TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a liquid supply apparatus configured to store liquid therein and an image recording apparatus including the liquid supply apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A known printer includes a liquid supply apparatus. The liquid supply apparatus includes a cartridge to store ink therein, a sub tank connected to a recording head, and a liquid channel and an air channel to connect the cartridge and the sub tank. The cartridge is disposed above the sub tank. The liquid channel and the air channel connect the cartridge and the sub tank in a vertical direction. The liquid channel and the air channel are both open to the lower surface of the cartridge and the upper surface of the sub tank.

In the sub tank, the liquid channel extends downward further than the air channel, and the opening of the liquid channel is located above the opening of the air channel. At the cartridge replacement time, the sub tank is free of ink. When a new cartridge is connected to the sub tank, ink in the cartridge flows down into the sub tank via the liquid channel. Air in the sub tank with the same volume of ink having flowed is brought into the cartridge via the air channel. Such air/liquid replacement continues until the opening of the air channel is closed, and thus ink is stored in the sub tank.

During recording, as ink is ejected from the recording head, ink in the sub tank decreases and the ink level in the sub tank lowers away from the opening of the air channel. As the opening of the air channel is released, ink is supplied from the cartridge to the sub tank. The ink level in the sub tank rises with supply of ink and reaches the opening of the air channel. The opening of the air channel is closed and supply of ink from the cartridge is stopped. To compensate the consumption of ink at the recording head, ink is supplied from the cartridge to the sub tank, and thus the ink level in the sub tank is maintained at the level of the opening of the air channel. The sub tank remains mounted in the printer, and an empty cartridge is replaced with an ink-filled cartridge, so that the printer can be used continuously.

SUMMARY

In the above liquid supply apparatus, the cartridge is connected to the sub tank in a vertical direction, and thus needs attaching to the sub tank in the vertical direction, i.e., from above. Considering workability, the cartridge may be attached from the front of the printer more conveniently than from above.

In response to the above issue, one or more aspects of the disclosure provide a liquid supply apparatus with an improved workability of cartridge attachment.

One or more aspects of the disclosure provide a liquid supply apparatus with an increased space for storing liquid relative to a space occupied by a cartridge and a tank.

According to one or more aspects of the disclosure, a liquid supply apparatus includes a tank and a cartridge attachable to and detachable from the tank along an attachment and detachment direction crossing a vertical direction. The cartridge includes a casing, a first storing chamber, and a communication port. The casing has a front surface and a rear surface in the attachment and detachment direction. The casing further has a surface adjacent to the front surface. The first storing chamber is located between the front surface, the surface adjacent to the front surface, and the rear surface of the casing. The first storing chamber is configured to store liquid therein. The communication port is formed in one of the front surface and the surface adjacent to the front surface. The communication port is open in an attachment direction parallel to the attachment and detachment direction to allow the first storing chamber to communicate with an outside of the cartridge. The tank includes a second storing chamber configured to store liquid therein, a liquid channel communicating with the second storing chamber, an air channel communicating with the second storing chamber, and an air communication port allowing the second storing chamber to communicate with an outside of the tank. The liquid channel has a first opening, a second opening, and a first extension portion. The first opening is formed at one end of the liquid channel and communicating with the second storing chamber. The second opening is formed at the other end, opposite to the one end, of the liquid channel and open to an outside. The first extension portion extends from the second opening in the attachment direction. The air channel has a third opening, a fourth opening, and a second extension portion. The third opening is formed at one end of the air channel and communicating with the second storing chamber. The fourth opening is formed at the other end, opposite to the one end, of the air channel and open to an outside. The second extension portion extends from the fourth opening in the attachment direction. When the cartridge is attached to the tank with the first storing chamber of the cartridge communicating with the second opening and the fourth opening of the tank, the first storing chamber of the cartridge has a portion located above the liquid channel and the air channel of the tank. The second storing chamber of the tank has a first area located above a lower end of the first storing chamber of the cartridge in the vertical direction and a second area continuous with the first area and located below the first storing chamber of the cartridge in the vertical direction. The third opening is located in the second area. The first storing portion of the cartridge stores an initial volume of liquid having a first liquid surface. The second storing portion of the tank stores liquid having a second liquid surface at the same level with the third opening. When viewed in the vertical direction, the first liquid surface partially overlaps the second liquid surface.

