# US 10,245,865 B2 · Recording apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,865 B2 - Document ID: US10245865B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/918,795 - Filed: 2018-03-12 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-27 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Shoma Kudo; Naomi Kimura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245865B2 ## CPC - B41J 29/17: Cleaning arrangements - B41J 2/17506: {Refilling of the cartridge} - B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure} - B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure} - B41J 2/17566: {Ink level or ink residue control} - B41J 29/02: Framework - B41J 29/13: Cases or covers - B41J 2002/17573: {using optical means for ink level indication} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract An object of the invention is, in a recording-apparatus liquid container having a viewing portion through which the ink level can be viewed. A printer 1 includes a carriage 11 having a recording head 10. The carriage 11 carries at least one ink tank 13 that stores the ink to be supplied to the recording head 10 and that has a filling port 15 through which the ink is poured from a refilling container 14. The ink tank 13 has a level checking portion 13a that is formed of a transparent material through which the liquid level can be viewed. The carriage 11 has a first viewing portion 16 through which the level checking portion 13a of the ink tank 13 can be viewed and a cleaning mechanism 30 that wipes off the ink deposited on the level checking portion 13a. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit that discharges liquid on a medium to perform recording; and a carriage having the recording unit and capable of moving in a width direction intersecting a medium transport direction, wherein the carriage carries at least one liquid container that stores the liquid to be supplied to the recording unit and that has a filling port through which the liquid is poured from a refilling container, the liquid container has a level checking portion that is formed of a transparent material through which the liquid level can be viewed, and the carriage has a first viewing portion through which the level checking portion of the liquid container can be viewed and a cleaning mechanism that wipes off the liquid deposited on the level checking portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning mechanism is a wiping portion that can move relative to the level checking portion while being in contact therewith. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a housing that accommodates the carriage therein and constitutes the exterior of the recording apparatus; and an opening/closing cover that opens and closes a portion of the housing and allows the level checking portion to be viewed through the first viewing portion when opened, wherein the wiping portion is configured to move while being in contact with the level checking portion in accordance with the opening and closing of the opening/closing cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the housing that accommodates the carriage therein and constitutes the exterior of the recording apparatus has a second viewing portion through which the level checking portion can be viewed through the first viewing portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when the carriage is located at a home position, at least a portion of the first viewing portion and at least a portion of the second viewing portion overlap each other, and the cleaning mechanism is provided on a home-position side of the carriage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a filling port cover that opens and closes the filling port in the liquid container, wherein the wiping portion is configured to move while being in contact with the level checking portion in accordance with the opening and closing of the filling port cover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a housing that accommodates the carriage therein and constitutes the exterior of the recording apparatus, wherein the wiping portion is fixed to the housing and is configured to move relative to the level checking portion while being in contact therewith in accordance with the movement of the carriage in the width direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the level checking portion is waterproofed. ### Claim 9 A recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit that discharges liquid on a medium to perform recording; and a carriage having the recording unit and capable of moving in a width direction intersecting a medium transport direction, wherein the carriage carries at least one liquid container that stores the liquid to be supplied to the recording unit and that has a filling port through which the liquid is poured from a refilling container, the liquid container has a level checking portion that is formed of a transparent material through which the liquid level can be viewed, and the carriage has a first viewing portion through which the level checking portion of the liquid container can be viewed and a liquid-deposition suppressing portion that suppresses deposition of the liquid on the level checking portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the liquid-deposition suppressing portion includes an upright portion that is provided upright in, at least, an area around the level checking portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the housing that accommodates the carriage therein and constitutes the exterior of the recording apparatus has a second viewing portion through which the level checking portion can be viewed through the first viewing portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second viewing portion is an opening or a cutaway portion provided in the housing.