. The tank according to  claim 20 , wherein the first extending portion extends from the second opening in a horizontal direction, and the second extending portion extends from the fourth opening in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
       27. The tank according to  claim 20 , further comprising a tubular joint including the first extending portion and the second extending portion. 
     
     
       28. A tank comprising:
 a storage chamber configured to store liquid;   a liquid passage in communication with the storage chamber, the liquid passage having a first end connected to the storage chamber and formed with a first opening a second end opposite to the first end and formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere, and a first extending portion extending from the second opening in a prescribed direction crossing a vertical direction;   a gas passage in communication with the storage chamber, the gas passage having a third end connected to the storage chamber and formed with a third opening a fourth end opposite to the third end and formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere, and a second extending portion extending from the fourth opening in the prescribed direction; and   an air communication portion having an air communication opening allowing the storage chamber to communicate with the atmosphere;   wherein the second opening is at a position different from the fourth opening in the prescribed direction, and   wherein the storage chamber is positioned below both of the first extending portion and the second extending portion.   
     
     
       29. The tank according to  claim 28 , wherein the second extending portion is positioned above the first extending portion. 
     
     
       30. The tank according to  claim 28 , wherein the second opening is closer to the first opening than the fourth opening is to the first opening in the prescribed direction. 
     
     
       31. The tank according to  claim 28 , wherein a length of the second extending portion in the prescribed direction is longer than a length of the first extending portion in the prescribed direction. 
     
     
       32. The tank according to  claim 28 , wherein the second opening is farther from the first opening than the fourth opening is from the first opening in the prescribed direction. 
     
     
       33. The tank according to  claim 28 , wherein the liquid passage further has a first vertical portion extending upward from the first opening in a cross direction crossing the prescribed direction; and
 wherein the gas passage further has a second vertical portion extending upward from the third opening in the cross direction.   
     
     
       34. The tank according to  claim 28 , wherein the prescribed direction is parallel with a horizontal direction. 
     
     
       35. The tank according to  claim 28 , further comprising a tubular joint including the first extending portion and the second extending portion.