CN101132925B - Ink cartridge unit - Google Patents
Ink cartridge unit Download PDFInfo
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- CN101132925B CN101132925B CN2006800065512A CN200680006551A CN101132925B CN 101132925 B CN101132925 B CN 101132925B CN 2006800065512 A CN2006800065512 A CN 2006800065512A CN 200680006551 A CN200680006551 A CN 200680006551A CN 101132925 B CN101132925 B CN 101132925B
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Abstract
A unit of ink cartridges including at least three types of ink cartridges having different sizes is provided. Each ink cartridge has a first casing member and a second casing member. A first ink cartridge is larger in size than the second ink cartridge, and the second ink cartridge is larger in size than the third ink cartridge. The first casing member of the second ink cartridge is the same as the first casing member of the first ink cartridge, and the second casing member of the second ink cartridge is the same as the second casing member of the third ink cartridge.
Description
Technical field
The present invention relates to ink cartridge unit, more specifically to such ink cartridge unit, they have reduced number of components, and have reduced the cost of making the print cartridge with different external dimensions.
Background technology
Traditionally, the print cartridge that is provided with the housing with ink storage chamber of storing ink therein is known.The ink storage chamber of print cartridge can be stored color inks for example yellow ink, navy blue ink or the magenta ink that is used to carry out colour print.The ink storage chamber can be stored and be used to carry out the black ink that black and white is printed.Three independent print cartridges can be provided with respectively and be used for storing yellow ink, navy blue ink and magenta ink.Single print cartridge can comprise three ink storage chambers that are used for storing respectively a main body yellow ink, navy blue ink and magenta ink.The print cartridge that is used for black ink can comprise the ink storage chamber that capacity is identical with the capacity of the print cartridge that is used for yellow, navy blue and magenta ink, can comprise that perhaps capacity is the ink storage chamber of capacity twice that is used for the print cartridge of yellow, navy blue and magenta ink.In other words, print cartridge stores the inks of different amounts according to the quantity of ink that is consumed at the ink storage chamber that is used for different colours, and print cartridge has different external dimensions according to the different size of ink storage chamber.Open the Japanese patent gazette spy and to have disclosed this print cartridge among the flat 07-108688.
In addition, in recent years, in order to improve print quality, except being used to store the print cartridge of yellow ink, navy blue ink and magenta ink, proposed to be used to store for example print cartridge of standard navy blue ink, light blue ink, standard items red ink and light magenta ink of multiple color ink.These print cartridges have different quantity of ink in the ink storage chamber and the different external dimensions of being stored in according to the quantity of ink that is consumed.Be used in combination a plurality of print cartridges according to employed ink color quantity and the quantity of ink that is consumed.Open the Japanese patent gazette spy and to have disclosed this print cartridge among the flat 11-58792.
Summary of the invention
Opening flat 07-108688 and Japanese patent gazette spy the Japanese patent gazette spy opens the print cartridge disclosed in the flat 11-58792 and is formed by resin material usually.These print cartridges produce by matched-mold forming.But, when making print cartridge, must be molded at least two parts, and these molding parts are interconnected to make print cartridge, because print cartridge has the inner space that is used to form the ink storage chamber by matched-mold forming.Therefore, increase along with employed ink color quantity increases with the print cartridge quantity with different external dimensions, the number of components that is molded into by matched-mold forming increases.This causes manufacturing cost to increase.
The object of the present invention is to provide ink cartridge unit and print cartridge, they have reduced the number of components of making the print cartridge with different external dimensions.
This purpose solves by ink cartridge unit according to claim 1 and print cartridge according to claim 14.Further improve in the dependent claims and specify.
First has different height with the 3rd print cartridge on the short transverse of wall extension.In addition, because second print cartridge comprises first housing member of first print cartridge that is connected with second housing member of the 3rd print cartridge, so second print cartridge has the external dimensions different with the external dimensions of the first and the 3rd print cartridge.Four housing members (wherein two housings that form first print cartridges, and two other forms the housing of the 3rd print cartridge) can provide three kinds of different print cartridges, and every kind of print cartridge in these print cartridges is of different sizes on the short transverse of wall extension.Therefore, can produce three kinds of different print cartridges that have different external dimensions respectively by enough four housing members.Compare with three kinds of different print cartridges (needing to be molded into six kinds of housing members altogether) that each print cartridge all uses two special molded housing members to make, can reduce number of components, and also reduce cost.
Can be formed for from the path of ink storage chamber by making first of first housing member and second housing member cut partly to be connected with each other to outside ink supply.Therefore, be used for by connecting that housing member being formed simply from the path of ink storage chamber to outside ink supply.In addition, be formed on first in each housing member of first print cartridge cut part have with each housing member that is formed on the 3rd print cartridge in first cut-away divide identical shape.Therefore, when making second print cartridge, ink via forms by connecting the pair of shells member simply.
The height of the wall extension of first housing member of first print cartridge can be identical with the height of the wall extension of second housing member of first print cartridge, and the height of the wall extension of first housing member of the 3rd print cartridge can be identical with the height of the wall extension of second housing member of the 3rd print cartridge.Therefore, the most of mould that is used for the molded shell member can form jointly, thereby can reduce the cost that forms these moulds.
Can be different from difference between the height at the wall extension of second housing member of the height of the wall extension of second housing member of first print cartridge and the 3rd print cartridge in the difference between the height of the wall extension of first housing member of the height of the wall extension of first housing member of first print cartridge and the 3rd print cartridge.Therefore, can produce print cartridge by connecting four housing members with four different external dimensions.When making multiple print cartridge, can further reduce cost.
First housing member of first print cartridge can have short transverse along wall extension from the extended rib of board member, and the height of its center rib is corresponding to the difference between the height of the wall extension of first housing member of the height of the wall extension of first housing member of first print cartridge and the 3rd print cartridge.Therefore, first has identical interior space dimension with the 3rd print cartridge, but has different external dimensions.In other words, can produce the print cartridge that has different external dimensions and have same ink storage chamber capacity.Suppose that black ink is a pigmented inks,, then need to eject a large amount of inks and recover color inks from printhead in case the dye-based color inks mixes with black ink in ink jet recording device.Preferably, the print cartridge that is used for black ink forms can distinguished with other print cartridge that is used for color inks in shape, installs with the mistake that prevents print cartridge.On the other hand, when mainly carrying out colour print, need not to store the print cartridge of a large amount of black inks.According to the present invention, can produce ink storage chamber with same capability and print cartridge with different external dimensions.Therefore, the black ink water yield that had both prevented to be stored in the ink storage chamber is excessive, and the print cartridge that is used in black ink again is easy to distinguish with other print cartridge.
Can form confining wall with each housing member, and this confining wall can form spatial accommodation, this spatial accommodation is used to hold and is used for opening and closing the valve system that runs through opening.Therefore, the spatial accommodation that is used to hold valve system can form by connecting housing member simply.
In above-mentioned print cartridge, be used to form the part that cuts that runs through opening and for each housing member, form identical shape, and the height of the wall extension of aspect ratio second housing member of the wall extension of first housing member is big.Because it is similar to cut the shape of part, so it is also similar to be used for the shape of mould of molded each housing member.This has reduced the cost that is used to design these moulds.Because the height of wall extension is different for first housing member and second housing member, so can produce print cartridge by first housing member of the big print cartridge of combination and second housing member of less print cartridge, thereby for this print cartridge, need not other mould.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of multi-function device of the present invention is shown.
Fig. 2 is the perspective view of refill unit.
Fig. 3 is a side view, and a wherein state of having opened of refill unit is shown.
Fig. 4 is a cutaway view, and the refill unit among the Fig. 2 that cuts open along the IV-IV line is shown.
Fig. 5 is a cutaway view, and the refill unit among the Fig. 2 that cuts open along the V-V line is shown.
Fig. 6 is a decomposition diagram, and the door of refill unit is shown.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of colour ink box is shown.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view, and the details of colour ink box is shown.
Fig. 9 is the view that protector is shown, and wherein (a) is the top plane view of protector from Fig. 8 that the IXa visual angle is seen, and (b) is the cutaway view of the protector among the Fig. 9 (a) that cuts open along the IXb-IXb line.
Figure 10 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of black print cartridge is shown.
Figure 11 is a perspective view, and the details of black print cartridge is shown.
Figure 12 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of big capacity black print cartridge is shown.
Figure 13 is a perspective view, and the details of big capacity black print cartridge is shown.
Figure 14 is the view that the accumulator element is shown, and wherein (a) is the front view of accumulator element, and (b) is the side view of accumulator element.
Figure 15 illustrates the view that service duct forms part, wherein (a) is for illustrating the view (side view of frame part) that service duct forms the summary of part, (b) be cutaway view, the service duct that illustrates among the Figure 15 (a) that cuts open along the XVb-XVb line forms part, (c) for the view of the state that quantity of ink wherein reduced is shown, and (d) for the view that ink is used up state is shown.
Figure 16 illustrates the view that plasmas channel forms part, wherein (a) is perspective view, the summary that plasmas channel forms part is shown, (b) for the view that plasmas channel in the Figure 16 (a) at arrow XVIb visual angle forms part is shown, and (c) for the view that plasmas channel in the Figure 16 (a) at arrow XVIc visual angle forms part is shown.
Figure 17 illustrates the view that the injection channel forms part, and wherein (a) for illustrating the view that the injection channel forms the summary of part, and (b) be that injection channel among Figure 17 (a) forms partly the cutaway view along the XVIIb-XVIIb line.
Figure 18 illustrates near the view in test section, wherein (a) is for illustrating near the view of the summary the test section, (b) be test section among Figure 18 (a) along the cutaway view of XVIIIb-XVIIIb line, and (c) be that test section among Figure 18 (a) is along the cutaway view of XVIIIc-XVIIIc line.
Figure 19 is the view that sensor arm is shown, and wherein (a) is the front view of sensor, and (b) for the view of the sensor arm among the Figure 19 (a) that sees along arrow XIXb visual angle is shown.
Figure 20 is the view that a part of accumulator element is shown, and wherein (a) for illustrating the view of side of accumulator element, (b) is the view of a side of front portion that the accumulator element is shown, and (c) is the cutaway view of Figure 20 (a) along the XXc-XXc line.
Figure 21 is the view that the details of accumulator element is shown.
Figure 22 is the exploded view of ink-supplying mechanism and atmosphere admission gear, and wherein (a) is the exploded view of ink-supplying mechanism, and (b) is the exploded view of atmosphere admission gear.
Figure 23 is the view that the supply block is shown, wherein (a) is for illustrating the view of the side of supplying block, (b) be the view of side that the supply block among the Figure 23 (a) that sees along arrow XXIIIb visual angle is shown, (c) for the view on the plane of supplying block is shown, (d) be the view of bottom surface that supply block is shown, and (e) be that supply among Figure 23 (c) is blocked a shot along the cutaway view of XXIIIe-XXIIIe line.
Figure 24 is the view that the supply joint is shown, wherein (a) is for illustrating the view of the side of supplying joint, (b), (c) be the view of bottom surface that the supply joint is shown, and (d) be that supply joint among Figure 24 (b) is along the cutaway view of XXIVd-XXIVd line for the view on plane of supply joint is shown.
Figure 25 is the view that supply valve is shown, wherein (a) is the view that the side of supply valve is shown, (b) be the view of side that the supply valve among the Figure 25 (a) that sees along arrow XXVb visual angle is shown, (c) be the view that the plane of supply valve is shown, (d), and (e) be that supply valve among Figure 25 (c) is along the cutaway view of XXVe-XXVe line for the view of bottom surface of supply valve is shown.
Figure 26 is the view that the first supply spring is shown, wherein (a) is the view that the side of the first supply spring is shown, (b) be the view that the plane of the first supply spring is shown, (c) be the view that the bottom surface of the first supply spring is shown, and (d) be the cutaway view of the supply of first among Figure 26 (b) spring along the XXVId-XXVId line.
Figure 27 is the view that the supply slide block is shown, wherein (a) is for illustrating the view of the side of supplying slide block, (b) for the view of the supply slide block side among the Figure 27 (a) that sees along arrow XXVIIb visual angle is shown, (c) for the view on the plane of supplying slide block is shown, (d), and (e) be that supply slide block among Figure 27 (c) is along the cutaway view of XXVIIe-XXVIIe line for the view of bottom surface of supply slide block is shown.
Figure 28 is the view that valve seat is shown, wherein (a) is the view that the side of valve seat is shown, (b), (c) be the view of bottom surface that valve seat is shown, and (d) be that valve seat among Figure 28 (b) is along the cutaway view of XXVIIId-XXVIIId line for the view on plane of valve seat is shown.
Figure 29 is the view that check-valves is shown, wherein (a) is the view that the side of check-valves is shown, (b), (c) be the view of bottom surface that check-valves is shown, and (d) be that check-valves among Figure 29 (a) is along the cutaway view of XXIXd-XXIXd line for the view on plane of check-valves is shown.
Figure 30 is the view that lid is shown, and wherein (a) for illustrating the view of side of lid, (b) is the view on plane that lid is shown, (c) is the view of bottom surface that lid is shown, and (d) is that lid among Figure 30 (b) is along the cutaway view of XXXd-XXXd line.
Figure 31 is the view that the atmosphere block is shown, wherein (a) is the view that the side of atmosphere block is shown, (b) be the view of side that the atmosphere block among the Figure 31 (a) that sees along arrow XXXIb visual angle is shown, (c) be the view that the plane of atmosphere block is shown, (d) be the view of bottom surface that atmosphere block is shown, and (e) be that atmosphere among Figure 31 (c) is blocked a shot along the cutaway view of XXXIe-XXXIe line.
Figure 32 is the view that the atmosphere joint is shown, wherein (a) is the view that the side of atmosphere joint is shown, (b) be the view that the plane of atmosphere joint is shown, (c), and (d) be that atmosphere joint among Figure 32 (b) is along the cutaway view of XXXIId-XXXIId line for the view of bottom surface of atmosphere joint is shown.
Figure 33 is the view that atmos-valve is shown, and wherein (a) for illustrating the view of side of atmos-valve, and (b) is the view of bottom surface that atmos-valve is shown.
Figure 34 is a partial sectional view, illustrates wherein ink-supplying mechanism and atmosphere admission gear are assembled to state in ink donor unit and the atmosphere air inlet unit.
Figure 35 is the view that is illustrated in welding film manufacture process before.
Figure 36 is the view that the welding process of film is shown, and wherein (a) for to illustrate the view that film is welded to the face of weld on the frame part, and (b) for the view that film is welded to the welding process on the frame part is shown.
Figure 37 is the view that is illustrated in the manufacture process of carrying out after the film welding, wherein (a) is for illustrating the view that ink-supplying mechanism and atmosphere admission gear is connected to the connection procedure on the frame part, (b) be the view that decompression process is shown, and (c) for the view of ink injection process is shown.
Figure 38 is the view that the connection procedure of housing is shown, and wherein (a) for to illustrate the view that clips the process of frame part by housing, and (b) is the view of welding process that welded case is shown.
Figure 39 is the view that is illustrated in the manufacture process of carrying out before the print cartridge product, and wherein (a) connects the view of protecting the process of blocking a shot for illustrating, and (b) for the view of the process of using packaging unit packing print cartridge is shown.
Figure 40 is the view that the method on the multi-function device that print cartridge is connected to is shown.
Figure 41 illustrates the view that wherein print cartridge is connected the state on the multi-function device.
Figure 42 be illustrate with the accumulator chamber in the view of operation of residual ink amount corresponding sensor arm, wherein (a) illustrates the state that excess ink is wherein arranged, and (b) state that does not wherein have excess ink is shown.
Figure 43 is for diagrammatically illustrating the view of the operating principle of sensor arm.
Figure 44 is a cutaway view, illustrates wherein print cartridge is connected state on the multi-function device 1 with misorientation.
Figure 45 is the view that the method for from ink-jet recording apparatus print cartridge being removed is shown.
Figure 46 illustrates the front perspective view of print cartridge and the view of state that it is removed from multi-function device.
Figure 47 illustrates to be used for reducing the view of the lip-deep structure of detection that ink is attached to the test section of print cartridge, wherein (a) illustrates the state of wherein print cartridge having been removed from refill unit, (b) be formed at the view on the surface on the print cartridge for the test section is shown by it, and (c) be the perspective view of print cartridge.
Figure 48 is the view that the front of housing is shown, and wherein (a) for can depositing the front view of housing of big capacity black print cartridge or black print cartridge and colour ink box, and (b) is the front view of the housing that can deposit black print cartridge and colour ink box.
Figure 49 is a cutaway view, the summary of housing cross section is shown, and wherein (a) is cutaway view, and the summary of the housing among the Figure 48 (a) that cuts open along the XXXXIXa-XXXXIXa line is shown, and be cutaway view (b), the summary of the housing among the Figure 48 (b) that cuts open along the XXXXIXb-XXXXIXb line is shown.
Figure 50 is a cutaway view, and the state that wherein each print cartridge has been connected in the housing is shown.
Figure 51 is for diagrammatically illustrating the view of the combination of housing member.
Figure 52 illustrates according to the print cartridge of second embodiment and the view of refill unit, wherein (a) for illustrating the view according to the side of the print cartridge of second embodiment, and (b) for the view that wherein print cartridge is connected the cutaway view of the state in the refill unit is shown.
Figure 53 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance according to the print cartridge of third and fourth embodiment is shown, and wherein (a) is perspective view, and the outward appearance according to the print cartridge of the 3rd embodiment is shown, and (b) is perspective view, and the outward appearance according to the print cartridge of the 4th embodiment is shown.
Figure 54 is a perspective view, and the print cartridge according to the 5th embodiment is shown.
Figure 55 is a cutaway view, and the state that wherein will be connected according to the print cartridge of the 5th embodiment in the refill unit is shown.
Figure 56 is a cutaway view, and the state that wherein will be connected according to the print cartridge of the 6th embodiment in the refill unit is shown.
Figure 57 is a block diagram, and the summary according to the electronic structure of the multi-function device of the 6th embodiment is shown.
Figure 58 is a flow chart, the print cartridge of being carried out by CPU is shown connects testing process.
Figure 59 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance according to the print cartridge of the 7th and the 8th embodiment is shown, and wherein (a) is perspective view, and the outward appearance according to the print cartridge of the 7th embodiment is shown, and (b) is perspective view, and the outward appearance according to the print cartridge of the 8th embodiment is shown.
Figure 60 illustrates according to the print cartridge of the 9th embodiment and the view of refill unit.
Figure 61 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance according to the print cartridge of the tenth embodiment is shown.
Figure 62 is a decomposition diagram, and the print cartridge according to the tenth embodiment is shown.
Figure 63 is the view that the replacement process that is used for the accumulator unit is shown.
Figure 64 is the view that illustrates according to the accumulator unit of the 11 embodiment.
Figure 65 is the view of improvement example that the combination of housing member is shown.
Figure 66 is the view of improvement example that the combination of housing member is shown.
Figure 67 is the view of improvement example that the combination of housing member is shown.
The specific embodiment
With reference to these accompanying drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below.Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of the multi-function device 1 that print cartridge 14 of the present invention is installed is shown.
Printer section 11 is arranged on the bottom of multi-function device 1, and scanner part 12 is arranged on the top of this printer section 11.Multi-function device 1 is for wherein being set to printer section 11 and scanner part 12 MFD (multi-function device) of a unit, and multi-function device 1 has various functions for example printer function, scanner functions, copy function and facsimile function.
In multi-function device 1, printer section 11 is constituted as ink-jet recording apparatus, and the place, front surface bottom at multi-function device 1 is equipped with refill unit 13, this refill unit 13 storing the ink that offers the record head (not shown in this Figure) that is used for discharging ink droplet in advance.Refill unit 13 has compact design, and is constituted as and makes that print cartridge 14 can be easy to change, and this point will describe in detail below.
Scanner part 12 is equipped with as the file platform 15 of FBS (flat bed scanner) and is arranged on file lid 16 on the top (top of Fig. 1) of this document platform 15.File lid 16 is equipped with autofile feeder (ADF: autofile feeder; Be called " ADF " below) 17, and file lid 16 uses hinges to be connected on the rear side (rear side of Fig. 1) of file platform 15, thus file lid 16 can freely open and close.Therefore, file lid 16 opens and closes by rotating along the direction of arrow A with respect to file platform 15.In this embodiment, file platform 15 constitutes the part of the shell of multi-function device 1, and file lid 16 constitutes the part of the end face of multi-function device 1.
File platform 15 is equipped with contact glass plate (not shown in this Figure) between file platform and file lid 16, and file platform 15 is equipped with image fetching unit (not shown in this Figure) in inside.File is placed between file lid 16 and the contact glass plate, and image fetching unit is by moving and from the file reading images from the bottom of contact glass plate along contact glass plate.
File lid 16 is equipped with ADF17, and this ADF17 is constituted as and makes that ADF17 can will be up to the file of specified quantity continuously on the row's of supplying to paper disc 19 from file reel 18.And ADF17 has known structure, so its detailed description will be omitted.In this embodiment, also can adopt the structure that is not equipped with ADF17.In this structure, the user opens file lid 16, and file is placed on the contact glass plate.
Printer section 11 is equipped with the have ink jet print head image recording section of (not shown in this Figure), and this is constituted as ink-jet recording apparatus.Printer section 11 upward and on the bottom side (bottom side of Fig. 1) of multi-function device 1 is equipped with refill unit 13 in the front side (front side of Fig. 1) of multi-function device 1.In other words, refill unit 13 is built on the front surface 1a side and bottom surface 1b side of multi-function device 1.In this embodiment, refill unit 13 is constituted as and makes it can accommodate and keep four print cartridges 14, and stores black, yellow, magenta and navy blue ink in each print cartridge 14 of these print cartridges 14.The ink that will be stored in every kind of color in the print cartridge 14 by ink barrel 53 (referring to Fig. 5) offers record head.
And, on the front surface (front portion of Fig. 1) of refill unit 13, being provided with open-close lid 20, this open-close lid 20 is used for opening and closing the opening 21 that the end (end on the preceding right side among Fig. 1) that is formed on front surface 1a is located.Open-close lid 20 is constituted as and makes it to make position that refill unit 13 exposes by opening 21 and close opening 21 and accommodate between the position of refill unit 13 and freely rotate by open-close lid 20 being folded into (the anterior direction among Fig. 1) on the front portion at it.
Central authorities at the front surface 1a of multi-function device 1 are formed with opening 22, and paper feed tray (not shown in this Figure) is arranged in these opening 22 inside (at Fig. 1, the state that paper feed tray is thrown off being shown).After the recording paper that sends from paper feed tray was sent to rear side, this recording paper was sent to the top and finally supplies to the front side, and records an image on the recording paper when supplying with recording paper.Then recording paper is discharged sheet feeding/discharge dish (not shown in this Figure), this row's paper disc is set in place on the top of the paper feed tray of opening 22 inside.
Guidance panel 30 is connected on the end face (top of the front among Fig. 1) of the front surface side of multi-function device 1.This guidance panel 30 is the operation part of the operation that is used to print machine part 11 and scanner part 12, and guidance panel 30 is equipped with various operated key 31-34 and LCD part 35.Be arranged on the guidance panel 30 various operated key 31-34 be used for controlling control device (or the control circuit board of the control assembly of major function by flat cable not shown in this Figure; Not shown in this Figure) connect.Except handling the order from various operated key 31-34, control device is also handled the order from above-mentioned receiver 2, and the operation of control multi-function device 1.In addition, in will installing personal computer for example and situation that multi-function device 1 is connected, except the instruction from guidance panel 30, control device is also controlled the operation of multi-function device 1 according to the instruction of sending from this personal computer.
Go up outfit socket portion 23 in the bottom (bottom of Fig. 1) of guidance panel 30, can load for example various little storage cards of recording medium by this socket portion 23.Image data storage on little storage card, and will be presented on the LCD part 35 from the view data (perhaps relevant with view data information) that little storage card is read.This device is constituted as and makes the arbitrary image that can will be presented on the LCD 35 by the operation of guidance panel 30 then be recorded on the recording paper.
Next, describe with reference to Fig. 2-6 pair refill unit 13.Fig. 2 is the perspective view of refill unit 13.Fig. 3 is the side view of door 41 states of having opened of wherein refill unit 13.Fig. 4 is the cutaway view of refill unit 13 by the IV-IV line of Fig. 2, and the state that print cartridge 14 is installed is shown.Fig. 5 is the cutaway view of refill unit 13 by the V-V line of Fig. 2, and the state that print cartridge 14 is installed is shown.Fig. 6 is the decomposition diagram of the door 41 of refill unit 13.Fig. 3 and 4 illustrates the state of wherein having removed pin formation member 48.
As shown in Figure 2, the door 41 that refill unit 13 mainly is equipped with housing 40 and is connected with this housing 40 is inserted into housing 40 neutralizations with print cartridge 14 and removes from housing 40.Housing 40 forms roughly cuboid on the whole, and as shown in Figure 4, separates and be formed for accommodating and keeping the accommodating chamber 50 (accommodating part) of print cartridge 14 in inside.In this embodiment, housing 40 has four accommodating chamber 50, and four print cartridges 14 are inserted into each accommodating chamber 50 neutralizations from each accommodating chamber 50 dismountings.The inner wall surface shape of each accommodating chamber 50 forms and makes it mark off the space corresponding with the profile of print cartridge 14, and when being installed in each print cartridge 14 in the housing 40, print cartridge 14 by non-loosening remain on housing 40 inside.
As shown in Figure 2, housing 40 is equipped with base plate 42, be arranged on side plate 43 (side plate 43 that is positioned on the left side, back is not shown in Fig. 2) on the left and right sides of this base plate 42 and the top plate portion 44 that is configured to stride across the space between each side plate 43, and the inside of accommodating chamber 50 also is equipped with the partition wall portions 47 (referring to Fig. 4) that is used to separate each accommodating chamber 50.The quantity of these partition wall portions 47 of being arranged is by the quantity decision of the print cartridge 14 of accommodating in the housing 40, and the position that they are arranged is by the thickness decision of print cartridge 14 along width.As shown in Figure 4, partition wall 47 is made the rib shapes that is provided with from the bottom of the top of base plate 42 and top plate portion 44.In addition, partition wall portions 47 needn't be separated each accommodating chamber 50 fully, so they can be Any shape, as long as this shape is outstanding to the inside and mark off space between adjacent accommodating chamber 50 from least one of base plate 42 or top plate portion 44.
And, as shown in Figure 2, on the rear side (the back right side of Fig. 2) of housing 40, be formed with the notch portion 40a (opening portion) of opening, and pin formation member 48 is coupled among this notch portion 40a.According to the quantity of the print cartridge 14 in the accommodating chamber 50 that is housed in housing 40, form to form on the member 48 at pin and be used for pin 49 (extraction member) that the ink of print cartridge 14 inside is extracted out.
As shown in Figure 5, under pin formed member 48 and state that notch portion 40a engages, pin 49 extended along the direction of the opening 45 of housing 40 and along general horizontal direction (print cartridge installation direction).When being installed in print cartridge 14 in the accommodating chamber 50, this pin 49 is inserted in the ink guide part 120 (referring to Fig. 8) of print cartridge 14, and forms ink-feed channel when the supply valve 620 (referring to Figure 22) of extruding ink-supplying mechanism 500 (referring to Figure 22).Pin 49 is communicated with the pumping ink opening 52 that protrudes upward on the rear side (right side of Fig. 5) of housing 40, and ink barrel 53 is connected with this pumping ink opening 52.Ink barrel 53 is connected with ink jet print head (not shown in this Figure), and ink barrel 53 can offer ink jet print head with the ink of print cartridge 14 inside.
Be formed with path 54 on the sidewall of the housing 40 at the top (top of Fig. 5) that forms pin 49, this path 54 is incorporated into atmosphere in the print cartridge 14.When extracting the ink of print cartridge 14 inside out by pin 49, the atmosphere corresponding with the ink of being extracted out passes through path 54, and is fed in the print cartridge 14.
In addition, on the top of path 54, be formed with the projection 55 of stretching out to print cartridge 14 sides (left side of Fig. 5).This projection 55 is for being coupled to following housing cooperation groove 214b2 and the guide protrusion among the 224b2 (referring to Fig. 8).And, in the time will putting upside down installation print cartridge 14, prevent the insertion of putting upside down of print cartridge 14 by this projection 55.Provided this detailed description of putting upside down insertion that prevents print cartridge 14 below.Give the detailed description of the internal structure of print cartridge 14 below.
On the rear side of housing 40, between pin 49 and path 54, be provided with the excess ink detecting sensor 57 of the ink level (excess ink) that is used for detecting print cartridge 14 inside.This excess ink detecting sensor 57 is the transmission-type optical pickocff with luminous component 57a and light receiving part 57b, and according to the quantity of the print cartridge 14 of accommodating in the accommodating chamber 50 excess ink detecting sensor 57 is set.Be housed at print cartridge 14 under the state of accommodating chamber 50 inside, excess ink detecting sensor 57 is arranged in the position corresponding with the test section 140 (referring to Fig. 8) of print cartridge 14, and arranges that the position of ink detection sensor 57 makes luminous component 57a and light receiving part 57b can clip the both sides of the test section 140 of the print cartridge 14 of accommodating accommodating chamber 50 inside.(referring to Figure 18 (b)) excess ink detecting sensor 57 is connected with control device, and monitors the residual ink amount that is stored in each print cartridge 14 consistently by this control device.
On top plate portion 44, be provided with rib 44a, and improved the rigidity of housing 40 like this.In addition, top plate portion 44 is equipped with oscillating arm mechanisms 44b.Between oscillating arm mechanisms 44b and top plate portion 44, be connected with extension spring, and oscillating arm mechanisms 44b is always in direction (the preceding left side of Fig. 2 of door 41; The left side of Fig. 3-5) upward resiliently biased.Oscillating arm mechanisms 44b is constituted as feasible: for example be subjected under the state of fexible bias pressure at it, those ends that extend in the housing 41 (accommodating chamber 50) engage with the latch portion 217a and the 227a (referring to Fig. 8) of print cartridge 14.Therefore can keep being installed in the print cartridge 14 in the housing 40 reliably.
On the front surface of housing 40, be provided with opening 45 (patchhole of print cartridge 14 is installed).On each accommodating chamber 50 in those accommodating chamber 50 this opening 45 is set.In other words, each accommodating chamber 50 is arranged on housing 40 inside in succession on each opening 45, and by opening 45 these four print cartridges 14 is inserted into each accommodating chamber 50 neutralizations respectively from each accommodating chamber 50 dismountings.
Here, the structure with reference to Fig. 6 opposite house 41 is elaborated.Door 41 is equipped with door main body 60, be arranged on pressurization retaining member 61 on this door main body 60, with door 41 fastening (locking) on housing 40 door lock member 62 (locking bar) and make the trip levers 63 of door 41 from tightening state release.Each all uses resin molded forming door main body 60, pressurization retaining member 61, door lock member 62 and trip lever 63.
As shown in Figure 6, door main body 60 roughly forms the plate that is long thin rectangular shape shape.The profile of door main body 60 forms according to the shape of the opening 45 of housing 40.The rotary shaft 64 that is supported on the front surface bottom of housing 40 is formed on the bottom (the bottom side end among Fig. 6) of door main body 60.Specifically, on the front end of the base plate 42 of housing 40, be formed with bearing portions 42a (referring to Fig. 2,3 and 4), and rotary shaft 64 is coupled among this bearing portions 42a, thereby rotary shaft 64 can freely rotate.Therefore door main body 60 can close opening 45 or by folding opening 45 be opened by erectting.
The member 65 of pulling out that forms the unit with door main body 60 is arranged on the bottom of door main body 60.This is pulled out member 65 and roughly forms L shapedly, and it has extension 65a and sweep 65b.Extension 65a is arranged on the bottom (rotary shaft 64) of door main body 60 continuously, and sweep 65b is arranged to form about 90 ° of angles with extension 65a continuously.
When door 41 was in occlusion locations (state shown in Figure 4), the top of sweep 65b was than the installed surface 51 that the holds chamber 50 (bottom surface that the bottom surface with print cartridge 14 of accommodating chamber 50 inside contacts; Referring to Fig. 4) further protrude upward.Door main body 60 rotates around the rotary shaft 64 as pivot, and therefore forms the L shaped member 65 of pulling out and also rotate around the rotary shaft 64 as pivot.When door 41 changed to open position (state shown in Figure 3), the sweep 65b that pulls out member 65 rotated around the rotary shaft 64 as pivot.At this moment, because the rotation of sweep 65b, outer wall surface 65c changes into approximate horizontal state (state shown in Figure 3) from the state (state shown in Figure 4) that its approximate vertical is erect.The length of pulling out the extension 65a of member 65 is set to given size, therefore when sweep 65b rotates, the installed surface 51 of a little higher than housing 40 of outer wall surface 65c, and with installed surface 51 almost parallels.
In this embodiment, on each door main body 60, be provided with two and pull out member 65.In other words, pull out member 65 and be constituted as feasible: they are arranged to along the width of door main body 60 toward each other, and support print cartridge 14 by clipping print cartridge 14 along this width.And, in this embodiment, will pull out interval between the member 65 at each and be set at width less than print cartridge 14.
On the both sides of pressurization retaining member 61, be provided with claw 61a, thereby this claw 61a stretches out to the outside from the side, and on door main body 60, be provided with the claw holding portion 60a that is used for accommodating claw 61a.Claw holding portion 60a is by constituting along the groove that extends with the direction of longitudinal direction (vertical direction among Fig. 6) approximate vertical of door main body 60.Claw 61a is coupled among the claw holding portion 60a, thereby claw 61a can be free to slide, and the retaining member 61 that therefore pressurizes is supported, thereby it can advance and withdraw along the direction vertical with the longitudinal direction of door main body 60.In other words, change the position between pressurization retaining member 61 can be withdrawn into door main body 60 sides in extended position (state shown in Figure 3) that it rises from the inner surface of door main body 60 and it from this extended position the retracted position (state shown in Figure 4).And, between pressurization retaining member 61 and door main body 60, be provided with helical spring 66.Therefore, pressurization retaining member 61 is subjected to fexible bias pressure, thereby it always is in the extended position.
When door 41 is in the occlusion locations, the contacts side surfaces of pressurization retaining member 61 and print cartridge 14, and pressurization retaining member 61 moves to retracted position side (state shown in Figure 4) when it is pushed relatively by print cartridge 14.Therefore, print cartridge 14 receives the elastic force of helical spring 66 by pressurization retaining member 61, and is pressed against on the rear side (rear side of the direction of print cartridge 14 is installed) of housing 40.Therefore, print cartridge 14 remains under its state with respect to housing 40 location.
In this embodiment, pressurization retaining member 61 forms writing board shape, and the wall 61b of this pressurization retaining member 61 (when door 41 is in occlusion locations and the surface of the contacts side surfaces of print cartridge 14) forms the plane, and on this wall 61b, be formed with a pair of protuberant bar 61c.Therefore, when door 41 is in the occlusion locations, the contacts side surfaces of these 61c and print cartridge 14 and being pressed against on this side.
And the retaining member 61 that will pressurize is constructed such that: when being in occlusion locations, on vertical direction (vertical direction among Fig. 4), pressurization retaining member 61 to the position of print cartridge 14 pressurization from the center of print cartridge 14 a little downward bias from.In other words, pressurization retaining member 61 is arranged on the below of its contact center with regard to the vertical direction of print cartridge 14.This is in order to improve the operability in the situation of user's actuating doors 41.For example, pressurization retaining member 61 be arranged on regard to the vertical direction of print cartridge 14 center position or above this center the time, the user comes actuating doors 41 near remaining on trip lever 63 by the retaining member 61 that will pressurize, and is therefore being diminished by the part of user's operation and the distance between the pressurization retaining member 61.Therefore, become big by the power that causes of helical spring 66 of pressurization retaining member 61, and therefore need the big power that must be enough to actuating doors 41.On the other hand, in the time of below pressurization retaining member 61 is arranged on center with regard to the vertical direction of print cartridge 14, bigger by the part and the distance between the pressurization retaining member 61 of user's operation, so the user can enough less strength actuating doors 41.And when pressurization retaining member 61 was provided with too downwards along the position of the vertical direction of print cartridge 14, pressurization retaining member 61 was pressed against on the end of print cartridge 14, so print cartridge 14 is sometimes in accommodating chamber 50 inner inclination, thereby can not correctly keep print cartridge 14.But in this embodiment, pressurization retaining member 61 is arranged to a shade below the center with regard to the vertical direction of print cartridge 14, so print cartridge 14 can correctly be installed or keep, and can enough less strength install reposefully.In addition, center on the vertical direction of print cartridge 14 refers to, the center of vertical direction of pressurization retaining member 61 be provided with in addition be lower than center on the vertical direction of print cartridge 14, and as long as keep this position relation, the part on the top of the retaining member 61 that then pressurizes (upper limb of Fig. 4) can be positioned at the top, center of print cartridge 14.
And, as will be described below, the print cartridge 14 of this embodiment with the side of the side thereof opposite that contacts of pressurization retaining member 61 on ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 be equipped with, and this ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 are equipped with the valve system with elastic force.In other words, they have biasing force (first and second the supply spring 630 and the 650 and first and second big air springs 730 and 750), the outside squeezing valve of this biasing force (supply valve 620 and atmos-valve 720), thus these valves have stopped the connection between inside and outside or print cartridge 14.Therefore, in order to realize the connection between print cartridge 14 and the outside reliably, the elastic force of the pressurization retaining member 61 of this embodiment be set at make this elastic force greater than the elastic force of the valve system of ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 and.Therefore, when print cartridge 14 being installed in accommodating chamber 50 inside, the ink of print cartridge 14 inside is supplied reliably, and can reliably atmosphere be incorporated in the print cartridge 14.And, in print cartridge 14 is installed on position in the accommodating chamber 50, ink guide part 120 is positioned on the bottom, and atmosphere induction part 130 is positioned on the top, and the retaining member 61 that therefore pressurizes is pressed against on the relative approaching position, center on the vertical direction with print cartridge 14.Therefore, be pressed against the top of print cartridge 14 or the situation on the bottom is compared with pressurization retaining member 61, the direction of momentum is stable, therefore can stablize and keep print cartridge 14.
Be set at given size owing to will constitute the trench length of claw holding portion 60c, so define the sliding scale of door lock member 62.Upwards slide with respect to door main body 60 and claw 62e when contacting with the apical margin of the inner wall surface of claw holding portion 60c at door lock member 62, door lock member 62 is in it from the position that the upper end of door main body 60 protrudes upward.Door lock member 62 with respect to door main body 60 when lower slider and claw 62e contact with the root edge of the inner wall surface of claw holding portion 60c, door lock member 62 is in it and is withdrawn in the position of inboard of door main body 60.In this specification, door lock member 62 is defined as " extended position " with the apical margin position contacting of the inner wall surface of claw holding portion 60c, and the root edge position contacting of door lock member 62 and claw holding portion 60c is defined as " retracted position ".
Helical spring 67 (elastic component) is arranged between door lock member 62 and the door main body 60.Therefore, door lock member 62 is subjected to fexible bias pressure, thus it always have from door main body 60 protrude upward-in other words, the trend of stretching out along the direction that it is moved to extended position.
The end face of the key part 62b of door lock member 62 is downward-sloping inclined surface.Therefore, at door 41 when open position changes to occlusion locations, the end face of door lock member 62 contacts with the apical margin of the opening 45 of housing 40, and at door 41 when occlusion locations rotates, door lock member 62 is withdrawn into the inboard of door main body 60 when it presses the apical margin of opening 45 relatively.When door 41 changed to occlusion locations fully then, door lock member 62 stretched out from door main body 60 once more, and key part 62b engages with the apical margin of housing 40.
At this moment, the key part 62b of door lock member 62 is in the state that is coupled in the lock construction element mating part 46 (referring to Fig. 2 and 5), and this lock construction element mating part 46 is arranged on the apical margin of opening 45 of housing 40.Door lock member 62 is subjected to fexible bias pressure, thereby it always has the trend of stretching out from door main body 60 owing to helical spring 67, therefore door lock member 62 is crushed on lock construction element mating part 46 inside, but the position of door lock member 62 is the centre position, thus door lock member 62 with stretch out side and compare a little more and withdraw to the retracted position side.Door lock member 62 when it is in this centre position always elasticity be pressed against on the lock construction element mating part 46, therefore, door lock member 62 never is easy to depart from lock construction element mating part 46.
On the bottom of trip lever 63, be provided with supporting pin 63a.Simultaneously, be provided with pin supported hole 60e on door main body 60, supporting pin 63a is coupled among this pin supported hole 60e.Because supporting pin 63a is coupled among this pin supported hole 60e, so trip lever 63 is constructed such that it can freely rotate around the pivot of supporting pin 63a.Specifically, trip lever 63 is constructed such that: by moving this bar 63, it can it with the position of the outer surface almost parallel of door main body 60, it tilts and freely rotates and move between the position (state on 41 on Fig. 2 right side) of about 45 ° (degree) and the position that its approximate horizontal folds (from the state of second door 41 on the right side of Fig. 2).In this specification, the location definition of trip lever 63 when it is housed in holding portion 60d inside is " collecting position ", and trip lever 63 be " neutral position " at the location definition that trip lever 63 tilts about 45 ° the time, and the location definition of trip lever 63 when its approximate horizontal folds is " folding position ".
The bottom of trip lever 63 is interlocking cam 63b, and interlocking cam 63b is used for when the change of the position of trip lever 63 door lock member 62 being slided up and down.Because be provided with interlocking cam 63b, so when collecting position turned to the folding position by the neutral position, door lock member 62 slided into retracted position from extended position by the centre position at trip lever 63.On the contrary, when door lock member 62 is in extended position, trip lever 63 is arranged in the collecting position and door 41 is closed, and under lock construction element mating part 46 state of contact of door lock member 62 and housing 40, trip lever 63 can freely move between collecting position and neutral position.At this moment, the center of trip lever 63 is set at and makes trip lever 63 always owing to its own wt moves to the neutral position.Because trip lever 63 is owing to its own wt arrives the neutral position, so can improve the operability that enters into the folding position.
Here, will the operation summary of trip lever 63 be described.The interlocking cam 63b of trip lever 63 contacts with the base portion 62c of door lock member 62.Under door 41 closing state (state shown in Fig. 4), trip lever 63 attempts to make door lock member 62 along further rotating to the direction that presses down through interlocking cam 63b.But door lock member 62 is always by helical spring 67 fexible bias pressure upwards, so door lock member 62 is separately owing to the weight effect of trip lever 63 is moved, and door lock member 62 remains in the centre position.
But, when forcing trip lever 63 is rotated, for example to change user's operation of print cartridge 14 and rotate in the situation of trip lever 63 attempting, trip lever 63 rotates and moves to the folding position.When trip lever 63 moved to the folding position, interlocking cam 63b rotated and changes the position that is centered on the supporting pin 63a, and pushed the base portion 62c of door lock member 62 downwards.Therefore, door lock member 62 overcomes the elastic force of helical spring 67 and moves downward, and moves to retracted position.When door lock member 62 moved to retracted position, door 41 locking was disengaged, and this door 41 is changed into open position from occlusion locations.
Door lock member 62 receives the elastic force of helical spring 67 consistently, therefore, if the revolving force that acts on the trip lever 63 disappears, in other words, if the user unclamps its hand from trip lever 63, then door lock member 62 arrives it and stretches out the maximum position from door main body 60, and makes trip lever 63 force to move to collecting position.In other words, when door 41 was shown in an open position, trip lever 63 was in it and almost completely is housed in the position of door main body 60 inside.Therefore, when changing print cartridge 14, because locking bar 92 almost completely is housed in a master unit 60 inside, so can turn to the almost position of level of door 41, so the user can be easy to change print cartridge 14 with rotation as the axial region 64 of pivot.And, be arranged on the wall 61b of pressurization retaining member 61 two bar 61c also and the leader cooperation between the sweep 65b as the guiding piece when print cartridge 14 being housed in accommodating chamber 50 inside.In other words, in the time will being inserted into print cartridge 14 in the holding portion 50, the user can be loaded into the bottom surface of print cartridge 14 on the bar 61c, the head portion of print cartridge 14 is placed between the sweep 65b, then along the direction extruding print cartridge 14 of accommodating chamber 50.In addition, will be when accommodating chamber 50 be removed print cartridges 14, the user should remove print cartridge 14 up to the bottom surface of print cartridge 14 from arriving the top of bar 61c between the sweep 65b.
When multi-function device 1 normal the use, the door 41 of refill unit 13 is closed, and trip lever 63 is arranged in the neutral position.Therefore, as shown in Figure 1, when when changing print cartridge 14 open-close lid 20 being opened, trip lever 63 face side forward tilts.Therefore, advantage is that the user can be easy to operate trip lever 63.Incidentally, as shown in Figure 1, refill unit 13 is placed on the front surface 1a of multi-function device 1, therefore, if trip lever 63 is arranged on neutral position (if its face side inclination forward), must guarantees in multi-function device 1 inside that then enough wide space is to hold refill unit 13.Therefore, must refill unit 13 further be set backward from the edge of opening 21, thereby cause the external dimensions of multi-function device 1 will become big risk.But in this embodiment, when door 41 was in the occlusion locations with respect to housing 40, trip lever 63 can freely rotate between neutral position and collecting position, therefore refill unit 13 can be arranged near the edge of opening 21.This be because, even refill unit 13 is arranged on the edge of opening 21, when open-close lid 20 was closed, the inner wall surface of open-close lid 20 also contacted with trip lever 63, and when open-close lid 20 was closed fully, trip lever 63 moved to collecting position when it is subjected to open-close lid 20 extruding.Therefore, in this embodiment, can realize the Compact Design of multi-function device 1.
Next, describe with reference to employed print cartridge 14 among Fig. 7 to 13 couple of this embodiment.Print cartridge 14 is used for storing in advance ink, and navy blue, magenta, yellow and black ink are stored in each print cartridge 14.But for the structure of each print cartridge 14, the print cartridge 14 that stores black ink forms and makes it thicker slightly than the print cartridge 14 of other color ink of storage.This is because the demand of black ink is the highest usually and consumption is big, and because black ink is made of the pigment ink, and color inks is made of the dyestuff ink, therefore, when black ink mixes with color inks, must consume a large amount of color inks so that carry out recovery process.Therefore, the profile of black print cartridge is made for very big shape, thereby can visually confirms colour ink box and black print cartridge.And, all make the structure that stores the print cartridge 14 of color inks identical shaped.
At first, describe with reference to Fig. 7 to 9 pair of colour ink box 14 that is used for the storage color ink.Fig. 7 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of colour ink box 14 is shown.Fig. 8 is the decomposition diagram of colour ink box 14.Fig. 9 is the view that protector 300 is shown, and (a) is the top plane view of the protector 300 that IXa sees at the visual angle from Fig. 8, and (b) is the cutaway view of protector 300 by the IXb-IXb line among Fig. 9 (a).In the following description, directions X refers to print cartridge 14 (housing 200, accumulator element 100) longitudinal direction, the Y direction refers to the short transverse of print cartridge 14 (housing 200, accumulator element 100), this Y direction is vertical with directions X, and the Z direction refers to the width (thickness direction) of print cartridge 14 (housing 200, accumulator element 100), and this Z direction is vertical with directions X and Y direction.Parallel in the arrow B shown in Fig. 8 with the directions X of longitudinal direction of expression print cartridge 14, and arrow B is represented print cartridge 14 is installed to direction in the refill unit 13.
As shown in Figure 7, colour ink box 14 is equipped with: housing 200, and it roughly is covered with the whole body of the accumulator element 100 (referring to Fig. 8) that stores ink; With protector 300, it is connected on this housing 200, and protects accumulator element 100 when transporting print cartridge 14.Be clear that from Fig. 7 housing 200 forms cuboid, it comprises surperficial 210a of a pair of maximum respect to one another and 220a (following housing 1200 and 2200 also is like this).In this embodiment, accumulator element 100, housing 200, protector 300 and following all members that are included in the print cartridge 14 are formed by resin material, and do not comprise metal material, so they can burn when discarded.For example, can use nylon, polyester or polypropylene as resin material.
As shown in Figure 8, accumulator element 100 mainly is equipped with: the frame part 110 that forms the accumulator chamber 111 (inner space and the accumulator space that comprises accumulator chamber 111) that is used for storing ink, give the ink guide part 120 of multi-function device 1 (referring to Fig. 1) with being stored in ink feed in this frame part 110, atmosphere is incorporated into atmosphere induction part 130 in the frame part 110, setting is used for detection of stored in the test section 140 of the residual ink amount of frame part 110 inside (exposure part), the ink that ink is distributed in the frame part 110 is sent part 150, and go up so that form the film 160 of accumulator chamber on frame part 110 both sides (end face among Fig. 8 and bottom surface) that are welded on frame part 110.To provide explanation to frame part 110, ink guide part 120, atmosphere induction part 130, test section 140, ink dispensing part 150 and film 160 and the manufacture process that is used for accumulator element 100 below.
On the vertical wall segments 210b of first housing member 210, be formed with and be used to make ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 go out to the outer exposed of housing 200 two housing notch portion 211 and 212.Housing notch portion 211 and 212 edges from vertical wall segments 210b begin to form roughly semicircular in shape, and the housing notch portion on the forward right side of Fig. 8 211 is the otch corresponding with ink guide part 120, and the housing notch portion 212 on the left rear side of Fig. 8 is the otch corresponding with atmosphere induction part 130.The rectangular case notch portion 213 that is cut into rectangular shape is formed between housing notch portion 211 and the housing notch portion 212, and this is to be used for excess ink detecting sensor 57 (referring to Fig. 5) is inserted into making it clip the otch of the position of test section 140.Be formed on the inner surface that is connected with the housing notch portion 211 of first housing member 210 with the contact trench 211a of ink guide part 120 contacts, and be formed on the inner surface that is connected with the housing notch portion 212 of first housing member 210 with the contact trench 212b of atmosphere induction part 130 contacts.Because be provided with these contact trench 212a and 212b, so accumulator element 100 becomes easy with aiming at of first housing member 210.
And; form two housing extension 214a and 214b on first housing member 210, these housing extensions stretch out from the surface (vertical wall segments 210b) that is formed with housing notch portion 211-213 towards the direction of protector 300 (left front Fig. 8 to and directions X).Housing extension 214a and 214b are formed on first housing member 210 (the right front side of Fig. 8 and left back side) on the both sides of Y direction, thereby they clip housing notch portion 211 to 213, and ink guide part 120 sides (forward right side of Fig. 8) are housing extension 214a, and atmosphere induction part 130 sides (left rear side of Fig. 8) are housing extension 214b.Housing extension 214a has inclined surface 214a2, this inclined surface 214a2 the direction (the interior side direction of first housing member 210) of housing notch portion 211 to 213 go up from the part that is connected with the outer surface of the vertical wall segments 210d of housing member 210 towards the edge (protector 300 directions; Left front among Fig. 8 to) tilt.When being installed to print cartridge 14 on the multi-function device 1 (referring to Fig. 1), print cartridge 14 is mounted to makes housing extension 214a be positioned on the bottom side.Therefore, in the situation that print cartridge 14 is installed, when inclined surface 214a2 contacted with the bottom wall portion 41 of refill unit 13, print cartridge 14 was guided to the installation site of regulation reposefully owing to its inclined plane.
On housing extension 214a, on the inner surface of the side that forms housing notch portion 211 to 213, be formed with the housing that is cut into rectangular shape and stretch out notch portion 214a1.On housing extension 214b, on the inner surface that forms housing notch portion 211 to 213 sides, also be formed with the housing that also is cut into rectangular shape and stretch out notch portion 214b1.These housings stretch out notch portion 214a1 and 214b1 and are provided with and are used for preventing throwing off naturally of protector 300 under protector 300 is connected state on the housing 200, and below the jut 330a1 and the 330b1 of the protector 300 of description are coupled to (referring to Fig. 9) in these parts.
In addition, the housing that is formed with on housing extension 214b as mating part cooperates groove 214b2, and the first protector mating part 320 (referring to Fig. 9) of following protector 300 is coupled in this mating part.This housing cooperates groove 214b2, and the part across vertical wall segments 210e forms from the edge (edges of protector 300 sides) of housing extension 214b.
And, on first housing member 210, be formed with: bar member 215a, its is outstanding along direction (Z direction) of second housing member 220 near the vertical wall segments 210d of ink guide part 120 sides (forward right side of Fig. 8), and has determined to be sealed in the position of the accumulator element 100 of housing 200 inside; And bar member 215b and 215c, their are outstanding along direction (Z direction) of second housing member 220 near the vertical wall segments 210e of atmosphere induction part 130 sides (left rear side of Fig. 8), and have determined to be sealed in the position of the accumulator element of housing 200 inside.The position of accumulator element 100 is by three determining positions of these bar members 215a to 215c, so they can prevent the connection of accumulator element 100 along the opposite way round.
Second housing member 220 has the symmetrical structure roughly symmetrical with first housing member 210.The same with first housing member 210, on vertical wall segments 220b, be formed with three housing notch portion 221 to 223, and also be formed with contact trench 221a that is connected with housing notch portion 221 and the contact trench 222a that is connected with housing notch portion 222.Housing notch portion 221 and 222 forms housing notch portion 211 and the 212 identical shapes (being roughly semicircular in shape) with first housing member 210, and housing notch portion 223 forms the shape (essentially rectangular shape) identical with the housing notch portion 213 of first housing member 210.And, on the both sides of housing notch portion 221 to 223, be formed with housing extension 224a and 224b, and housing extension 224a has inclined surface 224a2, this inclined surface 224a2 on the direction of housing notch portion 221 to 223 from the part that is connected with the outer surface of the vertical wall segments 220d of second housing member 220 towards edge tilt.On housing extension 224a, be formed with housing and stretch out notch portion 224a1 (not shown in this Figure), and be formed with on housing extension 224b that housing stretches out notch portion 224b1 and the housing across the part of vertical wall segments 220e cooperates groove 224b2 from the edge of housing extension 224b.On second housing member 220, be formed with mating holes part 225a to 225c (not shown in this Figure), these mating holes parts 225a to 225c has the corresponding hole, position with the bar member 215a-215c that is formed with first housing member 210, and bar member 215a-215c is being coupled in these holes after the direction (Z direction) of first housing member 210 is passed.
As mentioned above, first housing member 210 and second housing member 220 of housing 200 form roughly the same shape, and be in the following time of state that is keeping accumulator element 100 at them, the part of ink guide part 120 is formed by housing notch portion 211 and 221 to the circular through hole that the outside exposes, and the part of atmosphere induction part 130 is formed by housing notch portion 212 and 222 to the circular through hole that the outside exposes.By housing incision hole 213 and 223 and the sidewall of test section 140 in the test section 140 both sides (top side among Fig. 8 and bottom side; Both sides on the Z direction) go up the formation through hole, excess ink detecting sensor 57 (referring to Fig. 5) can be inserted in these through holes.In addition, form projection (" first extension " or " another extension ") by housing extension 214a and housing extension 224a, this projection helps to prevent the inkiness of refill unit 13, prevent that print cartridge is installed in the refill unit 13 in errors present, and the damage that prevents ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130, and form projection (" second extension " or " extension ") by housing extension 214b and housing extension 224b, this projection helps to prevent above-mentioned installation in errors present with the projection that is formed by housing extension 214a and housing extension 224a, and prevent for example damage of ink guide part 120 of parts.These projections will be elaborated below.And, find out that as clear from Fig. 8 ink guide part 120 is arranged to from the projection that is formed by housing extension 214a and housing extension 224a than nearer from the projection that is formed by housing extension 214b and housing extension 224b.Stretch out notch portion 214a1 and 224a1 by housing and form the through hole that allows the jut 330a1 (referring to Fig. 9) of protector 300 insert loosely; and stretch out notch portion 214b1 and 224b1 by housing and form the through hole that allows the jut 330b1 (referring to Fig. 9) of protector 300 insert loosely; cooperate groove 214b2 and 224b2 to form the roughly cooperation groove of rectangular shape by housing simultaneously, the first protector mating part 320 (referring to Fig. 9) of protector 300 is coupled in this cooperation groove.
From top explanation as can be seen, first housing member 210 not only has identical overall appearance with second housing member 220, and they form and make that for example housing extension 214a, 214b, 224a and 224b and housing notch portion 211 to 213 and 221 to 223 also have identical shaped details.Therefore, during by resin molded forming, their mold shape is similar, therefore can reduce and the relevant cost of mould design at first housing member 210 and second housing member 220.
Next will the profile of housing 200 be described.On first and second housing members 210 and 220, along with the longitudinal direction B (directions X that is being connected the front left side of the right lateral side of Fig. 8 and Fig. 8; Vertical wall segments 210d, 210e, 220d and the 220e (sides of both sides) of the arrow B among Fig. 8) vertical direction (Y direction) form concave shape, and are formed with ladder with respect to the maximum surperficial 210a and the 220a (surface) of first and second housing members 210 and 220.First and second housing members 210 and 220 are welded on these step portion, and accumulator element 110 is fastened on the housing 200.For these step portion, step portion on ink guide part 120 sides (forward right side of Fig. 8) is the first housing welding portion 216 and 226, and the step portion on atmosphere induction part 130 sides (left rear side among Fig. 8) is the second housing welding portion 217 and 227.
In the following description, first and second housing members 210 refer to the longitudinal direction of print cartridge 14, the longitudinal direction of accumulator element 100 and the longitudinal direction of housing 200 with 220 longitudinal direction B (direction parallel with directions X).
Here, will the first and second housing welding portions 226 and 227 of second housing 220 be described.The first housing welding portion 226 is connected in the same plane with housing extension 224a, and on that side opposite with housing extension 224a, the first housing welding portion 226 has along the interior side direction of second housing member 220 and forms the recessed portion 226a of concave shape and at (referring to Fig. 1) and 41 the bonding part 226b that member 65 (referring to Fig. 6) engages that pulls out when refill unit 13 is removed print cartridge 14.Recessed portion 226a is used for the zone of guaranteeing hunting range when member 65 rotates pulling out.Housing welding portion 227 has the latch portion 227a that forms concave shape in the roughly centre position of the longitudinal direction B of second housing member 220, and this latch portion 227a is for being installed at it under the state in the refill unit 13 and oscillating arm mechanisms 44b (referring to Fig. 2) engaging portion.
Though omitted detailed description here, but also be formed with recessed portion 216a (not shown in this Figure), bonding part 216b (not shown in this Figure) and latch portion 217a (not shown in this Figure) on first housing member 210, these parts are formed with recessed portion 226a, bonding part 226b and the roughly the same shape of latch portion 227a with second housing member 220.
Next describe with reference to Fig. 8 and 9 pairs of protectors 300.Fig. 9 is the view that protector 300 is shown, and the top view of the protector 300 seen for IXa visual angle from Fig. 8 of Fig. 9 (a), and Fig. 9 (b) be the cutaway view that protector 300 passes through the IXb-IXb line among Fig. 9 (a).Protector 300 is for being used for protecting when print cartridge 14 transportations especially ink guide part 120 of accumulator element 100 and the member of atmosphere induction part 130.Protector 300 is made by resin material, and adopts injection-molded manufacturing.
As shown in Figure 8, on protector 300, in the position corresponding, be formed with protector through hole 310 with atmosphere induction part 130 sides (left rear side among Fig. 8) on the bottom surface.This is that to open part 721a (referring to Figure 33) protruding from atmosphere induction part 130 because be used to operate the valve of atmos-valve 720, and protector through hole 310 forms and is used for protecting this valve to open part 721a.
As shown in the top view of Fig. 9 (a); be formed with the first protector mating part 320 near the end of protector through hole 310 sides (left side among Fig. 9 (a)) of protector 300, this first protector mating part 320 is coupled to by housing and cooperates in the cooperation groove that groove 214b2 and 224b2 (referring to Fig. 8) form.Near the end on a side opposite (right side among Fig. 9 (a)), be formed with the second protector mating part 330a with that side that is formed with the first protector mating part 320; this second protector mating part 330a is coupled to by housing and stretches out in the through hole that notch portion 214a1 and 224a1 (referring to Fig. 8) form; and protector 300 is fastened on the housing 200; and between the first protector mating part 320 and protector through hole 310, be provided with the second protector mating part 330b; this second protector mating part 330b is coupled to by housing and stretches out in the through hole that incision hole 214b1 and 224b1 (referring to Fig. 8) form, and protector 300 is fastened on the housing 200.
And; be formed with loose insertion portion 340a of protector and 340b in the roughly centre position on the longitudinal direction C of protector 300 (the Y direction among Fig. 8 and 9), the loose insertion portion of these protectors can be inserted into loosely by housing notch portion 213 and 223 and those through holes of forming of the sidewall of test section 140 (referring to Fig. 8) in.Loose insertion portion 340a of protector and 340b are connected on two sidewalls (side wall and downside wall among Fig. 9 (a)) that form abreast with longitudinal direction C, and the loose insertion portion of these protectors form make they upwards (directions Xs of page front side among Fig. 9 (a) and accumulator element 100 sides among Fig. 8) stretch out.Be formed with a plurality of ribs from the bottom surface of protector 300, and these ribs have kept the intensity of protector 300.
The first protector mating part 320 is arranged so that it: along with the direction (vertical direction among Fig. 9 (a) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction C of protector 300; Directions X) parallel direction is extended; And constitute by protector vertical wall 321 and two protector vertical walls 322; from the diapire of protector 300 this protector vertical wall 321 is set, on the sidewall of that side (left side among Fig. 9 (a)) opposite that these two protector vertical walls 322 are connected to protector vertical wall 321 with protector through hole 310.Shown in Fig. 9 (b), each protector vertical wall 322 is parallel to top that protector vertical wall 321 forms and is stretched out direction (Fig. 9 (b) upwards from the first protector mating part 320 by the top (the top side end Fig. 9 (b)) from the first protector mating part 320; Directions X) bottom that the roughly centre position on is connected with the sidewall of protector 300 constitutes, and this top has ladder with this bottom.
Therefore, in the time of in being coupled to the cooperation groove that is formed by housing cooperation groove 214b2 and 224b2 (referring to Fig. 8), the top of protector vertical wall 321 and protector vertical wall 322 is inserted into and cooperates in the groove.The first protector mating part 320 is being inserted into when cooperating in the groove, it inserts in two ends of the protector vertical wall 321 that is subjected to extending along the Z direction vertical with longitudinal direction C (Y direction) and protector vertical wall 322 ends restrict in a longitudinal direction C.Here; if the first protector mating part 320 is formed with and the roughly the same shape of cooperation groove that is cooperated groove 214b2 and 224b2 (referring to Fig. 8) to form by housing; the connection time and effort consuming of protector 300 then; if and protector mating part 320 is with to cooperate groove to compare very little, then the position of the closure of protector 300 be can not determine.But; because it inserts in the protector vertical wall 321 that is subjected to being positioned at a surface (plane of protector vertical wall 321) and 322 and four points (two ends of the both side ends of protector vertical wall 321 and protector vertical wall 322) restriction; so improved the installation capability of protector 300, and can prevent wrong the installation.
Shown in Fig. 9 (b); jut 330a1 and the 330b1 that formation is given prominence to with leaving mutually gone up at the second protector mating part 330a on the second protector mating part 330a and the separated direction of 330b and the edge of 330b (edge on the top side of Fig. 9 (b)), and 300 bottom surface direction (among Fig. 9 (b) downwards) forms from these edges along protector to form the axial region 330a2 of substantial cylindrical shape and 330b2.Axial region 330a2 and 330b2 have elasticity, because protector 300 is formed by resin material, and are connected in interior side direction strain with 330b and remove protector 300 at the second protector mating part 330a.
Here, describe with reference to Figure 10 and 11 pairs of black print cartridges 14.Figure 10 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of black print cartridge 14 is shown.Figure 11 is the decomposition diagram of black print cartridge 14.
Shown in Figure 10 and 11, black print cartridge 14 is constructed such that the exterior contour big (thickness (along the length of Z direction) bigger) of its exterior contour than colour ink box 14.Specifically, second housing member 220 that constitutes housing 1200 is identical with second housing member 220 that is used for color inks, and first housing member 1210 of formation housing 1200 forms first housing member 210 thick (length along the Z direction is bigger) that makes this first housing member 1210 than being used for color inks.Accumulator element 100 has the capacity that black ink is stored in enough being used to, so it constitutes the shape identical with colored accumulator element 100, and uses identical parts.And protector 1300 forms accordingly with housing 1200, and this protector 1300 forms and makes it thicker than protector 300 on vertical direction (Z direction).Therefore, will black print cartridges 14 be described for first housing member 1210, and the explanation of second housing member 220, accumulator element 100 and protector 1300 will be omitted here.Have only the degree of depth (thickness of the vertical direction among Figure 11 (length of Z direction)) of first housing member 1210 different, and the remainder of its structure is identical, so its detailed description will be omitted here with the degree of depth of first housing member 210.
As shown in figure 11, first housing member 1210 comprises the plate portion that forms maximum surperficial 1210a and the vertical wall segments 1210b to 1210e that is provided with along approximate vertical direction (vertical direction Figure 11 and Z direction) from the peripheral edge portion of four sides of this plate portion.As for vertical wall segments 1210b to 1210e; the vertical wall that forms protector 1300 sides of first housing member 1210 is 1210b; the vertical wall that relatively is provided with this vertical wall segments 1210b is 1210c; and the vertical wall that is connected with vertical wall segments 1210c and 1210b is vertical wall segments 1210d and 1210e (right side of Figure 11 is vertical wall segments 1210d, and the left side of Figure 11 is vertical wall segments 1210e) respectively.Black print cartridge 14 forms and makes the vertical wall height of vertical wall segments 1210b to 1210e be roughly the twice of vertical wall height of the vertical wall segments 210b to 210e of first housing member 210 that is used for color inks, and has therefore increased the thickness of print cartridge 14.
The same with first housing member 210, housing notch portion 1211 and 1212 is formed on first housing member 1210, so that ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 are gone out to the outer exposed of housing 1200, these housing notch portion form roughly semicircular in shape on vertical wall segments 1210b, and are formed with the housing notch portion 1213 that is cut into rectangular shape between housing notch portion 1211 and housing notch portion 1212.On the both sides of first housing member 1210, be formed with two housing extension 1214a and 1214b, and housing extension 1214a has inclined surface 1214a2.On first housing member 1210, be formed with bar member 1215a, 1215b and the 1215c of the position that has determined accumulator element 100.
In addition, on the roughly whole inner surface (the surperficial 1210a of roughly whole maximum) of first housing member 1210, be formed with rib 1218.This rib 1218 stretches out towards accumulator element 100 sides along the Z direction, and its overhang equals the exterior contour of first housing member 1210 with respect to first housing member, 210 extensive magnitudes (the vertical wall segments 1210b to 1210e of the vertical wall segments 210b to 210e of first housing member 210 and first housing member 1210 is in the difference aspect the height).Because be provided with this rib 1218, so can fill the space (gap) that is formed between the accumulator element 100 and first housing member 1210.Therefore can keep housing 1200 with respect to intensity from the pressure of outside.
And the exterior contour by making black print cartridge 14 is greater than the exterior contour of colour ink box 14, thereby can distinguish black print cartridge 14 and other print cartridge 14.Black is than other saturate color, so it had better not be loaded into use in the refill unit 13 mistakenly.But,,, therefore can reduce wrong the installation so it can distinguish with other print cartridge 14 because make the exterior contour of black print cartridge 14 bigger.In addition, the accommodating chamber 50 of refill unit 13 inside forms according to the size of each print cartridge 14, therefore black print cartridge 14 will never be installed in the accommodating chamber 50 corresponding with colour ink box 14.
In black print cartridge 14, first housing member 1210 is different with the thickness of second housing member 220 on vertical direction (Z direction), so ink guide part 120, atmosphere induction part 130 and test section 140 are arranged on the position (offset position) of the center skew on vertical direction.
Next describe with reference to Figure 12 and 13 pairs of big capacity black print cartridges 14.Figure 12 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of big capacity black print cartridge 14 is shown.Figure 13 is the decomposition diagram of big capacity black print cartridge 14.
Shown in Figure 12 and 13, the exterior contour of big capacity black print cartridge 14 is constructed such that it is than colored and black print cartridge 14 big (longer along the Z direction).Specifically, the vertical wall height of the vertical wall segments 2220b to 2220e of second housing member 2220 forms and makes them be roughly the twice of vertical wall height of the vertical wall segments 220b to 220e of second housing member 220, and only makes second housing member 2220 that constitutes housing 2200 thicker than second housing member 220 that is used for colour and black ink.And, in first housing member 2210 that constitutes housing 2200, only removed the rib 1218 of first housing member 1210 that is used for black ink.In addition, merely thicken accumulator element 2100, thereby capacity increases with respect to colored and black accumulator element 100.Therefore, will economize the detailed description of bigger capacity black print cartridge 14 here.Reference numeral for being attached to big capacity black print cartridge 14 adds Reference numeral 2000 on the Reference numeral that is attached to colour ink box 14.First housing member 2210 and second housing member 2220 along the thickness of vertical direction (Z direction) about equally, so ink guide part 2120, atmosphere supply section 2130 and test section 2140 are arranged in vertically the center.
Corresponding with the print cartridge with above-mentioned three kinds of sizes, the refill unit 13 of multi-function device 1 is constructed such that preferably that it is equipped with and a plurality ofly accommodates the accommodating chamber 50 of colour ink box 14 and selectively accommodate black print cartridge 14 and the single accommodating chamber 50 of big capacity black print cartridge 14 (inner space of this accommodating chamber 50 has the size corresponding with capacity black print cartridge greatly 14).This be because the frequency of text printing of only using black ink usually above the frequency of colour print.But, can be for using the user of text printing that a kind of multi-function device 1 is provided without normal, wherein refill unit 13 is constructed such that it is equipped with a plurality of accommodating chamber 50 of accommodating colour ink box 14 and the single accommodating chamber 50 of accommodating black print cartridge 14.This point is with explanation again below.
Next, with reference to Figure 14 accumulator element 100 is described.Figure 14 is the view that accumulator element 100 is shown, and Figure 14 (a) is the front view of accumulator element 100, and Figure 14 (b) is the rearview of accumulator element 100.State at the accumulator element 100 shown in Figure 14 is following situation, and wherein print cartridge 14 is installed in the multi-function device 1 (referring to Fig. 1).As shown in figure 14, this is that the longitudinal direction (directions X) and the width (Z direction) of wherein print cartridge 14 (accumulator element 100) is the state of horizontal direction, and Figure 14 is following state, wherein ink guide part 120, atmosphere induction part 130 and test section 140 are positioned on the side, ink guide part 120 is positioned on the bottom side, and atmosphere induction part 130 is positioned on the top side.Accumulator element 2100 only is its thickness (length on directions X) with the difference of accumulator element 100, therefore the detailed description that will omit accumulator element 2100 here.
As mentioned above, accumulator element 100 mainly is equipped with frame part 110, ink guide part 120, atmosphere induction part 130, test section 140, ink dispensing part 150 and film 160.In addition, accumulator element 100 is roughly constituted flat hexahedron.That that constitutes this hexahedral maximum area is the front surface side and the rear surface side of accumulator element 100 shown in Figure 14 to the surface, and accumulator element 100 roughly is made of six surfaces, wherein has the side (sidewall) on the four direction of being arranged on that connects this front surface side and rear surface side.In the time of in being loaded into housing 200, this of maximum area that constitutes accumulator element 100 is parallel to surperficial 210a of maximum and 220a to that of surface and housing 200.In addition, film 160 is soldered to the front surface side and the rear surface side of frame part 110, thereby is compared by the situation that sheet material seals with both sides, and the thickness (length of Z direction) that forms the accumulator element 100 of flat pattern can reduce.
At first, will describe frame part 110 in detail.Frame part 110 is to utilize that resin material is injection-molded to be made, and it has light transmission, because it is formed translucent (or transparent).As described below, this be because: the light that the luminous component 57a of the excess ink detecting sensor 57 from the both sides that are positioned at test section 140 sends is transmitted to light receiving part 57b, thereby detects the residual ink amount in the accumulator element 100.
Shown in Figure 14 (a), on the front surface side of frame part 110, form and film 160 is soldered near the periphery welding portion 400a the outer edge part and is arranged on all welding portion 411a to 417a in a plurality of on the inboard of this periphery welding portion 400a.Periphery welding portion 400a is a vertical wall, and it marks off the inner space (space of the first chamber 111a side of accumulator chamber 111) of frame part 100.In addition, the blacking marginal portion of interior all welding portions shown in Figure 14 (a) (rib or first rib) 411a to 417a is a face of weld part (the rib standing part or the first rib standing part), and the front surface lateral edges of periphery welding portion 400a (blacking part) is the face of weld part (standing part) on the first opening 112a periphery.Film 160 is soldered to this face of weld part by ultrasonic bonding.
Shown in Figure 14 (b), on the side of the rear surface of frame part 110, form and film 160 is soldered near the periphery welding portion 400b the outer edge part and is arranged on all welding portion 411b to 417b in a plurality of on the inboard of this periphery welding portion 400b.Periphery welding portion 400b is the wall that marks off the inner space of framework 100.Periphery welding portion 400b is a vertical wall, and it marks off the inner space (space of the second chamber 111b side of accumulator chamber 111) of frame part 100.In addition, the blacking marginal portion of the interior all welding portions shown in Figure 14 (b) (rib or second rib) is face of weld part (the rib standing part or the second rib standing part) 411b to 417b, and the rear surface lateral edges of periphery welding portion 400b (blacking part) is the face of weld part (standing part) on open circumferential.Film 160 is soldered to this welding portion by ultrasonic bonding.
The inboard of periphery welding portion 400a and 400b constitutes the accumulator chamber 111 of storage ink.Zone on the front surface side shown in Figure 14 (a) is the first chamber 111a of accumulator chamber 111, and the zone on the rear surface side shown in Figure 14 (b) is the second chamber 111b of accumulator chamber 111.In addition, the periphery welding portion 400a shown in Figure 14 (a) is the first opening 112a of frame part 110, and the periphery welding portion 400b shown in Figure 14 (b) is the second opening 112b of frame part 110.
Framework 110 mainly is equipped with: service duct forms part 420 (seeing Figure 14 (a) and 14 (b)), and it is communicated with ink guide part 120, and the ink feed that will be stored in accumulator chamber 111 inside is to the outside; Ambient air flow path forms part 430 (seeing Figure 14 (a)), and it is communicated with atmosphere induction part 130, and atmosphere is incorporated in the accumulator chamber 111; Tabular connector forms part 440 (seeing Figure 14 (a) and 14 (b)), and it roughly is formed at the center of frame part 110 (or accumulator chamber 111), and be connected near the atmosphere induction part 130 ink send part 150 near; And dispensing path formation part 450 (seeing Figure 14 (b)), it is communicated with ink dispensing part 150, and ink is distributed in the accumulator chamber 111.Herein, connector forms the first chamber 111a that is in the state of communicating with each other and the second chamber 111b that part 440 is separated out accumulator chamber 111, and it is connecting plates between the virtual plane S (not shown) that virtual plane R (not shown) that the film 160 that is soldered to periphery welding portion 400a is extended and the film 160 that is soldered to periphery welding portion 400b are extended that connector forms part 440, and extends in the plane parallel with these virtual planes.To describe this connector after a while in detail and form part 440.Ambient air flow path formation part 430 forms and makes it only be positioned on the front surface side of frame part 110 (the first chamber 111a side of accumulator chamber 111), and this ambient air flow path forms part 430 and is roughly separated by board 438, this board 438 and is extending in the plane parallel with them between the part and interior all welding portion 412a and virtual plane R and S of periphery welding portion 400a.To describe this ambient air flow path after a while in detail and form part 430.In this embodiment, the accumulator chamber 111 (inner space) of frame part 110 inside is set to comprise service duct and forms part 420, ambient air flow path formation part 430, connector formation part 440 and dispensing path formation part 450 in interior zone, it is the atmosphere paths that are used for atmosphere is incorporated into accumulator chamber 111 that but ambient air flow path forms part 430, so it also can be set to the zone except the accumulator chamber 111 (inner space) of frame part 110.This means and do not comprise that ambient air flow path forms part 430 is considered as storing ink substantially in the space (inner space) of interior above-mentioned accumulator chamber 111 space.
In addition, on the outward flange of frame part 110, form lamellar ledge in the position on bottom (bottom of the bottom of Figure 14 (a) and Figure 14 (b)) and in two positions on top (top of the top of Figure 14 (a) and Figure 14 (b)), and form through hole 460a to 460c on these ledges, bar member 215a to the 215c (see figure 8) of said first shell member 210 is inserted in these through holes.
At first, will interior all welding portion 411a to 417a be described with reference to Figure 14 (a).In all welding portion 411a to 417a form interior all welding portion 411a on the part 420, be arranged on ambient air flow path and form the interior all welding portion 412a on the part 430 and be arranged on interior all welding portion 413a to 417a that connector forms on the part 440 and constitute by being arranged on service duct.In addition, the face of weld of the face of weld of interior all welding portion 411a to 417a part and periphery welding portion 400a partly is positioned on the same virtual plane, and film 160 can be welded on the same plane (virtual plane R).
Interior all welding portion 411a are arranged on service duct and form on the part 420, and it is by (seeing Fig. 8 at the longitudinal direction B with frame part 110; Left and right directions among Figure 14 (a)) the downward-sloping vertical wall that tilts of crossing direction constitutes.In all welding portion 412a form in ambient air flow path and form a following sidewall (vertical wall) in the part 430 the atmosphere connecting path 433 described, and interior all welding portion 412a are by in the downward-sloping vertical wall formation that tilts with the crossing direction of the longitudinal direction B (directions X) of frame part 110.In all welding portion 413a be arranged on atmosphere induction part 130 near, and interior all welding portion 413a are by constituting at downward-sloping vertical wall that tilts with direction that the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 intersects and the vertical wall that (vertical direction Figure 14 (a)) extends from this vertical wall along roughly vertical with the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 direction, and these walls are arranged to roughly T shape.In all welding portion 414a roughly form horseshoe shape towards the left side, it is made of the downward-sloping vertical wall that the vertical wall parallel with the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110, the vertical wall that extends from this vertical wall along roughly vertical with the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 direction and the direction that intersects at the longitudinal direction B with frame part 110 from this vertical wall tilt.Thereby in all welding portion 415a by the vertical wall parallel with the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110, from this vertical wall bend to roughly vertical direction face frame part 110 bottom direction vertical wall and constitute along the downward-sloping vertical wall of the direction (Y direction) that intersects with the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 from this vertical wall.In all welding portion 416a be arranged on ink dispensing part 150 near, and interior all welding portion 416a are made of the downward-sloping vertical wall that the direction that intersects along the longitudinal direction B with frame part 110 tilts.In all welding portion 417a be arranged on ink dispensing part 150 near, interior all welding portion 417a are made of the downward-sloping vertical wall that vertical wall that extends along roughly vertical with the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 direction and the direction that intersects along the longitudinal direction B with frame part 110 from this vertical wall tilt.
In other words, in all welding portion 411a to 417a vertical wall at least a portion along downward-sloping direction or with the direction of the longitudinal direction B approximate vertical of frame part 110 (in other words, the bottom side of accumulator chamber 111 in the state that print cartridge 14 is installed) extend, and the end of this bottom side (bottom side of Figure 14 (a)) is a free end.The result, even when the inboard at periphery welding portion 400a be provided with a plurality of in all welding portion 411a to 417a so that when when film 160 is soldered to frame part 110, suppressing film 160 lax, all welding portion 411a to 417a did not significantly stop ink flowing towards ink guide part 120 yet in these were a plurality of.In addition, interior all welding portion 411a to 417a scatter (being dispersed into a plurality of unit) in the inboard of periphery welding portion 400a, thereby all welding portions prevent that effectively generation relaxes and avoids stoping ink to flow in film 160 in these.
Shown in Figure 14 (b), about interior all welding portion 411b to 417b, interior all welding portion 411b and interior all welding portion 413b to 417b are formed with roughly and reach the interior identical shape of all welding portion 413a to 417a with above-mentioned interior all welding portion 411a, and be formed on interior all welding portion 411a and in the corresponding position, position of all welding portion 413a to 417a, and all welding portion 412b are formed with the variform shape of interior all welding portion 412a and are formed in the position different with the position of interior all welding portion 412a in having only.In addition, the face of weld of interior all welding portion 411b to 417b part partly is positioned on the same virtual plane with the face of weld of periphery welding portion 400b, and film 160 can be welded on the same plane (virtual plane S).
Interior all welding portion 412b comprise interior all welding portion 412b1 that are made of the vertical wall that extends from periphery welding portion 400b along roughly vertical with the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 direction (Y direction) and the interior all welding portion 412b2 that are made of the vertical wall that extends along roughly vertical with the longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 direction from periphery welding portion 400b similarly.From board 438 interior all welding portion 412b1 and interior all welding portion 412b2 are set, this board 438 marks off ambient air flow path and forms part 430.This is because ambient air flow path forms part 430 only to be formed on the front surface side of frame part 110, and interior all welding portion 412b1 and interior all welding portion 412b2 be provided for being suppressed at this ambient air flow path form in film 160, produce in the corresponding part of the rear surface side of part 430 lax.In addition, the same with the front surface side, interior all welding portion 411b to 417b become free end, and also scatter (being dispersed into a plurality of unit), thereby all welding portions produce in suppressing film 160 effectively and reduce the prevention that ink is flowed in lax in these in the rear surface of frame part 110 side.
Because be equipped with interior all welding portion 411a to 417a and 411b to 417b (being dispersed into a plurality of unit) along the orientation of scattering, so, under the situation that housing 200 is formed by soft resin material, even housing is out of shape on accumulator element 100 sides, all welding portion 411a to 417a and 411b to 417b limit housing distortion in also can utilizing.The result can prevent the damage of housing and the damage of film 160.In addition, periphery welding portion 400a and 400b and interior all welding portion 411a to 417a and 411b to 417b are formed by the vertical wall that is arranged on front surface side or the rear surface side, thereby do not need very complicated mould when injection-molded frame part 110.Therefore can reduce the manufacturing cost of print cartridge 14.
Then describe service duct and form part 420 with reference to Figure 15.Figure 15 illustrates the view that service duct forms part 420.Figure 15 (a) illustrates the view (view of the rear surface side of frame part 110) that service duct forms the profile of part 420, the view of Figure 15 (b) illustrates service duct and forms the cutaway view of part 420 by the XVb-XVb line of Figure 15 (a), Figure 15 (c) is the view that the state that residual ink amount reduced is shown, and Figure 15 (d) illustrates the view that ink supply stops the state of (being that ink is used up substantially).
Shown in Figure 15 (a), service duct forms part 420 and mainly is equipped with: the first supply intercommunicating pore 421, and it is communicated with ink guide part 120; Supply partition wall 422, when when observing perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 15 (a), this supply partition wall 422 forms the general triangular framework, thus it surrounds this and first supplies intercommunicating pore 421; Board 427, it occupies the area inside of supply partition wall 422, and is parallel to virtual plane R and S extends between these planes; The second supply intercommunicating pore 423, it is to form when cutting supply partition wall 422 a part of; Supply recessed portion 424, it is by the part of the bottom that the makes accumulator chamber 111 (bottom of Figure 15 (a); In periphery welding portion 400b, form the part of wall portion of the part 400b1 of accumulator chamber 111 bottoms) form concave shape (stepped) and form; Board 428, it extends from periphery welding portion 400b and supply partition wall 422, and is parallel to virtual plane R and S extends between these planes; Arm retained part 425, it is arranged on the free end of board 428, and has as rotating member (following) and the sensor arm 470 (" mobile member " sees Figure 19) that connects; And interior all welding portion 411b, it is from 140 (seeing Figure 14 (b)) the direction setting along the test section of this arm retained part 425.In addition, film 160 is soldered to supply partition wall 422, and the face of weld of its face of weld part and periphery welding portion 400b partly is positioned on the same virtual plane (virtual plane S).The space that supply partition wall 422 and board 427 are surrounded is an ink feed chambers 426, and these ink feed chambers 426 temporary transient storages are supplied to inks of ink guide part 120, and supply recessed portion 424 and board 428 formed spaces are recessed portion space 424a.Shown in Figure 14 (b), this recessed portion space 424a goes up lower than the part 400b1 of the bottom that forms accumulator chamber 111 (inner spaces) in the short transverse (Y direction) of print cartridge 14, and its formation is positioned at that part of space on the bottom side (lower side) of accumulator chamber 111.Shown in Figure 15 (a), the first supply intercommunicating pore 421 is formed on 400b1 top, bottom (height identical with the top of recessed space 424a), and the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 is formed on 400b1 below, bottom.In other words, the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 is positioned on the downside (bottom side) of the accumulator chamber 111 lower than the first supply intercommunicating pore 421.Arm retained part 425 is forming the C shape that roughly faces the left side opening when seeing perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 15 (a), and a part of opening of the side (left side of Figure 15 (a)) relative with ink guide part 120.Shown in Figure 14 (a) and 14 (b), above-mentioned welding portion 411b and welding portion 411a are configured such that they face with each other from board 428.
Shown in Figure 15 (b), supply partition wall 422 forms feasible: in the time will welding film 160, supply partition wall 422 separates the inside and the first supply intercommunicating pore 421 of frame part 110 (accumulator chamber 111).In other words, supply partition wall 422 ink feed chambers 426 of being surrounded is only by the internal communication of the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 with frame part 110.As a result, the ink that is stored in frame part 110 inside is fed to the ink feed chambers 426 from the second supply communication passage 423, is supplied to ink guide part 120 (passage (ink flow path) Figure 15 (c) shown in the arrow D) from the first supply intercommunicating pore 421 then.
Then will be with reference to the ink feed of Figure 15 (c) and 15 (d) describing framework part, 110 inside ink flow path D to 120 processes of ink guide part.Shown in Figure 15 (c), when the ink level I that is stored in framework 110 inside was higher than supply recessed portion 424, ink was supplied to ink guide part 120 by the ink flow path shown in the arrow D among Figure 15 (c).In this case, recessed space 424a is full of ink, thereby the inside of the ink feed chambers 426 that supply partition wall 422 is surrounded also is full of ink.In other words, under the state shown in Figure 15 (c), ink is filled ink feed chambers 426 inside, thereby even ink level I drops to the first supply intercommunicating pore, 421 belows, ink also can be supplied to ink guide part 120 by the second supply intercommunicating pore 423.In this embodiment, ink guide part 120 is roughly cylindrical as shown in Figure 8, and, as described below, the part of ink-supplying mechanism 500 and check-valves 670 are housed in ink supply element 116 inside, and the axial region 672 (seeing Figure 29) of check-valves 670 is inserted through the first supply intercommunicating pore 421 simultaneously.Therefore, consider the space that ink-supplying mechanism 500 and check-valves 670 are occupied, the first supply intercommunicating pore 421 is formed with restriction on the bottom side of accumulator chamber 111 (frame part 110).In the structure that supply partition wall 422 is not set, when ink level I drops to first supply intercommunicating pore 421 belows, just can not supply ink, and the ink of accumulator chamber 111 inside make full use of variation.But, by replenishing the supply partition wall 422 and on than the low bottom side of the first supply intercommunicating pore 421, form the second supply intercommunicating pore 423, ink can be supplied till ink level I drops to the second supply intercommunicating pore 423, thereby the use fully of ink can be convenient to.
Drop to the upper end below of supply recessed portion 424 and become when being lower than the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 when further supply ink and ink level I from the state shown in Figure 15 (c), atmosphere flow in supply partition wall 422 ink feed chambers 426 of being surrounded by the second supply intercommunicating pore 423, as a result, can not supply other ink (state shown in Figure 15 (d)) again.
Shown in Figure 15 (d), in periphery welding portion 400b, form poor apart from t1 is set between the lower end of the part 400b1 of bottom of accumulator chamber 111 and the second supply intercommunicating pore 423.Herein, if the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 above the part 400b1 of the bottom that forms accumulator chamber 111, can not be supplied ink again after ink level I arrives the second supply intercommunicating pore 423, thereby ink make full use of variation.Therefore, supply recessed portion 424 is set, and it is constructed such that the position of the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 is lower apart from t1 than the part 400b1 of the bottom that forms accumulator chamber 111.As a result, shown in Figure 15 (d), under the state of finishing ink supply, only there is the ink of trace to remain near the bottom (being lower than the part of the second supply intercommunicating pore 423) of supply recessed portion 424, and can obviously reduces the quantity of ink that to supply.In addition, supply recessed portion 424 is formed on the bottommost of accumulator chamber 111 (seeing Figure 14), thereby the ink of accumulator chamber 111 inside flow in the supply recessed portion 424, and is accumulated in when quantity of ink tails off and supplies in the recessed portion 424.Therefore, by setting up supply recessed portion 424, can be convenient to make full use of the ink of accumulator chamber 111 inside.
Impurity E is retained in supply recessed portion 424 inner remaining ink inside.This is because be provided with gap t2 between the bottom sidewall (sidewall of Figure 15 (d) downside) of the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 and supply recessed portion 424.As mentioned above, when ink level I is reduced to the second supply intercommunicating pore, 423 belows, can not supply other ink, thereby the ink between the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 and supply recessed portion 424 is retained in supply recessed portion 424 inside, and is not supplied to ink guide part 120.Dust or the plastic flakes of staying frame part 110 inside when making print cartridge 14 are retained in ink inside sometimes, but the proportion of this dust or plastic flakes is greater than the proportion of ink, thus it be retained in frame part 110 the bottom near.Therefore, shown in Figure 15 (d), impurity E is retained in supply recessed portion 424 inner remaining ink inside.When impurity E is supplied to ink guide part 120 and be supplied to multi-function device 1 (see figure 1), ink may take place stop up, thereby can not print accurately.But as mentioned above, because be provided with apart from t2 between the bottom sidewall of the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 and supply recessed portion 424, impurity E is retained in supply recessed portion 424 inside, thereby can reduce the generation that ink stops up.
Describe ambient air flow path below with reference to Figure 16 and form part 430.Figure 16 illustrates the view that ambient air flow path forms part 430.Figure 16 (a) illustrates the perspective view that ambient air flow path forms the summary of part 430, Figure 16 (b) illustrates the view that the ambient air flow path of seeing from the visual angle of the arrow XVIb of Figure 16 (a) forms part 430, and Figure 16 (c) is the view that forms part 430 from the ambient air flow path that the visual angle of the arrow XVIc of Figure 16 (a) is seen.
Shown in Figure 16 (a), ambient air flow path forms part 430 and mainly is equipped with: the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431, and it forms the roughly cuboid that is communicated with atmosphere induction part 130; The second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432, it forms the roughly cuboid that is communicated with accumulator chamber 111; And atmosphere connecting path 433, it is being welded with the first surface 437a side (front left side of Figure 16 of film 160; First surface 437a is included in the surface among the virtual plane R) upward be communicated with the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431 and the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432.When on the front side of Figure 16 (a), welding film 160, form the chamber and the path of the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431 and the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432 and atmosphere connecting path 433.
Forming first air connectivity hole 434 that is communicated with atmosphere induction part 130 with first surface 437a opposed second surface 437b (second surface 437b is the surface of above-mentioned board 438) the side side of the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431.In the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432, form second air connectivity hole 435 that is communicated with the first chamber 111a of accumulator chamber 111 on first surface 437a side side, and go up the third-largest gas intercommunicating pore 436 that formation is communicated with the second chamber 111b of accumulator chamber 111 at second surface 437b (board 438).The sidewall surfaces 431a that is arranged in atmosphere induction part 130 sides (left rear side of Figure 16) in the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431 goes up and forms first air connectivity hole 434, and the sidewall surfaces 432a that is arranged in the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber, 431 sides (left rear side of Figure 16) in the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432 goes up formation open communication 433b.As mentioned above, one of them sidewall of atmosphere connecting path 433 (sidewall of the downside of Figure 16 (a)) is interior all welding portion 412a.
In atmosphere connecting path 433, on first surface 437a side, form open communication 433a and the 433b is communicated with the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431 and the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432 respectively, and these open communication 433a and 433b has the abundant little aperture area of sidewall area (being formed with sidewall surfaces 431a and the 432a of open communication 433a and 433b) than the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431 and the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432.Has the part (so-called labyrinth) of utilizing minimum cross-sectional area to introduce the path (atmosphere connecting path 433) of atmosphere because be provided with, so atmosphere becomes big through out-of-date flow channel resistance.As a result, can reduce than of the evaporation of required more ink by atmosphere connecting path 433.
Be clear that from Figure 14 (a) atmosphere connecting path 433 is downward-sloping from the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431 along the direction of the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432.Because atmosphere connecting path 433 is downward-sloping, this device is in the position in the refill unit 13 that print cartridge 14 is installed in multi-function device 1, so the ink that has penetrated in the atmosphere connecting path 433 can turn back to accumulator chamber 111 naturally owing to gravity.In addition, because make that the cross-sectional area of atmosphere connecting path 433 is very little, therefore can reduce the ink that is stored in accumulator chamber 111 inside and penetrate in the atmosphere connecting path 433.Herein, when ink penetrates in the atmosphere connecting path 433, form meniscus, and therefore can not normally introduce atmosphere sometimes.As mentioned above, because atmosphere connecting path 433 is downward-sloping, therefore, even ink penetrates in this path, ink also turns back to accumulator chamber 111, therefore can fully prevent to form meniscus.In addition, owing to welding film 160 forms atmosphere connecting path 433, thereby wherein at least one surface is the sidewall that can be out of shape because of bending.In other words, atmosphere connecting path 433 is constituted as its cross-sectional area is changed easily.Therefore, even form meniscus, because the bending of this film 160 and distortion and can destroy this meniscus easily, thereby can normally introduce atmosphere.The part on the surface of second air connectivity hole 435 is also formed by film 160, thereby can fully prevent to form meniscus on second air connectivity hole 435.
Be installed in the position of multi-function device 1 (see figure 1) (state shown in Figure 16 (a)) at print cartridge 14, on the topmost of the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432, form the third-largest gas intercommunicating pore 436.Therefore, even make at the quantity of ink of storage and to form meniscus on second air connectivity hole 435 and block under the situation of second air connectivity hole 435, atmosphere also can be incorporated in the accumulator chamber 111 by the third-largest gas intercommunicating pore 436 reliably.
Prevent that below with reference to Figure 16 (b) and 16 (c) description ink from forming the mechanism that part 430 is leaked from ambient air flow path.As mentioned above, the housing 200 of print cartridge 14 is formed the cube shaped that comprises a pair of maximum surface respect to one another, thereby when it is loaded onto on the platform, this device can be taked in two " loaded " position, and one among wherein maximum surperficial 210a and the 220a forms lower surface (bottom surface).At this moment, atmosphere induction part 130 is positioned on the side of housing 200, and is still as described below, and ink is difficult to form part 430 from ambient air flow path in arbitrary position of these two positions and leaks.
Figure 16 (b) and 16 (c) illustrate the position that the ambient air flow path corresponding with each " loaded " position of these two " loaded " position forms part 430.Figure 16 (b) illustrates and print cartridge 14 is arranged so that is positioned at downside by atmosphere connecting path 433 (the first chamber 111a side of frame part 110 is downsides, and first surface 437a is a downside) situation, and Figure 16 (c) illustrates print cartridge 14 is arranged so that atmosphere connecting path 433 is positioned at the situation of upside (the second chamber 111b side of frame part 110 is downsides, and second surface 437b is a downside).
Shown in Figure 16 (b), when print cartridge 14 is configured such that atmosphere connecting path 433 is positioned at downside in the transportation of print cartridge 14, the ink of accumulator chamber 111 storage inside is through second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432 and the atmosphere connecting path 433, and penetrates in the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431.In addition, as mentioned above, atmosphere connecting path 433 is by having the obviously open communication 433b connection of little area of side surface than the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432, thereby have following situation, promptly the ink of accumulator chamber 111 inside not necessarily passes through atmosphere connecting path 433 and penetrates in the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431.Under the state shown in Figure 16 (b), ink level I does not arrive the aperture position of first air connectivity hole 434, even be positioned at downside, can prevent that also ink from flowing out to the outside from atmosphere induction part 130 thereby print cartridge 14 is configured such that atmosphere connecting path 433.
Shown in Figure 16 (c), when print cartridge 14 be configured such that print cartridge 14 transport that atmosphere connecting path 433 is positioned at upside in the process time, the ink that is stored in accumulator chamber 111 inside flow in the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432, but ink level I does not arrive the aperture position of the open communication 433b of atmosphere connecting path 433.As a result, ink does not flow into atmosphere connecting path 433 from open communication 433b, so ink does not flow in the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431.Therefore, be positioned at upside, can prevent that also ink from flowing out to the outside from atmosphere induction part 130 even print cartridge 14 is configured such that atmosphere connecting path 433.
As mentioned above, by constituting the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431, second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432 and the atmosphere connecting path 433 as mentioned above, and, can prevent that ink from leaking from atmosphere induction part 130 by setting up the aperture position of first air connectivity hole 434 and the aperture position of open communication 433b about the position of atmosphere connecting path 433 symmetries.In addition,, can reduce the evaporation of ink, and can prevent that ink from flowing in the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431 by making the cross-sectional area of atmosphere connecting path 433 very little.
To get back to Figure 14 herein, and illustrate that connector forms part 440.Connector form part 440 accumulator chamber 111 inner connect atmosphere induction part 130 near and ink dispensing part 150 near, and connector formation part 440 is formed at the approximate centre position in the accumulator chamber 111.Therefore, connector forms part 440 and connects two positions relative with frame part 110, thereby connector forms the reinforcement that part 440 also is the intensity of maintenance frame part 110.It also is demarcation strip that connector forms part 440, it divides this chamber, thereby the first opening 112a side and the second opening 112b side are in roughly the same area of space (demarcation strip is in the division first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b under the state that communicates with each other at the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b of accumulator chamber 111).
Connector forms part 440 and is made of atmospheric side coupling part 441 and dispensing side coupling part 442, all welding portion 415a and 415b were arranged on atmosphere induction part 130 sides (right side among the left side among Figure 14 (a) or Figure 14 (b)) as the border in this atmospheric side coupling part 441 utilized, and this dispensing side coupling part 442 is arranged on ink dispensing part 150 sides (left side among the right side among Figure 14 (a) or Figure 14 (b)).On atmospheric side coupling part 441, from this atmospheric side coupling part 441 in the first and second opening 112a and 112b side (at the front side when seeing and rear side and at front side and rear side when seeing perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 14 (b) perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 14 (a); Herein, parallel perpendicular to the direction of the page with the Z direction) be provided with respectively in all welding portion 413a, 413b, 414a and 414b.In addition, the upper end of the short transverse of atmospheric side coupling part 441 (Y direction) is communicated with interior all welding portion 412a that ambient air flow path forms part 430.In addition, on dispensing side coupling part 442, from this dispensing side coupling part 442 at the first and second opening 112a and 112b side (front side and rear side when seeing perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 14 (b) at the front side when seeing and rear side and on the edge perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 14 (a); Herein, parallel perpendicular to the direction of the page with the Z direction) be provided with respectively in all welding portion 416a, 416b, 417a and 417b.
What be communicated with between the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b first connects hole 443 and is formed on the atmospheric side coupling part 441, and connects second to the 4th of the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b and connect hole 444-446 and be formed on the dispensing side coupling part 442.Herein, if connecting hole 443-446 is not formed on the connector formation part 440, then the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b are not communicated with in the central area of accumulator chamber 111, thereby the quantity of ink sometimes among the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b produces slight difference.If there is difference in the quantity of ink in the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b, then the air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 inside creates a difference, thereby causes the adverse effect of (or exactly) supply ink reposefully.But, connect hole 443-446 by formation and make these connect the hole to be dispersed in connector and to form on the part 440, the quantity of ink among win the chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b is equated, and (or exactly) supply ink reposefully.
The part that atmospheric side coupling part 441, dispensing side coupling part 442 and ambient air flow path formation part 430 are surrounded is the first accumulator chamber inner opening 113, this first accumulator chamber inner opening 113 is communicated with between the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b, and forming the part that part 420 surrounded by atmospheric side coupling part 441, dispensing side coupling part 442 and service duct is the second accumulator inner opening 114, and this second accumulator inner opening 114 is communicated with between the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b.In other words, do not having connector to form part 440 and do not dividing under the situation of the first chamber 111a and the second chamber 111b, atmosphere is being incorporated into the part in the accumulator chamber 111 and will be stored in of the part connection of the ink feed of accumulator chamber 111 inside to the outside.As a result, can in stable space, carry out the introducing of atmosphere and the supply of ink.
On connector formation part 440, form and connect rib 418a and be connected rib 418b, this connection rib 418a connects and to form part 440 from connector and be arranged on all welding portion 412a-417a in a plurality of on the first opening 112a side, and this connections rib 418b connects from connector formation part 440 and is arranged on interior all welding portion 412b-417b on the second opening 112b side.These are not shown in the drawings connect rib 418a and 418b, but they form the thin-walled shape, have than interior all welding portion 412a-417a and the low vertical wall of interior all welding portion 412b-417b.In addition, these great majority that connect rib 418a and 418b are formed on the edge of connector formation part 440.The result, connect rib 418a and be connected interior all welding portion 412a-417a and 412b-417b with 418b, and connection rib 418a and 418b are formed on the edge of connector formation part 440, thereby connection rib 418a and 418b can keep connector to form the intensity of part 440.In addition, connect rib 418a and 418b and form the thin-walled shape, and they are formed with than interior all welding portion 412a-417a and the low vertical wall of 412b-417b, thereby be difficult to stop flowing of ink.
Illustrate that below with reference to Figure 17 the dispensing path forms part 450.Figure 17 illustrates the view that the dispensing path forms part 450.Figure 17 (a) illustrates the view that the dispensing path forms the profile of part 450, and Figure 17 (b) is that the dispensing path forms the cutaway view of part 450 by the XVIIb-XVIIb line among Figure 17 (a).Form in the part 450 at the dispensing path, in the posture of dispensing ink, the dispensing path forms part 450 and is in the highest part of accumulator chamber 111 inside, and the ink of dispensing is along mobile towards being directed downwards of ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130.
As shown in the figure, the dispensing path forms part 450 and mainly is equipped with: dispensing barrel part 451, and it forms the substantial cylindrical shape, and ink dispensing plug 520 (the seeing Figure 21) that will be described below are pressed in this dispensing barrel part 451; The first dispensing intercommunicating pore 452, it is communicated with between this dispensing barrel part 451 and accumulator chamber 111 inside; The dispensing partition wall 453 of U-shaped roughly, it is provided with from the outer surface of dispensing barrel part 451 with erecting, wherein the edge of the setting that erects forms the face of weld part of welding film 160, and should separate the first dispensing intercommunicating pore 452 with respect to accumulator chamber 111 by dispensing partition wall 453; And the second dispensing intercommunicating pore 454, its forms the opening portion of dispensing partition wall 453.The opening portion of dispensing barrel part 451 is the opening 451a that form on the end face of the outside of frame part 110, and with this opening 451a facing surfaces be the bottom 451b of dispensing barrel part 451.The zone that dispensing partition wall 453 and film 160 are marked off is dispensing partition wall flow channel 453a.
Dispensing partition wall 453 forms interior all welding portions of welding films 160, and dispensing partition wall flow channel 453a and the second dispensing intercommunicating pore 454 form under the state of welding film 160.The same with the welding end of other interior all welding portion 411b to 417b, the welding end of dispensing partition wall 453 and the welding ends portion of periphery welding portion 400b are positioned on the same virtual plane.
Below will provide detailed description, but, when ink is distributed in the accumulator chamber 111, is arranged in the state that top and the first dispensing intercommunicating pore 452 be positioned at bottom (the Y direction is the posture of the horizontal direction of Figure 17 (a)) at the second dispensing intercommunicating pore 454 and sends down ink.In addition, ink is in proper order through dispensing barrel part 451, the first dispensing intercommunicating pore 452, dispensing partition wall flow channel 453a and the second dispensing intercommunicating pore 454, and the dispensing ink, arrives the state shown in Figure 17 (a) until ink level I.Dispensing partition wall 453 forms from the first dispensing intercommunicating pore, 452 to second dispensing intercommunicating pores, 454 substantial linear.As a result, ink is steadily sent on non-resistance ground.
When thereby the 111 inner changes of dispensing ink accumulator chamber were full, ink volume expanded, and according to print cartridge 14 residing environment differences, film 160 might damage or be out of shape.If film 160 damages, ink just leaks, and if film 160 distortion, the Volume Changes of accumulator chamber 111 inside then, thus can not stably supply ink.Therefore, for damage and the distortion that prevents film 160, the ink branch is not delivered to the full degree of accumulator chamber 111 inner changes.
In this embodiment, the air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 inside after the dispensing ink is lower than atmospheric pressure.Therefore, carry out decompression process subsequently sometimes, wherein reduce pressure by the atmosphere that forms part 450 sucking-off accumulator chambers 111 inside from the dispensing path.Carry out this decompression process and be the generation of atm number to keep the ink degassing degree and to reduce the ink air entrapment in order to reduce accumulator chamber 111 inside.The degassing of ink is the level that remains on constant for the viscosity with ink, this be because, generation with regard to the ink air entrapment, when bubble is supplied to multi-function device 1 (see figure 1), discharge the required pressure of ink and do not pass to the outlet opening (not shown), therefore can not correctly discharge ink.
Carrying out under the situation of decompression process subsequently, when the atmosphere of accumulator chamber 111 inside by when the dispensing path forms part 450 sucking-offs, no matter whether sent the ink of appropriate amount, resulting quantity of ink is incorrect.If quantity of ink reduces, this user to print cartridge 14 causes damage, and this is not preferred.Therefore, when the dispensing partition wall 453 of U-shaped roughly surrounds the first dispensing intercommunicating pore 452 and the second dispensing intercommunicating pore 454 and is arranged on ink level I (or first dispensing intercommunicating pore 452) top (upside of Figure 17 (a)), between the ink level I and the second dispensing intercommunicating pore 454, a distance measurements is arranged, even accumulator chamber 111 inside are depressurized, thereby the ink that also can fully prevent accumulator chamber 111 inside escapes into the outside by dispensing path formation part 450.
To near the test section 140 structure be described with reference to Figure 18 herein.Figure 18 is near the view that illustrates the test section 140.Figure 18 (a) is the view that near the summary the test section 140 is shown, Figure 18 (b) is the cutaway view of test section 140 by the XVIIIb-XVIIIb line of Figure 18 (a), and Figure 18 (c) is near the cutaway view that passes through the XVIIIc-XVIIIc line of Figure 18 (a) test section 140.
Shown in Figure 18 (a), stretch out from frame part 110 outside (right side Figure 18 a) test section 140.Test section 140 is equipped with and surrounds part 141, and it surrounds this end by the end (covering arm portion 473c) that clips sensor arm 470 (seeing Figure 19) with a pair of wall surface, and forms the path that sensor arm 470 can move through.The bottom surface that forms by the diapire 141a (downside among Figure 18 (a)) that surrounds part 141 inside, form and be connected to the inner surface of two sidewall 141b and will surround part 141 by the formed a pair of side surface of two sidewall 141b that is arranged on both sides from diapire 141a, by madial wall 141c and form roughly box-like path by the end face that roof 141d forms and the position is relative with diapire 141a of apical margin that is connected to two sidewall 141b and the apical margin of madial wall 141c from diapire 141a setting.Test section 140 also is equipped with arm support section 142, this arm support section 142 is configured such that it protrudes upward from the bottom surface that diapire 141a forms, and from supported underneath sensor arm 470, and vertical wall 143 is set near test section 140, it is provided with from the inwall (periphery welding portion 400b) of frame part 110, thereby this vertical wall 143 is connected to arm support section 142, and forms the direction extension of part 420 along service duct.Be clear that from Figure 18 (b), arm support section 142 is formed on the central authorities of width Z of the path of 140 inside, test section, and arm support section 142 is arranged such that the end (covering arm portion 473c) of sensor arm 470 also is positioned at the central authorities of the path of 140 inside, test section.Details will be described below, but sensor arm 470 is according to the rotation of the quantity of ink of accumulator chamber 111 inside, and it be used for by utilization be arranged on excess ink detecting sensor 57 (see figure 5)s on the multi-function device 1 detect the position of covering arm portion 473c detect print cartridge 14 be installed in multi-function device 1 refill unit 13 accommodating chamber 50 (see figure 4)s and detect the member that residual ink amount has diminished.As mentioned above, test section 140 is light transmissions, can be transmitted through light receiving part 57b from the light of luminous component 57a.Therefore, when in the light path of sensor arm 470 (covering arm portion 473c) between luminous component 57a and light receiving part 57b, sensor arm 470 has stopped the light that will be received by light receiving part 57b, thereby sensor arm 470 has the property of being in the light.As a result, by rotating according to the inner quantity of ink of accumulator chamber 111 (accumulator space), sensor arm 470 can change the light quantity that light receiving part 57b receives, and detects whether there is excess ink.In Figure 18 (b), show the luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 when print cartridge 14 is housed in accommodating chamber 50 inside of multi-function device 1 and the position of light receiving part 57b, but, as shown in the figure, luminous component 57a and light receiving part 57b be positioned at test section 140 near.
Shown in Figure 18 (b), the thickness of arm support section 142 is formed feasible: at inwall (a pair of wall surface that surrounds part 141; The inner surface of two sidewall 141b) second clearance t 4 and between the outer wall of arm support section 142 is than at inwall (a pair of wall surface that surrounds part 141; The inner surface of two sidewall 141b) and first clearance t 3 between the outside of sensor arm 470 narrow.Herein, reduce the ink that is stored in 140 inside, test section, when ink level I reduces along with this ink and synchronously reduces and ink level I when being reduced to 140 belows, test section, the ink of 140 inside, test section is depleted, but because first clearance t 3 between sensor arm 470 and encirclement part 141 is small, therefore ink is because the surface tension of ink is retained in 140 inside, test section, and sensor arm 470 undesired sometimes rotation because of this surface tension of ink.Incidentally, the reason of slight gap being set for first clearance t 3 is: when making this interval broad, the interval between luminous component 57a and the light receiving part 57b also broadens, so the detection sensitivity deterioration of excess ink detecting sensor 57.Therefore, make the clearance t 3 of winning by forming arm support section 142〉second clearance t 4, guarantee at the ink surface tension that produces between arm support section 142 and the encirclement part 141 greater than the ink surface tension that between sensor arm 470 and encirclement part 141, produces.The result, remaining in the ink that surrounds part 141 inside is attracted between arm support section 142 and encirclement part 141, thereby can prevent fully that ink from remaining between sensor arm 470 and the encirclement part 141, and can suppress prevention the behavior of sensor arm 470.The therefore normal action of sensor arm 470, thus residual ink amount can accurately be detected.
Shown in Figure 18 (a), the diapire 141a on the bottom (downside among Figure 18 a) that surrounds part 141 is along the inclination that is directed downwards of accumulator chamber 111, thereby the bottom surface that the diapire 141a in encirclement part 141 inside forms is also downward-sloping.Therefore, the ink that is attracted between encirclement part 141 and arm support section 142 is mobile along being directed downwards of accumulator chamber 111 (or service duct forms part 420).In addition, shown in the cutaway view of Figure 18 (b), surround the diapire 141a of part 141 and the coupling part (edge) of arm support section 142 and form corner angle (approximate right angle) from viewgraph of cross-section, thereby surround the capillary force grow of this coupling part of part 141 and arm support section 142, and formed like this and help the shape of direct ink to accumulator chamber 111 (or service duct forms part 420) side.In other words, the coupling part of encirclement part 141 and arm support section 142 is formed for the fluid guiding channel (guiding piece) of direct ink.The result can make the ink that remains in encirclement part 141 inside flow downward effectively.
Shown in Figure 18 (a), be formed with the vertical wall 143 that is connected to arm support section 141 at the inclined surface 143a that is directed downwards inclination that forms part 420 from arm support section 141 along service duct.Inclined surface 143a constitutes the part of the inwall (periphery welding portion 400b) of frame part 110.In addition, shown in the cutaway view of Figure 18 (c), the coupling part of the inwall of vertical wall 143 and frame part 110 forms corner angle (approximate right angle) from viewgraph of cross-section, and this coupling part forms and makes its thickness be substantially equal to the thickness of arm support section 141.Therefore, vertical wall 143 forms the inclination that is directed downwards of part 420 along service duct, and form approximate right angle with the coupling part of the inwall of frame part 110, thus by this tilt and capillary force can be effectively along the direction direct ink of service duct formation part 420.In other words, the coupling part of the inwall of vertical wall 143 and frame part 110 is formed for the fluid guiding channel (guiding piece) of direct ink.Because the thickness of arm support section 142 and vertical wall 143 forms about equally, form vertical wall 143 from arm support section 142 continuity ground.As a result, form part 420 and do not have resistance, therefore direct ink effectively for ink being guided to service duct.
Under the situation that sensor arm 470 rotates up, sensor arm 470 with by contacting with end face that the diapire 141a opposing top 141d of test section 140 forms, therefore limited the rotation of sensor arm 470.Therefore can prevent that sensor arm 470 from jumping out from surrounding part 140, and the behavior of sensor arm 470 becomes accurately, thereby can accurately detect residual ink amount.
To sensor arm 470 be described with reference to Figure 19 herein.Figure 19 is the view that sensor arm 470 is shown.Figure 19 (a) is the view that the front side of sensor arm 470 is shown, and Figure 19 (b) is the view that the sensor arm of seeing from the visual angle of the arrow XIXb of Figure 19 (a) 470 is shown.Sensor arm 470 is the members that are used to detect in the residual ink amount of accumulator chamber 111 inside.Therefore sensor arm 470 utilizes resin material (for example polypropylene) by injection-molded manufacturing, and because it is formed into lighttightly, has the property of being in the light.
On coupling part 472, be formed with the substantial cylindrical connecting axle 472a of the arm retained part 425 (seeing Figure 14) that is connected to frame part 110.The diameter that this connecting axle 472a forms is less than the internal diameter of arm retained part 425, but greater than the opening length of arm retained part 425.As a result, when sensor arm 470 rotations, its almost non-resistance ground operation, and can prevent that sensor arm 470 from departing from arm retained part 425.
Shown in Figure 19 (b), arm portion 473 forms and makes it fully thin than balance portion 471 and coupling part 472.This be because, when arm portion 473 is formed with thick profile, increased the scale of test section 140, the result, it is big that print cartridge 14 becomes, and the resistance during sensor arm 470 rotations increases, and can not detect the accurate amount of excess ink so sometimes.In addition, as mentioned above, when the thickness of test section 140 increased, the detection range of excess ink detecting sensor 57 correspondingly broadened, and the detection sensitivity deterioration, thereby must have the expensive high-performance excess ink detecting sensor of good detection performance.Therefore, arm portion 473 is formed with thin contour, increase so that prevent the scale of print cartridge 14, and the accurate amount that detects excess ink.On upright arm part 473a and inclined arm part 473b, form rib 473d, and keep intensity by these ribs.
Covering on the arm portion 473c, in the top of the part that is contained in 140 inside, test section and two positions of bottom (upside and lower side among Figure 19 (a)), form roughly hemispheric arm jut 473e1 and 473e2, and these arm jut 473e1 and 473e2 have reduced and have covered arm portion 473c because the surface tension of ink and attached on the inwall of test section 140 and the possibility that becomes and can not rotate.In other words because arm jut 473e1 and 473e2 form hemispherical, so with the contacted unique part of the inwall of test section 140 be the end of arm jut 473e1 and 473e2, thereby reduced the capillary influence of ink.
Utilize traditional balance portion, the inside of balance portion is hollow, so that make balance portion float on the ink level I, but utilizes this structure, the processing of balance portion (perhaps molded) to become difficult.In contrast, in this embodiment, the material of sensor arm 470 is made of the material with proportion littler than the proportion of ink, thereby does not need process, and needn't make complicated mould, thereby can reduce the manufacturing cost of sensor arm 470.
Below, the position relation and the shape of ink guide part 120, atmosphere induction part 130 and test section 140 will be described with reference to Figure 20.Figure 20 is the view that the part of accumulator element 100 is shown.Figure 20 (a) is the view that the side surface of accumulator element 100 is shown, and Figure 20 (b) is the view that the partial front elevation view of accumulator element 100 is shown, and Figure 20 (c) is the cutaway view by the XXc-XXc line of Figure 20 (a).
Shown in Figure 20 (a) and 20 (b), ink guide part 120, atmosphere induction part 130 and test section 140 are arranged on one of them side surface (end face of frame part 110; The place ahead of installation when print cartridge 14 is installed to side surface) on.As mentioned above, the position shown in Figure 20 (a) and 20 (b) is the position that print cartridge 14 is installed in accommodating chamber 50 inside of refill unit 13 (see figure 1)s.Therefore, be installed at print cartridge 14 under the state of refill unit 13 inside, atmosphere induction part 130, test section 140 and ink guide part 120 be (top of Figure 20 (a)) (bottom of Figure 20 (a)) arrangement to the bottom sequentially from the top.In other words, these elements are arranged along the short transverse (Y direction) of print cartridge 14.
Shown in Figure 20 (a), the diameter t6 that the width t5 of test section 140 forms the opening (the opening 600a (seeing Figure 34) of following supply block 600) than ink guide part 120 is short.In addition, shown in Figure 20 (b), test section 140 forms recessed along the direction (in the position that is retracted to accumulator chamber 111 sides) of frame part 110 with respect to ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130.
As mentioned above, the arm portion 473 of sensor arm 470 is positioned at the inboard of test section 140.Such as will be described below, the light path of excess ink detecting sensor 57 (see figure 5)s is opened from light-blocking state owing to the rotation of arm portion 473, and therefore can detect residual ink amount.On excess ink detecting sensor 57, light receiving part 57b and luminous component 57a are positioned on the both sides (left side and the right side of Figure 20 (a)) of test section 140, thus two sides (left side of Figure 20 (a) and the surface on right side of test section 140; Front side and the rear side surface of Figure 20 (b)) form and detect surperficial 140a and 140b.Be clear that from Figure 20 (a) when being in print cartridge 14 and being installed in position in the refill unit 13, these detect the short transverse (Y direction) that surperficial 140a and 140b are parallel to print cartridge 14, in other words, these surfaces are vertical.When ink detects on the front surface of surperficial 140a and 140b attached to these, can not detect the accurate amount of excess ink sometimes.
For example, when transportation multi-function device 1, needn't transport in the mode of multi-function device 1 level.Therefore, ink guide part 120 is positioned at the top sometimes, but ink leaks out from ink guide part 120 at this moment sometimes, and attached on the test section 140.In addition, when print cartridge 14 temporarily when refill unit 13 is removed, attached to the ink on the pin 49 of multi-function device 1 may opening attached to ink guide part 120 near, but after removing print cartridge 14, attached near the ink the opening of ink guide part 120 depend on sometimes the user handle print cartridge 14 the position and attached on the test section 140.Under ink has been attached to state on the test section 140, when print cartridge 14 is installed in the refill unit 13 again, because the light receiving part 57b and the luminous component 57a of ink detection part 140 (detecting surperficial 140a and 140b) and excess ink detecting sensor 57 are very approaching under installment state, as mentioned above, there is following risk, promptly can transfers on the light receiving part 57b and luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 attached to the ink on the test section 140.In this manner, stopped light, therefore made the sensitivity deterioration of excess ink detecting sensor 57 attached to the ink on the excess ink detecting sensor 57.This deterioration of sensitivity is in the black print cartridge that uses the pigment ink even more outstanding.
In this embodiment, shown in Figure 20 (b), test section 140 is arranged on the position that is retracted to accumulator chamber 111 sides with respect to ink guide part 120, thereby even ink drips from ink guide part 120, also can make ink be difficult to attached on the test section 140.In other words, when the user remains on print cartridge 14 when making ink guide part 120 be higher than the vertical position of the end face (being formed with the end face of the opening 600a of supply block 600) of test section 140 and ink guide part 120, attached near the ink the opening of ink guide part 120 be subject to most gravity influence and may fall, but because test section 140 is retracted to accumulator chamber 111 sides with respect to ink guide part 120, so the ink that falls 140 does not advance towards the test section, thereby non-cohesive on test section 140.
Because when print cartridge 14 is installed in the position in the refill unit 13, detect surperficial 140a and 140b is vertical, so, ink is subject to the influence of gravity most when being installed in print cartridge 14 in the refill unit 13 when being attached to surperficial 140a of detection and 140b at ink when, thereby it falls fast.Therefore can fully avoid light receiving part 57b and the luminous component 57a of ink transfer to excess ink detecting sensor 57.In addition, the ink that falls is non-cohesive on the end face of ink guide part 120.
In addition, shown in Figure 20 (c), form sidewall on test section 140, these sidewalls form detection wall 140a and 140b from the side surface of frame part 110.Therefore, the edge 140c of the side surface of frame part 110 and surperficial 140a of detection and 140b intersection is formed approximate right angle.When ink during attached near edge 140c, because edge 140c is formed approximate right angle, so the capillary force action of edge 140c is on ink, and ink may flow to ink guide part 120 sides by edge 140c.Therefore can reduce ink to detecting adhering to of surperficial 140a and 140b.
The formation of the parts of accumulator element 100 is described below with reference to Figure 21.Figure 21 is the exploded front view of accumulator element 100.
As shown in figure 21, accumulator element 100 mainly is divided into four elements.These four parts are the ink dispensing plugs 520 in the atmosphere admission gear 510 of frame part 110, the ink-supplying mechanism 500 that constitutes ink guide part 120, formation atmosphere induction part 130 and the dispensing barrel part 451 (seeing Figure 17) that is pressed into ink dispensing part 150.Ink dispensing plug 520 is made by for example elastic component of Pulci rubber, in case and it is pressed in the dispensing barrel part 451, ink dispensing plug 520 just can not easily be removed, and, even remove or inserted pin, ink dispensing plug 520 also is constituted as and makes the route of pin by obturation.
The ink supply element 116 that forms the substantial cylindrical shape forms the unit with the atmosphere air inlet element 117 that forms the substantial cylindrical shape on frame part 110, the part of ink-supplying mechanism 500 is inserted in the ink supply element 116, and the part of atmosphere admission gear 510 is inserted in this atmosphere air inlet element 117.In addition, jut 116a and 116b (jut 116b is not shown among the figure) are outstanding along the peripheral direction of ink supply element 116, thereby fastening ink-supplying mechanism 500, these juts 116a and 116b are that the center is arranged in symmetrically on the ink supply element 116 and (is arranged in front side and rear side on the direction vertical with the page of Figure 21) with the axle center of ink supply element 116.Equally, jut 117a and 117b (jut 117b is not shown among the figure) are outstanding along the peripheral direction of atmosphere air inlet element 117, thereby fastening atmosphere admission gear 510, these juts 117a and 117b are that the center is arranged in symmetrically on the atmosphere air inlet element 117 and (is arranged in front side and rear side on the direction vertical with the page of Figure 21) with the axle center of atmosphere air inlet element 117.Jut 116a, 116b, 117a and 117b are formed and make that the end face of accumulator chamber 111 sides is outstanding along the direction (Z direction) vertical with the outer surface of the outer surface of ink supply element 116 or atmosphere air inlet element 117, and these juts from this raised edges part towards ink supply element 116 outer surface or the outer peripheral portion of atmosphere air inlet element 117 tilt.In other words, when ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 are connected to ink supply element 116 and atmosphere air inlet element 117, can prevent the desorption that is easy to of ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510.
The parts of ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 are described below with reference to Figure 22 to 33.Figure 22 is the exploded view of ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510.Figure 22 (a) is the exploded view of ink-supplying mechanism 500, and Figure 22 (b) is the exploded view of atmosphere admission gear 510.
Shown in Figure 22 (a), ink-supplying mechanism 500 is equipped with: supply block 600, and it is installed on the ink supply element 116; Supply joint 610, it is made by the elastic resin material of for example rubber, and pin 49 (see figure 2)s of multi-function device 1 (see figure 1) are inserted in this supply joint 610; Supply valve 620, it stops the flow channel of ink when this supply joint 610 contacts with diapire; The first supply spring 630, it is housed in this supply valve 620 inside, and is made by the resinite elastomeric material; Supply slide block 640, it covers the open surface of supply valve 620, and can be along the operation of single shaft direction, this single shaft direction is that (direction of the arrow O1 among Figure 22 (a) is hereinafter referred to as " the axial O1 of ink-supplying mechanism 500 " for the moving direction that is pressed into the supply valve 620 in the pin 49; About this direction, as being clear that from Figure 14, when loading print cartridge 14, ink-supplying mechanism 500 becomes parallel with directions X); The second supply spring 650, it is housed in this supply slide block 640 inside, and supplies with first that spring 630 is the same to form identical shape by identical materials; Valve seat 660, it contacts with this second supply spring 650, and receives check-valves 670; And cover 680, it covers check-valves 670 between self and this valve seat 660.Supply valve 620, the first supply spring 630, supply slide block 640 and the second supply spring 650 constitute the supply valve mechanism 501 of practical operation.
Shown in Figure 22 (b), atmosphere admission gear 510 is equipped with: atmosphere block 700, and it is installed on the atmosphere air inlet element 117; Atmosphere joint 710, it is made by the elastic resin material of for example rubber; Atmos-valve 720, when this atmosphere joint 710 contacted with diapire and contacts with rear side 56 (see figure 5)s of multi-function device 1, this atmos-valve 720 stopped the flow channel of ink, and was installed in multi-function device 1 (refill unit 13 when print cartridge 14; See Fig. 1) in the time, this atmos-valve 720 is opened the flow channel (path) of atmosphere; First air spring 730, it is housed in this atmos-valve 720 inside, and is made by the resinite elastomeric material; Atmosphere slide block 740, it covers the open surface of atmos-valve 720, and can be along the operation of single shaft direction, (direction of the arrow O2 among Figure 22 (b) is hereinafter referred to as " the axial O2 of atmosphere organization of supply 510 " for the moving direction of the atmos-valve 720 that this single shaft direction is a pressurized; As being clear that from Figure 14, when loading print cartridge 14, atmosphere organization of supply 510 becomes parallel with directions X); With second largest air spring 750, it is housed in this atmosphere slide block 740 inside, and equally with first air spring 730 forms identical shape by identical materials.Atmos-valve 720, first air spring 730, atmosphere slide block 740 and second largest air spring 750 constitute the atmos-valve mechanism 511 of practical operation.
Below with reference to Figure 23 to 33 supply block 600, supply joint 610, supply valve 620, the first and second supply springs 630 and 650, supply slide block 640, valve seat 660, check-valves 670, lid 680, atmosphere block 700, atmosphere joint 710, atmos-valve 720, the first and second big air springs 730 and 750 and atmosphere slide block 740 are described.
Figure 23 is the view that supply block 600 is shown.Figure 23 (a) is the side view that supply block 600 is shown, the view of Figure 23 (b) illustrates the side view of the supply block of seeing from the visual angle of the arrow XXIIIb of Figure 23 (a) 600, the view of Figure 23 (c) illustrates the plan view of supply block 600, the view of Figure 23 (d) illustrates the bottom view of supply block 600, and Figure 23 (e) is the cutaway view of the supply block 600 of the XXIIIe-XXIIIe line by Figure 23 (c).
Shown in Figure 23 (a), supply block 600 from the side-looking visual angle (visual angle of the direction vertical) with the page of Figure 23 (a) see the shape that is formed with the two-stage ladder, and the upper portion among Figure 23 (a) is a supply standing part 601, it is fastened to the outer surface of ink supply element 116, and form the substantial cylindrical shape, and the lower portion among Figure 23 (a) is an ink storage area 602, and it has the ink memory space, is used to prevent that ink from dripping to the outside of print cartridge 14.
On supply standing part 601, form conjugate foramen 603a and 603b (conjugate foramen 603b sees Figure 23 (b)), near near these conjugate foramens part of (upside Figure 23 (a)) coupling part of ink storage area 602 is formed up to the top, and when supply block 600 is fixed to ink supply element 116 (seeing Figure 21), engage with the jut 116a and the 116b (seeing Figure 21) of ink supply element 116.
Shown in Figure 23 (b), on supply standing part 601, form a pair of supply block notch portion 604a and 604b (supply block notch portion 604b sees Figure 23 (c)), these supply block notch portion are formed on roughly the straight line vertical with the straight line that is connected conjugate foramen 603a and 603b, and (the axle center O1 with respect to ink-supplying mechanism 500 moves on about 90 ° position, and the incision of the direction from supply standing part 601 (upper surface Figure 23 (b)) towards ink storage area 602 and formation otch.
Shown in the bottom view of the front elevation among Figure 23 (c) and Figure 23 (d), form patchhole 605 in the approximate centre position of the ink storage area 602 of supplying block 600, (as described below) pin 49 (see figure 2)s are inserted this patchhole 605.Shown in Figure 23 (c), from the circle that forms patchhole 605 to the outside zone of the circle of one-level is the first upper wall 606a, it forms the upper surface of ink storage area 602, and from the circle in the outside that forms the first upper wall 606a to the outside zone of the circle of one-level is inclined wall 606b, and its forms the inclined surface that is directed downwards inclination along the bottom surface of ink storage area 602.From the circle in the outside that forms this inclined wall 606b to the outside zone of the circle of one-level is lower wall 606c, it forms the lower surface of ink storage area 602, and from the circle in the outside that forms lower wall 606c to the outside zone of the circle of one-level is the second upper wall 606d, it forms the lower surface of supply standing part 601, and forms the upper surface of ink storage area 602.The part that connects the lower wall 606c and the second upper wall 606d is periphery wall 606e, and this periphery wall 606e forms the outer surface of ink storage area 602.Inclined wall 606b forms the barrel of ink storage area 602 inside, and forms the barrel in the outside that surrounds inclined wall 606b (inboard barrel) by the periphery wall 606e that lower wall 606c is connected to this inclined wall 606b.
In Figure 23 (d), inclined wall 606b is downward-sloping, therefore, shown in the cutaway view of Figure 23 (e), the insertion opening of pin 49 forms conical in shape, thereby its diameter reduces towards patchhole 605, and has the maximum gauge of the opening 600a of the last outlet that forms ink.As a result, become the insertion passage in the interior perimeter surface of the axle center of inclined wall 606b O1 side, pin 49 (see figure 2)s are inserted in this insertion passage.The space of scope t7 shown in Figure 23 (c) and 23 (e) (in other words, the space that inclined wall 606b, lower wall 606c and periphery wall 606e form) forms ink storage area 607, can store (accumulation) ink in this ink storage area 607.
When supply block 600 was connected to ink supply element 116 (seeing Figure 21), the jut 116a of ink supply element 116 and 116b were outstanding along peripheral direction, thereby supply block 600 connects when peripheral direction increases at its diameter.Because formed supply block notch portion 604a and 604b, so the diameter of supply block 600 increases on bonding part 603a and 603b move away from each other direction.Therefore, in the time will connecting supply block 600, can not apply strong pressure ground and connect, thus can be when reducing to the damage of supply block 600 the raising installation effectiveness.
Figure 24 is the view that supply joint 610 is shown.The view of Figure 24 (a) illustrates the side view of supply joint 610, the view of Figure 24 (b) illustrates the plan view of supply joint 610, the view of Figure 24 (c) illustrates the bottom view of supply joint 610, and Figure 24 (d) illustrates the cutaway view of supply joint 610 by the XXIVd-XXIVd line of Figure 24 (b).
Shown in Figure 24 (a), supply joint 610 from the side-looking visual angle (perpendicular to the visual angle of the direction of the page of Figure 24 (a)) see and form three ladders.Part (downside of Figure 24 (a)) shown in the ladder of the end is a joint outer peripheral portion 611, it is and second upper wall 606d of the ink storage area 602 of supplying block 600 (seeing Figure 23) and the contacted part of interior perimeter surface of supplying standing part 601, and forms the outer peripheral portion of supply joint 610.When being in the state that supply block 600 is fixed on the ink supply element 116, this joint outer peripheral portion 611 is the parts that are clipped between the outside end face of the second upper wall 606d of supply block 600 and ink supply element 116.Part shown in the ladder of the top of joint outer peripheral portion 611 is a circumferential portion 612 in the joint, it is pressed in the ink supply element 116 (seeing Figure 21) and is arranged in ink supply element 116 inside, and form the interior circumferential portion of supplying joint 610, and the top of circumferential portion 612 in the joint has been shown among Figure 24 (a).In addition, the part in joint shown in the top ladder of circumferential portion 612 is a joint contact portion 613, and it contacts with supply valve 620 (seeing Figure 25).Supply joint 610 is made by the elastomeric material of for example resin rubber.
Shown in Figure 24 (b), the axle center of supply joint 610 is positioned on the axle center O1 of ink-supplying mechanism 500, and joint contact portion 613, the interior circumferential portion 612 of joint and joint outer peripheral portion sequentially form towards peripheral direction from this axle center O1.
Shown in Figure 24 (d), joint contact portion 613 end face 612a (with the surface on supply valve 620 contacted those sides) of circumferential portion 612 in the joint stretches out.Joint contact portion 613 is formed and makes it narrow down towards most advanced and sophisticated 613a (upper end of Figure 24 (d)), and should contact with the bottom surface of supply valve 620 by tip 613a, and stops the flow channel of ink.In addition, in joint, form joint jut 614, opening 612c and stepped insertion path 612d on the circumferential portion 612, this joint jut 614 is outstanding from interior perimeter surface towards axle center O1, this opening 612c is formed on the insertion opening of last pin 49 (see figure 2)s that form of bottom surface 612b (downside among Figure 24 (d)) of circumferential portion 612 in the joint, and this stepped insertion path 612d is formed between opening 612c and the joint jut 614.Shown in Figure 24 (c), the part that forms stairstepping of inserting passage 612d is to form apart from axle center O1 interval about equally along peripheral direction.The interior perimeter surface 614a of joint jut 614 is set to parallel with the axle center O1 direction of ink-supplying mechanism 500, and along the direction vertical with the direction of axle center O1 step-like surface 614b is set.
Shown in Figure 24 (d), on supply joint 610, form ink flow path 615, this ink flow path 615 bottom surface 612b of circumferential portion 612 in joint extends through the most advanced and sophisticated 613a (downside from Figure 24 (d) is to upside) of joint contact portion 613.This ink flow path 615 is by the opening 612c that forms on the 612b of bottom surface, be connected to the step portion flow channel 615a that the stepped insertion path 612d of opening 612c is marked off, be connected to the jut flow channel 615b that interior perimeter surface 614a marked off of the joint jut 614 that inserts passage 612d, and be connected to the step-like surface 614b of interior perimeter surface 614a of joint jut 614 and the contact portion flow channel 615c that interior perimeter surface 613b marked off that is connected to the joint contact portion 613 of this step-like surface 614b constitutes.
The Lower Half of step portion flow channel 615a forms stairstepping along the direction of axle center O1, and the first half of step portion flow channel 615a forms conical in shape towards jut flow channel 615b.In addition, step portion flow channel 615a forms stairstepping, thereby diameter reduces towards the contact surface that contacts with the interior perimeter surface 614a of joint jut 614 gradually from opening 612c.The bottom of step portion flow channel 615a forms stairstepping, therefore, the ink flow path 615 even ink of dismounting pin 49 (see figure 2)s and trace is flowed through, the capillary force that causes owing to the bight of this step portion also keeps ink, thereby can prevent that ink from dripping to the outside of supply joint 610.When removing pin 49,, can prevent the drippage of ink too even ink drips to the ink flow path 615 from the tip of pin 49.In this embodiment, supply block 600 is equipped with ink storage area 602, thereby the part that forms stairstepping of the Lower Half of step portion flow channel 615a replacedly forms conical in shape.
Jut flow channel 615b is the flow channel with minimum diameter of ink flow path 615, and it forms the cylinder form of general hollow.The internal diameter of this jut flow channel 615b is formed the diameter that is slightly less than pin 49 (see figure 2)s.Contact portion flow channel 615c forms the general hollow cylinder form, and its internal diameter is greater than the internal diameter of jut flow channel 615b, and this internal diameter is fully greater than the diameter of pin 49.Because form step-like surface 614b on the border of jut flow channel 615b and contact portion flow channel 615c, therefore, the internal diameter along axle center O1 direction from jut flow channel 615b to contact portion flow channel 615c sharply changes.As a result, shown in Figure 24 (d), joint contact portion 613 presents the structure that is cut to the countersunk shape by its interior perimeter surface 613b and step-like surface 614b, and the most advanced and sophisticated 613a of joint contact portion 613 is positioned at the periphery of this notch portion.
The pin 49 that inserts from opening 612c is directed to the top that forms conical in shape of step portion flow channel 615a, and is inserted among the jut flow channel 615b.At this moment, because the internal diameter of jut flow channel 615b is slightly less than the diameter of pin 49, so pin 49 is flexibly on the interior perimeter surface 614a attached to the joint jut 614 that forms jut flow channel 615b, and is pressed into inside, thus pin 49 expansion jut flow channel 615b.In other words, joint jut 614 is used for and will be pressed into the periphery sealing of the pin 49 of jut flow channel 615b.In addition, if the area of the part of elastic attachment on pin 49 peripheries of supply joint 610 becomes big, then the resistance when print cartridge 14 is installed in multi-function device 1 (see figure 1) becomes big, therefore can not steadily install.But, in this embodiment, use set up joint jut 614 and only on interior perimeter surface 614a with pin 49 contacted structures, thereby can reduce the surface that contacts with pin 49, and print cartridge can be installed in the multi-function device 1 reposefully.In addition, pin 49 is inserted in the ink flow path 615, thereby the flow channel of ink actual flow process becomes the inside of pin 49.In addition, because contact portion flow channel 615c forms the countersunk shape, so can reduce supply joint 610 moving when pin 49 inserts along axle center O1 direction.
Figure 25 is the view that supply valve 620 is shown.Figure 25 (a) is the view that the side view of supply valve 620 is shown, the view of Figure 25 (b) illustrates the side view of the supply valve of seeing from the arrow XXVb visual angle of Figure 25 (a) 620, Figure 25 (c) is the view that the plan view of supply valve 620 is shown, Figure 25 (d) is the view that the bottom view of supply valve 620 is shown, and Figure 25 (e) is the cutaway view of the supply valve 620 of the XXVe-XXVe line by Figure 25 (c).
Shown in Figure 25 (a), supply valve 620 is equipped with: the valve diapire 621 that forms the bottom surface (downside surface of Figure 25 (a)) of supply valve 620; And the valve periphery wall 622 that is provided with from this valve diapire 621 along the direction of the axle center O1 of ink-supplying mechanism 500 (seeing Figure 22).
Form a pair of valve guide groove 623 on valve periphery wall 622, loose insertion portion 643 looselys of slide block of supply slide block 640 (seeing Figure 27) are inserted in these valve guide grooves 623.Shown in Figure 25 (c), this is symmetrically formed the axle center O1 of valve guide groove 623 about ink-supplying mechanism 500.In addition, shown in Figure 25 (c), on valve periphery wall 622, form valve stretching wall 624, stretch out along the direction opposite with valve diapire 621 at the top of this valve stretching wall 624 along the direction of axle center O1 from valve periphery wall 622, and from the top of this valve stretching wall 624 until form valve guide groove 623 near the bottom of valve periphery wall 622.As a result, because the distance of valve guide groove 623 is guaranteed to long distance, therefore can prevent that the loose insertion portion 643 of limited slip block departs from valve guide groove 623.
In addition, a pair of valve restricted part 625 is connected to valve periphery wall 622, and this stretches out along the direction opposite with valve diapire 621 valve restricted part 625, and the operation of supply on restriction slide block 640.Each valve restricted part 625 in these valve restricted parts 625 is equipped with valve hook portion 626, and stretch out on the top (top of upper portion Figure 25 (a)) of this valve hook portion 626 towards axle center O1 from valve restricted part 625, and engages with supply slide block 640.
In addition, form four valve jut 622a along valve periphery wall 622 with the interval that equates on valve periphery wall 622, these valve juts 622a is outstanding with semicircular in shape along peripheral direction, and forms from top to the bottom of valve periphery wall 622.These valve juts 622a is provided for carrying out reposefully the operation of supply valve 620 when supply valve 620 is inserted in the ink supply element 116 (seeing Figure 21).When not having valve jut 622a, the interior perimeter surface and the valve outer surface 622 of ink supply element 116 contact sometimes, and be big thereby the contact surface that contacts with ink supply element 116 becomes, and the resistance when operation also becomes big.Therefore, because be provided with the valve jut 622a that forms semicircular in shape, thus have only valve jut 622a to contact with the interior perimeter surface of ink supply element 116, and the operation of supply valve 620 in ink supply element 116 inside becomes steady.
Valve restricted part 625 and valve stretching wall are formed from valve periphery wall 622 and extend upward.As a result, can prevent to supply slide block 640 misalignment on the direction vertical with the direction of axle center O1.In addition, supply slide block 640 is subjected to the restriction of valve restricted part 625 along the operation of axle center O1 direction, thereby can accommodate and operate the first supply spring 630 reliably.Shown in Figure 25 (c), on valve diapire 621, in the position corresponding, form four ink flow paths 627 that vertical direction along valve diapire 621 (perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 25 (c)) is communicated with along the direction of the axle center O1 of ink-supplying mechanism 500 (perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 25 (c)) with valve guide groove 623 and valve restricted part 625.Valve diapire 621 protrudes upward from its bottom surface, and is equipped with valve-supporting part 628, and this valve-supporting part 628 is the platforms that receive the spring top 632 of the first supply spring 630 (seeing Figure 26).Valve-supporting part 628 is made by two tabular components that are arranged in parallel on valve diapire 621.Shown in Figure 25 (e), valve-supporting part 628 is formed along the height of axle center O1 direction and fully is lower than valve periphery wall 622.Valve-supporting part 628 is provided for guaranteeing that the first supply spring 630 does not contact with valve diapire 621 when the first supply spring 630 is arranged in valve periphery wall 622 volume inside.This is because if the first supply spring 630 contacts with valve diapire 621, just stopped that ink flow path and ink are no longer mobile.Therefore, valve-supporting part 628 is provided for guaranteeing ink flow path, and as long as the first supply spring 630 does not contact with valve diapire 621, this part is exactly an acceptable, thereby valve-supporting part 628 forms minimum desired height, and this prevents to increase along the size scale of the direction of the axle center O1 of ink-supplying mechanism 500.
Valve internal perisporium 629 is arranged on the outside of valve-supporting part 628 and on the inboard of ink flow path 627, this valve internal perisporium 629 forms roughly circular arc, and this circular arc covers the outer surface at the spring top 632 of the first supply spring 630.This valve internal perisporium 629 is provided for limiting the first supply spring 630 moving along the direction vertical with axle center O1, and by the restriction first supply spring 630 along the moving of the direction vertical, exactly along the crooked first supply spring 630 of axle center O1 direction with axle center O1.
Figure 26 is the view that the first supply spring 630 is shown.Figure 26 (a) is the view that the side view of the first supply spring 630 is shown, Figure 26 (b) is the view that the plan view of the first supply spring 630 is shown, Figure 26 (c) is the view that the bottom view of the first supply spring 630 is shown, and Figure 26 (d) illustrates the cutaway view of the first supply spring 630 by the XXVId-XXVId line of Figure 26 (b).
The first supply spring 630 forms roughly inverted bowl-shape (or taper shape of general hollow), and it mainly is equipped with: ring spring bottom 631, and it forms the bottom surface (end with larger-diameter that side) of the first supply spring 630; Ring spring top 632, it is formed with the little diameter of diameter than this spring bottom 631, and forms the top (having the end than that side of minor diameter) of the upper surface of the first supply spring 630; And spring plasticity part 633, its connects between this spring top 632 and spring bottom 631, and (is pressed into the moving direction of the supply valve 620 in pin 49 (see figure 2)s when the direction along the axle center O1 of ink-supplying mechanism 500; Also be the bias voltage direction of the first supply spring 630 and the second supply spring 650) when applying load, these spring plasticity part 633 crooked and distortion.Spring top 632 contacts with the valve-supporting part 628 of supply valve 620 (seeing Figure 25), and forms the pressures partially that supply valve 620 is pressed along the direction of supply joint 610 (seeing Figure 24).The diameter of spring bottom 631 is formed the diameter greater than spring top 632, thus the base portion that spring bottom 631 forms when spring plasticity part 633 strains.
Shown in Figure 26 (d), on the first supply spring 630, form ink flow path 634, this ink flow path 634 is communicated with from the bottom surface (left side among Figure 26 (d)) of top (right side Figure 26 (d)) to the spring bottom 631 at spring top 632.This ink flow path 634 is made of the top flow channel 634a that interior perimeter surface marked off at spring top 632, the plasticity part flow channel 634b that interior perimeter surface marked off of spring plasticity part 633 and the bottom flow channel 634c that interior perimeter surface marked off of spring bottom 631.Shown in Figure 26 (d), the aperture area of this ink flow path 634 increases gradually from the top at spring top 632 towards the bottom surface of spring bottom 631.In addition, shown in Figure 26 (b) and 26 (c), from the visual angle perpendicular to the direction of the page, the top flow channel 634a at spring top 632 forms round-shaped.Crooked and when forming protrude on the side that is moving away axle center O1 roughly inverted bowl-shape when spring plasticity part 633, spring plasticity part 633 can be than in spring plasticity part 633 being easy deformation more under the situation of conical shaped.
The shape of cross section of the top flow channel 634a at spring top 632 also can form roughly quadrangle form.When the opening of top flow channel 634a forms roughly quadrangle form, can reduce the influence of air bubbles that ink inside is comprised.Herein, the bubble that comprises in the ink is spherical, thereby when flow channel grown into the bubble bigger than the internal diameter of top flow channel 634a during obturation, just cut off ink flow path (path), and ink normally can not have been delivered to multi-function device 1 (see figure 1).As a result, the print quality of multi-function device 1 descends.But, when the opening of top flow channel 634a forms quadrangle form, even grow into the bubble accumulation bigger than the open surfaces of top flow channel 634a, also not inaccessible those four bights therefore can be by preventing the inaccessible reduction that reduces print quality of ink flow path.In addition, the open surfaces of top flow channel 634a is not limited to quadrangle, and it can alternatively form polygon for example hexagon or star.As in this embodiment, if it is circular, it can be formed with and will make the diameter of influence of air bubbles minimum.
Shown in Figure 26 (d), spring top 632 is formed the relative thicker cylinder form of extending along axle center O1 direction, and it is formed feasible and the vertical shape of cross section homogeneous of axle center O1 direction (the bias voltage direction of the first supply spring 630).Similarly, spring bottom 631 also is formed the relative thicker cylinder form of extending along axle center O1 direction, and it is formed the feasible shape of cross section homogeneous vertical with axle center O1 direction.
Shown in Figure 26 (d), spring plasticity part 633 is formed roughly inverted bowl-shape (or conical shaped shape), and it is according to the direction bending (or tilt) of predetermined angle along axle center O1.As a result, compare with spring top 632, with respect to weakened along the load of axle center O1 direction with spring bottom 631.In addition, it is thinner than spring bottom 631 and spring top 632 that spring plasticity part 633 is formed the section that makes it, thereby so also reduced intensity.Therefore, when the first supply spring, 630 strains, 633 plastic deformations of spring plasticity part.
The second supply spring 650 is formed with the identical shape of shape with the first supply spring 630, and the composition of the second supply spring 650 is made of spring bottom 651, spring top 652, spring plasticity part 653 and ink flow path 654 (top flow channel 654a, plasticity part flow channel 654b and bottom flow channel 654c).In addition, first air spring 730 and second largest air spring 750 also are formed with the shape identical with the first supply spring 630, and they are made of spring bottom 731 and 751, spring top 732 and 752, spring plasticity part 733 and 753, ink flow path 734 and 754 (top flow channel 734a and 754a, plasticity part flow channel 734b and 754b and bottom flow channel 734c and 754c) respectively.
Figure 27 is the view that supply slide block 640 is shown.Figure 27 (a) is the view that the side view of supply slide block 640 is shown, Figure 27 (b) is the view that the side view of the supply slide block of seeing from the visual angle of the arrow XXVIIb of Figure 27 (a) 640 is shown, Figure 27 (c) is the view that the plan view of supply slide block 640 is shown, Figure 27 (d) is the view that the bottom view of supply slide block 640 is shown, and Figure 27 (e) is the cutaway view that illustrates by the XXVIIe-XXVIIe line of Figure 27 (c).
Supply slide block 640 is formed by the resin material that hardness is higher than the first supply spring 630 (seeing Figure 26) and the second supply spring 650, and it mainly is equipped with: slide block periphery wall 641, and it forms the neighboring of supply slide block 640; A pair of slide block stretching wall 642a and 642b, the direction of their axle center O1 from this slide block periphery wall 641 along ink-supplying mechanism 500 is stretched out; The loose insertion portion 643 of a pair of slide block, they extend to the last top (upside Figure 27 (a)) of slide block stretching wall 642a from slide block periphery wall 641, and loosely is inserted in the valve guide groove 623 (seeing Figure 25) of supply valve 620; Slide block terrace part 644, on its both sides, arrange the first and second supply springs 630 and 650, this slide block terrace part 644 is formed on the inboard of slide block periphery wall 641, and contacts with the spring bottom 631 and 651 of the first and second supply springs 630 and 650; And slide block through hole 645, it is formed on the center of slide block terrace part 644, and connects the top and the bottom of slide block terrace part 644.Be clear that from Figure 27 (c) slide block stretching wall 642a and 642b are provided with symmetrically, thereby they clip axle center O1, and that is to the loose insertion portion 643 of slide block also setting symmetrically, thereby they clip axle center O1.
The internal diameter of slide block periphery wall 641 is formed and is substantially equal to the first and second supply springs 630 and 650 spring bottom 631 and 651 external diameter, and slide block stretching wall 642a and 642b are formed and make them stretch out along the direction of axle center O1 from this slide block periphery wall 641, thereby when arranging the first and second supply springs 630 and 650, the first and second supply springs 630 and 650 moving have been limited along the direction vertical with axle center O1.As a result, the first and second supply springs 630 and 650 can be reliably along the direction strain of axle center O1.
The loose insertion portion 643 of slide block is formed and makes them extend (being formed on slide block periphery wall 641 and the slide block jut 642) along the direction of the axle center O1 of supply slide block 640, thereby when loose insertion portion 643 looselys of these slide blocks are inserted into valve guide groove 623 (seeing Figure 25), the loose insertion portion 643 of these slide blocks moves reposefully along the direction of the axle center O1 of supply slide block 640, and can prevent the misalignment on the direction vertical with axle center O1 direction.
Figure 28 is the view that valve seat 660 is shown.Figure 28 (a) is the view that the side view of valve seat 660 is shown, Figure 28 (b) is the view that the plan view of valve seat 660 is shown, Figure 28 (c) is the view that the bottom view of valve seat 660 is shown, and Figure 28 (d) is the cutaway view that illustrates by the XXVIIId-XXVIIId line of Figure 28 (b).
Shown in Figure 28 (a), valve seat 660 is equipped with: valve seat bottom 661, and it forms the bottom surface of this valve seat 660, and contacts with the spring top 652 of the second supply spring 650; With valve seat supporting part 662, it is arranged on the end face (upside of Figure 28 (a)) of this valve seat bottom 661.Each valve seat supporting part 662 is equipped with valve seat inclined surface 662a, and this valve seat inclined surface 662a is along with downward-sloping near the center of valve seat 660, and following the check-valves of describing 670 is received by this valve seat inclined surface 662a.
Shown in Figure 28 (b), along circumferencial direction six valve seat supporting parts 662 of interval formation according to the rules of valve seat 660.Be formed with the first valve seat through-hole 662b on three in six valve seat supporting parts, these first valve seat through-holes 662b passes the front and back of valve seat 660.These first valve seat through-holes 662b is formed on the part (horizontal component of valve seat supporting part 662) except the valve seat inclined surface 662a of valve seat supporting part 662.Therefore, because the first valve seat through-hole 662b is formed on the part different with the part that receives check-valves 670, therefore can prevent the obturation of ink flow path.
In addition, between the valve seat supporting part 662 of valve seat 660, be formed with second valve seat through-hole 663 that passes valve seat bottom 661.In Figure 28 (b), according to six these second valve seat through-holes 663 of center line (center line Q shown in Figure 28) left and right symmetrically formation of the axle center O1 that passes ink-supplying mechanism 500 (seeing Figure 22).Second valve seat through-hole 663 like this forms the ink flow path that ink flows and passes.
Shown in Figure 28 (c), on the bottom surface of valve seat bottom 661, be formed with the recessed valve seat that connects each second valve seat through-hole 663 and be communicated with groove 664.These valve seats are communicated with groove 664 and on the bottom surface of valve seat bottom 661 mode of second valve seat through-hole 663 with substantial linear are connected to each other.Therefore be formed on three valve seats that intersect at O1 place, axle center and be communicated with groove 664.In addition, on the bottom surface of valve seat bottom 661, form a pair of valve extension 665 that stretches out from this bottom surface.The spring top 652 of the second supply spring is housed in each these valve seat extensions 665, and these valve seat extensions 665 contact with the outer surface at the spring top 652 of second spring 650, thereby can limit the second supply spring 650 moving along the direction vertical with axle center O1.
Shown in Figure 28 (d), the direction along axle center O1 between the valve seat inclined surface 662a of valve seat supporting part 662 and second valve seat through-hole 663 forms the gap.As a result, even check-valves 670 is supported on the valve seat inclined surface 662a, also guarantee the flow channel of ink.In addition, even the end face at the spring top 652 of the second supply spring 650 contacts with the bottom surface of second valve seat through-hole 663, second valve seat through-hole 663 also is positioned the outside of the virtual circumference (the dummy line R among Figure 28 (c)) of valve seat extension 665, thereby is communicated with the flow channel that groove 664 is guaranteed ink by valve seat.Valve seat is communicated with groove 664 and connects the second all valve seat through-holes 663, thereby even there is second valve seat through-hole 663 that is surrounded by valve seat extension 665, also can guarantee ink flow path reliably.
Figure 29 is the view that check-valves 670 is shown.Figure 29 (a) is the view that the side view of check-valves 670 is shown, Figure 29 (b) is the view that the plan view of check-valves 670 is shown, Figure 29 (c) is the view that the bottom view of check-valves 670 is shown, and Figure 29 (d) is the cutaway view of the check-valves 670 of the XXIXd-XXIXd line by Figure 29 (a).
From the side-looking visual angle (along the visual angle perpendicular to the direction of the page of Figure 29 (a)), check-valves 670 roughly forms umbrella, and it is made of umbrella portion 671 and axial region 672.Umbrella portion 671 stops the flow channel of ink by contacting with lid 680 (seeing Figure 30), and, shown in Figure 29 (b) and 29 (d), it is equipped with the coupling part 671a that is connected to axial region 672, also is equipped with the alar part 671b that roughly evenly extends and be formed with thin profiled outline from this coupling part 671a along peripheral direction.As a result, when umbrella portion 671 and lid 680 when contacting, the alar part 671b that is formed with thin profiled outline when strain attached on the lid 680, thereby can be blocked in reliably cover 680 and check-valves 670 between the ink flow path connection.
Shown in Figure 29 (a), the bottom surface of umbrella portion 671 forms crooked shape, and support by the valve seat supporting part 662 of valve seat 660 (seeing Figure 28), thereby under the state that umbrella portion 671 is supported by the valve seat supporting part 662 of valve seat 660, open the flow channel of ink, and under the umbrella portion 671 of check-valves 670 and lid 680 contacted states, stop the flow channel of ink.
Figure 30 illustrates to cover 680 view.Figure 30 (a) illustrates the view that covers 680 side view, Figure 30 (b) illustrates the view that covers 680 plan view, Figure 30 (c) illustrates the view that covers 680 bottom view, and Figure 30 (d) is the cutaway view that the lid 680 of the XXXd-XXXd line by Figure 30 (b) is shown.
Shown in Figure 30 (b) and 30 (c), form six first lid through holes 683 with respect to axle center O1 along circumferencial direction, they pass and cover 680 front and back.These first lid through holes 683 form the flow channel of the mobile process of ink, and, when the umbrella portion 671 (seeing Figure 29) of check-valves 670 contacts with tops 682, stop the first lid through hole 683, and therefore also stopped ink flow path.
In addition, form the second lid through hole 684 at the center of tops 682 (passing the position of the axle center O1 of ink-supplying mechanism 500), the axial region 672 of check-valves 670 is inserted in this second lid through hole 684.The axial region 672 of check-valves 670 is inserted in this second lid through hole 684, is thus connected check-valves 670.Even be inserted at check-valves 670 under the state of the second lid through hole 684, also in this, form the flow channel of ink on the part of perimeter surface.But, when the umbrella portion 671 of check-valves 670 contacts with tops 682, stopped whole first the lid through hole, thereby stopped simultaneously in be formed centrally second the lid through hole 684 ink flow path.
Figure 31 is the view that atmosphere block 700 is shown.Figure 31 (a) is the view that the side view of atmosphere block 700 is shown, Figure 31 (b) is the view that atmosphere block 700 side views of seeing from the arrow XXXIb visual angle of Figure 31 (a) are shown, Figure 31 (c) is the view that the plan view of atmosphere block 700 is shown, Figure 31 (d) is the view that the bottom view of atmosphere block 700 is shown, and Figure 31 (e) is the cutaway view that the atmosphere block 700 of the XXXIe-XXXIe line by Figure 31 (c) is shown.
Shown in Figure 31 (a), atmosphere block 700 is equipped with: the atmosphere standing part 701 of substantial cylindrical, and it forms the sidewall of this atmosphere block 700, and is fastened to atmosphere air inlet element 117 (seeing Figure 21); And atmosphere block diapire 702, it forms the diapire of atmosphere block 700.On atmosphere standing part 701, form conjugate foramen 703a and 703b (conjugate foramen 703b sees Figure 31 (b)), these conjugate foramens are formed up near near top (end of the upside of Figure 31 (a)) from the bottom (downside Figure 31 (a)) of atmosphere standing part 701, and engage with the jut 117a and the 117b of above-mentioned atmosphere air inlet element 117 when atmosphere block 700 is fastened to atmosphere air inlet element 117.
Shown in Figure 31 (b), on atmosphere standing part 701, form atmosphere block notch portion 704a and 704b (atmosphere block notch portion 704b is not shown among the figure), these atmosphere block notch portion are formed on respect to axle center O2 and move about 90 ° position from the position that is formed with conjugate foramen 703a and 703b, and form otch near incision top to the bottom of atmosphere standing part 701.
In addition, shown in the bottom view of the plane of Figure 31 (c) and Figure 31 (d), form atmosphere block patchhole 705 in the approximate centre position on atmosphere block diapire 702, below the valve of the joint skirt section 714 (seeing Figure 32) of the atmosphere joint 701 described and atmos-valve 720 is opened part 721a (seeing Figure 33) be inserted in this atmosphere block patchhole 705.Atmosphere joint 710 (seeing Figure 32) is accommodated becomes to make it to contact with the inner surface of atmosphere block diapire 702 and the interior perimeter surface of atmosphere standing part 701.
When atmosphere block 700 was connected to atmosphere air inlet element 117, the jut 117a of atmosphere air inlet element 117 and 117b were outstanding along peripheral direction, and as supply block 600, thereby atmosphere block 700 connects when peripheral direction increases at its diameter.Therefore, block a shot 700 the time, can not apply strong pressure ground and install, thereby can in the damage that reduces atmosphere block 700, improve installation effectiveness when connecting atmosphere.
Figure 32 is the view that atmosphere joint 710 is shown.Figure 32 (a) is the view that the side view of atmosphere joint 710 is shown, Figure 32 (b) is the view that the plan view of atmosphere joint 710 is shown, Figure 32 (c) is the view that the bottom view of atmosphere joint 710 is shown, and Figure 32 (d) is the cutaway view of the atmosphere joint 710 of the XXXIId-XXXIId line by Figure 32 (b).
Shown in Figure 32 (a), atmosphere joint 710 from the side-looking visual angle (perpendicular to the visual angle of the direction of the page of Figure 32 (a)) see and form four ladders.From the part shown in second ladder of bottom (downside Figure 32 (a)) is joint outer peripheral portion 711, it is interior perimeter surface and atmosphere block diapire 702 contacted parts with the atmosphere standing part 701 (seeing Figure 31) of atmosphere block 700, and forms the outer peripheral portion of atmosphere joint 710.Part shown in the top ladder of this joint outer peripheral portion 711 is a circumferential portion 712 in the joint, it is arranged on the inside of atmosphere air inlet element 117 (seeing Figure 21), and form the interior circumferential portion of atmosphere joint 710, and the top of circumferential portion 712 in the joint has been shown among Figure 32 (a).In addition, the part in joint shown in the top ladder of circumferential portion 712 is a joint contact portion 713, and it contacts with atmos-valve 720.Part shown in the bottommost ladder is the joint skirt section 714 that is formed with thin profiled outline, and it is that the valve that covers atmos-valve 720 is opened the outer surface of part 721a (seeing Figure 33) and valve is opened the member that part 721a is exposed to the outside of atmosphere block 700.
Shown in Figure 32 (b), in the joint outer peripheral portion 711, joint the axle center in circumferential portion 712, joint contact portion 713 and joint skirt section 714 be positioned at along on the identical axle center of the direction of the axle center O2 of atmosphere admission gear 510.In addition, atmosphere joint 710 is made by the elastomeric material of for example resin rubber, thereby when print cartridge 14 was installed in multi-function device 1 (see figure 1), the joint skirt section 714 that is formed with thin profiled outline contacted with the end face of multi-function device 1, and strain.
Shown in Figure 32 (d), joint contact portion 713 end face 712a (with the surface on atmos-valve 720 contacted those sides) of circumferential portion 712 in the joint stretches out.Joint contact portion 713 is formed and makes it narrow down towards most advanced and sophisticated 713a (upper end among Figure 32 (d)), and should contact with the bottom surface of atmos-valve 720 by tip 713a, and stops the atmosphere inlet channel.In addition, shown in Figure 32 (d), on atmosphere joint 710, form joint path 715, the most advanced and sophisticated 713a (downside Figure 32 (d) is to upside) of joint contact portion 713 is led in the bottom surface of this joint path 715 circumferential portion 712 in joint, and the valve of atmos-valve 720 is opened part 721a and is inserted in this joint path 715.
Figure 33 is the view that atmos-valve 720 is shown.Figure 33 (a) is the view that the side view of atmos-valve 720 is shown, and Figure 33 (b) is the view that the bottom view of atmos-valve 720 is shown.In the structure of atmos-valve 720, increase valve with respect to supply valve 620 and opened part 721a, valve is opened part 721a and is stretched out from the bottom surface of valve diapire 721, and opens the atmosphere inlet channel by contacting with multi-function device 1 (referring to Fig. 1) side.Therefore, will omit detailed description herein to valve diapire 721, valve periphery wall 722, valve jut 722a, valve guide groove 723, valve stretching wall 724, valve restricted part 725, valve hook portion 726, atmosphere inlet channel 727 (corresponding to the part of ink flow path 627), valve-supporting part 728 and valve internal perisporium 729.Also will be omitted in the diagram of the part that can not visually confirm in the side view (Figure 33 (a)) of atmos-valve 720 and the bottom view (Figure 33 (b)) herein.
Atmos-valve 720 is equipped with valve to open part 721a, and this valve is opened part 721a and stretched out from the bottom surface of valve diapire 721.Valve is opened on the axle center O2 that part 721a is positioned at atmosphere admission gear 510, and roughly forms shaft-like.Open at valve and to form on the outer surface of part 721a that (lower surface Figure 22) reaches the roughly semicircular projection 721b of valve diapire 721 from the bottom along peripheral direction.This valve is opened in the joint path 715 (seeing Figure 32) that part 721a is passed into above-mentioned atmosphere joint 710, and a valve part of opening part 721a is exposed to the outside of atmosphere block 700 (seeing Figure 31).When print cartridge 14 was installed in multi-function device 1 (see figure 1), valve was opened part 721 and is contacted with the end face of multi-function device 1, and destroyed with contacting of the joint contact portion 713 of atmosphere joint 710, therefore formed the atmosphere inlet channel.
When print cartridge 14 is installed in the multi-function device 1 and valve is opened part 721a when operation, the joint skirt section 714 of atmosphere joint 710 also contacts with the end face of multi-function device 1, and strain, stopped the connection between the outside in atmosphere inlet channel and joint skirt section 714 like this.As a result, the atmosphere of introducing from multi-function device 1 side can be introduced reposefully.In addition, even the atmosphere inlet channel towards axle center O2 strain and open part 721a with valve and contact, also can be guaranteed by the projection 721b that valve is opened part 721a in joint skirt section 714.Therefore can prevent the atmosphere inlet channel by obturation, and guarantee that atmosphere is introduced in the accumulator chamber 111 (seeing Figure 14).
Describe ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 below with reference to Figure 34 and be connected to state in ink supply element 116 and the atmosphere air inlet element 117.Figure 34 illustrates the partial sectional view that ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 are connected to the state in ink supply element 116 and the atmosphere air inlet element 117.
As shown in figure 34, ink-supplying mechanism 500 inserts and is connected to the interior perimeter surface 800 of ink supply element 116, and atmosphere admission gear 510 inserts and be connected to the interior perimeter surface 810 of atmosphere air inlet element 117.
At first, description is connected to the ink-supplying mechanism 500 of ink supply element 116.On the interior perimeter surface 800 of ink supply element 116, form at service duct on the first supply intercommunicating pore, 421 sides of part 420 and form the stretching wall 801 that stretches out along the interior side direction of internal perisporium 800, and this stretching wall 801 form can accommodate cover 680 stepped.Lid 680 is inserted into, and makes the stair-stepping step-like surface 801a of it and forming of this stretching wall 801 contact, and determines the position on the first supply intercommunicating pore, 421 sides of ink-supplying mechanism 500 thus.
The axial region 672 of check-valves 670 is inserted into and covers in 680 the second lid through hole 684, and valve seat 660 is arranged such that it is housed in this check-valves 670 and covers 680 inside.Second the supply spring 650 is arranged on the bottom surface side (left side among Figure 34) of this valve seat 660, and the supply slide block 640 be arranged such that it accommodate this second the supply spring 650.The first supply spring 630 is supplied slide block 640 and is housed on the opposition side of supplying on the slide block 640 with respect to the second supply spring 650, and the first supply spring 630 is arranged between supply slide block 640 and the supply valve 620.In addition, supply joint 610 is arranged such that it contacts with the bottom surface of supply valve 620, and supply block 600 is fastened on the outside of ink supply element 116, thereby supply is blocked a shot and 600 contacted with the bottom surface of this supply joint 610.Supply block 600 is fastened when it engages with the jut 116a of ink guide part 116 and 116b, thereby can determine the position on the outside of ink-supplying mechanism 500.Therefore, the step-like surface 801a of the interior perimeter surface 800 by supply block 600 and ink supply element 116 determines the position of direction of the axle center O1 of ink-supplying mechanism 500.
The internal diameter of the interior perimeter surface 800 of ink supply element 116 is formed the external diameter that is slightly larger than supply valve 620, and interior perimeter surface 800 is constituted as and makes supply valve 620 can carry out reposefully in ink supply element 116 inside along the operation of axle center O1 direction.As mentioned above, four valve jut 622a are formed on the outer surface of supply valve 620, and are constructed such that the contact surface that contacts with interior perimeter surface 800 is very little.Therefore, even supply valve 620 contacts along oblique operation and with interior perimeter surface 800 with respect to axle center O1, also can prevent to operate the state of supply valve 620.In addition, between supply valve 620 and interior perimeter surface 800, form the gap, thereby form the ink flow path in the ink flow path of ink-supplying mechanism 500 inside of flowing through and supply valve 620 outsides of flowing through.As a result, the interior perimeter surface 800 of ink supply element 116 is the spaces that form the ink flow path chamber.
As mentioned above, slide block terrace part 644 is in by spring bottom 651 states that clip of spring the bottom 631 and second supply spring 650 of the first supply spring 630.On the contact side of spring terrace part 644 and the spring bottom 651 second supply spring 650, spring terrace part 644 is engaged by two valve hook portions 626 of supply valve 620, has therefore limited moving along axle center O1 direction.The space that forms between supply valve 620 and supply slide block 640 is shorter along the length of axle center O1 direction than the first supply spring 630, thereby first supplies spring 630 and be connected to plastic deformation in the position of ink supply element 116 at it.
Below description is connected to the atmosphere admission gear 510 of atmosphere air inlet element 117.On the interior perimeter surface 810 of atmosphere air inlet element 117, on the end face that is positioned at the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber side of atmosphere intake channel formation part 430, form the outstanding jut 811 of direction (direction left of Figure 34) towards atmosphere admission gear 510.This jut 811 is constituted as the pair of plate-shaped member, and it contacts with the end face at the spring top 752 of second largest air spring 750.As a result, between the spring top 752 of jut 811 and second largest air spring 750, form the atmosphere inlet channel.In addition, as the result that second largest air spring 750 contacts with jut 811, the position of atmosphere admission gear 510 on first air connectivity hole, 434 sides is determined.
As ink-supplying mechanism 500 sides, atmosphere slide block 740 is arranged in the atmosphere admission gear 510, make atmosphere slide block 740 accommodate second largest air spring 750, and first air spring 730 is housed on the opposition side with respect to second largest air spring 750 on the atmosphere slide block 740 by atmosphere slide block 740, and first air spring 730 is arranged between atmosphere slide block 740 and the atmos-valve 720.In addition, atmosphere joint 710 is arranged such that it contacts with the bottom surface of atmos-valve 720, and atmosphere block 700 is fastened on the outside of atmosphere air inlet element 117, thereby the atmosphere block 700 joint skirt sections 714 from this atmosphere joint 710 contact with the bottom surface on outer circumferential side.Atmosphere block 700 is fastened when it engages with the jut 117a of atmosphere induction part 117 and 117b, thereby can determine the position on the outside of atmosphere admission gear 510.Therefore, the jut 811 of the interior perimeter surface 810 by atmosphere block 700 and atmosphere air inlet element 117 is determined the position of direction of the axle center O2 of atmosphere admission gear 510.
In addition, the space that forms between atmos-valve 720 and atmosphere slide block 740 is shorter along the length of the direction of axle center O2 than first air spring 730, thereby as ink-supplying mechanism 500, first air spring 730 is connected to plastic deformation in the position of atmosphere air inlet element 117 at it.
The manufacture process of print cartridge 14 is described below with reference to Figure 35-39.Figure 35 is a view of explaining the manufacture process before welding film 160.Figure 36 is a view of explaining the welding process of film 160.Figure 36 (a) is a view of explaining the face of weld of the frame part 110 of welding film 160 on it, and Figure 36 (b) explains the view that film 160 is soldered to the welding process of frame part 110.Figure 37 is a view of explaining the manufacture process of carrying out after welding film 160.Figure 37 (a) explains the view that ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 is connected to the connection procedure of frame part 110, and Figure 37 (b) is a view of explaining decompression process, and Figure 37 (c) is a view of explaining the ink distribution process.Figure 38 is a view of explaining the installation process of housing 200.Figure 38 (a) explains that housing 200 clips the view of the process of frame part 110, and Figure 38 (b) is a view of explaining the welding process of welded case 200.Figure 39 is a view of explaining the manufacture process of carrying out before transportation print cartridge 14.Figure 39 (a) is a view of explaining the process that connects protector 300, and Figure 39 (b) is a view of explaining the process in the packaging bag 930 that print cartridge 14 is packaged in.
As shown in figure 35, in the manufacturing of print cartridge 14, sensor arm 470 at first is connected to frame part 110.Frame part 110 and sensor arm 470 adopt injection-molded molded in preparation process (molding process) respectively.In other words, they are molded in first molding process (set-up procedure) of injection-molded frame part 110 and second molding process (set-up procedure) in injection-molded sensor arm 470 respectively.
In sensor arm 470, be arranged on connecting axle 472a on the coupling part 472 of sensor arm 470 and be connected to the service duct that is arranged at frame part 110 and form (sensor arm 470 connection procedures near the part 420 the arm retained part 425; Set-up procedure).Arm retained part 425 is in opposition side (top among Figure 35) upper shed of ink supply element 116 sides.In other words, the opening of arm retained part 425 is in the 114 side upper sheds of the second accumulator chamber opening.As a result, sensor arm 470 can be connected in the scope that makes the first chamber 111a and second chamber 111b connection, thereby sensor arm 470 can almost effectively not connect intrusively.In addition, the arm portion 473c that covers of arm portion 473 is connected on the inboard (surrounding in the part 141) that is housed in test section 140.When sensor arm 470 is connected to arm retained part 425, cover arm portion 473c vertically and the scope of moving horizontally be subjected to the restriction of each wall 141a to 141d of the encirclement part 141 of test section 140.In other words, in case finished the connection of sensor arm 470, unload sensor arm 470 easily just, thus the manufacture process that can prevent print cartridge 14 becomes complicated, and can prevent that when the transportation print cartridge sensor arm 470 140 unloads from the test section.As a result, when print cartridge 14 is installed in the multi-function device 1, can detects scarce ink-condition reliably, thereby can improve reliability of products.
In this embodiment, when the coupling part 472 of sensor arm 470 (connecting axle 472a) is supported on the arm retained part 425 of frame part 110, just constituted the support section of the axis of the rotary manipulation that forms sensor arm 470, connecting axle is being set on frame part 110 sides and the structure of retained part is set on sensor arm 470 sides but also can use, and the structure of using hinge to connect sensor arm 470 and frame part 110 also is an acceptable.In other words, as long as sensor arm 470 is connected so that it can be with respect to frame part 110 rotations, its syndeton can adopt any form.
When the connection of sensor arm 470 was finished, ink dispensing plug 520 was pressed into dispensing barrel part 451 inside (ink dispensing plug 520 process of press in of ink dispensing part 150 then; Set-up procedure).Ink dispensing plug 520 is depressed, make the outside end face 520a of ink dispensing plug 520 be in the roughly the same plane of the outer surface of frame part 110 in, and it is not pressed onto the contacted position of bottom 451b that makes it and dispensing barrel part 451.This be because, as mentioned above, on the side surface of dispensing barrel part 451, be formed with the first dispensing intercommunicating pore 452 that the dispensing path forms part 450, and when ink dispensing plug 520 is depressed into the back of dispensing barrel part 451, the first dispensing intercommunicating pore, 452 obturations, thus ink can not be sent.In addition, can before connecting sensor arm 470, connect ink dispensing plug 520.
Shown in Figure 36 (a), when finishing being connected of sensor arm 470 and ink dispensing plug 520, weld film 160 (film 160 fixation procedure) then.Film 160 is soldered to frame part 110, thereby film 160 covers the opening of the first opening 112a and the second opening 112b simultaneously.In other words, film 160 is soldered to the both sides of frame part 110 in comprising two fixation procedure of first fixation procedure and second fixation procedure, film 160 is soldered to the first opening 112a (set-up procedure) in first fixation procedure, and film 160 is soldered to the second opening 112b in second fixation procedure.
Shown in Figure 36 (b), film 160 is cut into feasible: it is greater than the exterior contour of frame part 110, and film 160 cover framework parts 110.At this moment, air-breathing to film 160 by utilizing the aspirator (not shown) from frame part 110 sides, thereby with film 160 no wrinkles be arranged on the first opening 112a and the second opening 112b.Then, the ultrasonic bonding surface 900 of ultrasonic brazing unit (not shown) is placed on the film 160, make this ultrasonic bonding surface 900 cover the outer peripheral portion ( periphery welding portion 400a and 400b) of the first and second opening 112a and 112b from the top of film 160, and film 160 is soldered to frame part 110.When film 160 is soldered to each welding portion, the blacking part ( periphery welding portion 400a and 400b and interior all welding portion 411a to 417a and 411b to 417b) among welding Figure 37 (a).
On frame part 110, on interior all sides of periphery welding portion 400a and 400b, be scattered here and there a plurality of in all welding portion 411a to 417a and 411b to 417b, if thereby all welding portions are carried out ultrasonic bonding, then the structure on ultrasonic bonding surface 900 becomes complicated, and therefore manufacturing cost increases.But in this embodiment, the ultrasonic bonding surface 900 of ultrasonic brazing unit is constituted as and covers all welding portions (periphery welding portion and interior all welding portions), thereby can reduce the increase of the manufacturing cost of film 160 welding processes.
In addition, film 160 is made by the bilayer film that comprises nylon film and polyethylene film (hereinafter referred to as " nylon polyethylene "), and with frame part 110 contacted those sides are film layer.The complete barrier liquid of this nylon polyethylene, but ventilative relatively, thus between accumulator chamber 111 that is roughly sealed and following packaging bag 930 (seeing Figure 39 (b)), a spot of gas circulation can be arranged with description by film 160.As a result, the gas that exists in the ink of accumulator chamber 111 inside can pass through film 160 gradually, and moves in the space that forms between embracing element 930 and housing 200, thereby can prevent at the inner bubble that produces of ink.Therefore, can prevent from the print quality reduction to take place owing to the bubble of ink inside.In addition, as long as film 160 can keep intensity and ventilative relatively, film 160 can be made by the material of any kind.For example, can use and nylon film and polypropylene film formed two-layer film or by nylon and polyethylene or nylon and polypropylene are mixed the film that forms.
Shown in Figure 37 (a), when finishing the welding of film 160, ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 are connected on the frame part 110.Ink-supplying mechanism 500 is connected to (ink-supplying mechanism 500 connection procedures on the ink supply element 116; Set-up procedure), and with atmosphere admission gear 510 be connected to (atmosphere admission gear 510 connection procedures on the atmosphere air inlet element 117; Set-up procedure).In the connection (connection procedure) of ink-supplying mechanism 500, the assembly that wherein will cover 680, check-valves 670 and valve seat 660 forms the unit is inserted in ink supply element 116 inside (with step-like surface 801a position contacting).At this moment, the top of check-valves 670 is inserted in first supply intercommunicating pore 421 (referring to Figure 34), and it connects into and makes it extend in the space that is surrounded by supply partition wall 422.Wherein will supply joint 610, supply valve 620, the first supply spring 630, supply slide block 640 and the second supply spring 650 and be inserted in interior perimeter surface 800 inside of ink supply element 116, and will supply to block a shot and 600 be fixed on the outer surface of ink supply element 116 at the assembly that supply block 600 inside form the unit.At this moment, along the direction promotion supply block 600 of ink supply element 116, and the conjugate foramen 603a and the 603b of supply block 600 are engaged with the jut 116a and the 116b of ink supply element 116.In supply joint 610, circumferential portion 612 is crushed on interior perimeter surface 800 inside of ink supply element 116 in the joint, and joint outer peripheral portion 611 is clipped between ink supply element 116 and the supply block 600.When finishing the connection that supply block 600 is connected on the ink supply element 116, the connection of ink-supplying mechanism 500 is finished, and constructs ink guide part 120.
With that ink-supplying mechanism 500 is connected to ink supply element 116 is the same, the connection (connection procedure) that atmosphere admission gear 510 is connected to atmosphere air inlet element 117 is carried out in following process, in this process, the assembly that wherein atmosphere joint 710, atmos-valve 720, first air spring 730, atmosphere slide block 740 and second largest air spring 750 is formed a unit in atmosphere block 700 is inserted in interior perimeter surface 810 inside of atmosphere air inlet element 117, and atmosphere block 700 is fixed on the outer surface of atmosphere air inlet element 117.At this moment, push atmosphere block 700 to atmosphere air inlet element 117 sides, and the conjugate foramen 703a and the 703b of atmosphere block 700 are engaged with the jut 117a and the 117b of atmosphere air inlet element 117.In atmosphere joint 710, circumferential portion 712 is crushed on interior perimeter surface 810 inside of atmosphere air inlet element 117 in the joint, and joint outer peripheral portion 711 is clipped between atmosphere air inlet element 117 and the atmosphere block 700.When finishing the connection that atmosphere block 700 is connected on the atmosphere air inlet element 117, the connection of atmosphere admission gear 510 is finished, and has finished atmosphere induction part 130.
Shown in Figure 37 (b), finish ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 be connected on ink supply element 116 and the atmosphere air inlet element 117 be connected (each connection procedure) time, make the decompression process of frame part 110 (accumulator chamber 111) inner pressure relief.In this embodiment, carry out the decompression of frame part 110 inside from ink guide part 120 sides.In the decompression of frame part 110 inside, at first the suction tube 911 with decompressor 910 is inserted in the supply joint 610 of ink-supplying mechanism 500, and by suction tube 911 extruding supply valves 620, therefore ink flow path is opened.Start suction pump (P1) 912 then, and the atmosphere of sucking-off frame part 110 inside.Come the atmosphere of sucking-off frame part 110 inside by decompressor 910, and when arriving authorized pressure (pressure below atmospheric pressure at least), suction pump 912 stops, and suction tube 911 is removed from ink guide part 120.When ink guide part 120 is removed suction tube 911, supply valve 620 since the first and second supply springs 630 contact with the joint contact portion 613 of supply joint 610 with 650 elastic force, therefore therefore the flow channel of inaccessible ink has kept decompression state.
Shown in Figure 37 (c), when finishing the decompression of frame part 110 inside by decompression process, ink is sent pin 920 be inserted in the ink dispensing plug 520, and ink is distributed in the frame part 110 (accumulator chamber 111) (ink distribution process).Make the inner pressure relief of accumulator chamber 111, therefore ink is distributed to rapidly in the accumulator chamber 111, and when having sent the regulation quantity of ink, remove dispensing pin 920, and the ink distribution process is finished.The air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 inside is air pressure p1 (first pressure) after the dispensing ink.And " regulation quantity of ink " refers to ink level I and drops to second air connectivity hole 435 of ambient air flow path formation part 430 and the quantity of ink of the third-largest gas intercommunicating pore 436 belows, shown in Figure 37 (c).Therefore, when the dispensing ink, can avoid ink bleed in atmosphere connecting path 433.As mentioned above, when dispensing ink in accumulator chamber 111, sending into of ink do not proceeded to the degree that does not stay any free space in accumulator chamber 111, its purpose is to prevent the damage or the distortion of film 160.And, zone in the below of the ink level I shown in Figure 37 (c) is the ink space that stores ink, and the space above ink level I is atmosphere connected space (pressure reduction space) with the space that includes ambient air flow path formation part 430, but state and residual ink amount that the shape and size of ink space and atmosphere connected space are placed according to print cartridge 14 change.
Be depressurized in the inside of accumulator chamber 111 under the state of device 910 decompression and send ink, therefore, even after the ink dispensing is finished, the air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 inside also is in (air pressure p1) under the decompression state.Therefore, there is following situation, wherein after the ink distribution process, do not need decompression process subsequently.If do not carry out decompression process subsequently, then can simplify manufacture process.But, the air pressure p1 of accumulator chamber 111 inside is not necessarily in prescribed limit after the ink dispensing, therefore, in this embodiment, carry out decompression process subsequently so that with the level (air pressure for confirmation is in this prescribed limit) of air pressure adjustment to this prescribed limit.
Here, though not shown in these accompanying drawings, will the decompression process subsequently that carry out after the ink dispensing be described.The ink dispensing pin 920 that this decompression process use subsequently is inserted in the ink dispensing plug 520 carries out.In other words, the decompressor (not shown in this Figure) that makes the feeding mechanism (not shown in this Figure) of ink supply and the atmosphere by sucking-off frame part 110 inside reduce pressure is connected on the ink dispensing pin 920, and, then cut off the decompression that flow channel and beginning decompressor carry out in case sent ink fully.The air pressure p3 (the 3rd pressure) of accumulator chamber 111 inside is lower than the air pressure p1 of accumulator chamber 111 inside after the ink dispensing after reducing pressure subsequently.Therefore, accumulator chamber 111 gas inside amounts since decompression process and further reducing subsequently therefore can prevent at the inner bubble that produces of ink, and can avoid owing to bubble causes poor print quality.And therefore the inner surface of ink collision accumulator chamber 111 inside of flowing when the ink distribution process more may produce bubble, but also can remove the bubble that at this moment produces by decompression process.In addition, this device also can be constructed such that: the pressure-reducing needle that is used to reduce pressure subsequently (not shown in this Figure) was arranged with ink dispensing pin in 920 minutes, and reduced pressure by insert pressure-reducing needle after removing ink dispensing pin 920.
As shown in figure 17, form in the part 450 at the dispensing path, the opening of the second dispensing intercommunicating pore 454 is arranged on ink level I top (top of Figure 17 (a)), therefore, even under situation about reducing pressure subsequently with decompressor, ink also never is sucked into the outside by the dispensing passage.Therefore, the quantity of ink of being sent never changes owing to reducing pressure subsequently, therefore can send the regulation quantity of ink reliably.
Though it is not shown in these accompanying drawings,, when finishing, dispensing plug 520 pressurizeds contact with the bottom 451b (end faces on accumulator chamber 111 sides) of dispensing barrel part 451 up to it in ink dispensing (or decompression).Therefore, on the bottom 451b that ink dispensing plug 520 is pressed onto dispensing barrel part 451 after, the first dispensing intercommunicating pore 452 stopped by the outer surface of ink dispensing plug 520, therefore, even, do not send ink inserting mistakenly under the situation of dispensing pin again yet.In other words, in the manufacture process of print cartridge 14, can prevent that distribution process from carrying out twice, and can prevent defective products.
Shown in Figure 38 (a), when finishing, the manufacturing of accumulator element 110 is finished in ink dispensing (or decompression), therefore assemble case 200 (housing 200 assembling process) then.Housing 200 (first and second housing members 210 and 220) passes through injection-molded molded, and produces housing 200 (the 3rd molding process) in advance.
As mentioned above, in the assembling of lid 200, the bar member 215a to 215c of first housing member 210 is inserted among three through hole 460a to 460c (through hole 460b and 460c are referring to Figure 14) on the outer peripheral portion that is formed on frame part 110, and therefore accumulator element 110 is installed in first housing member 210.At this moment, ink guide part 120 (supply block 600) and atmosphere induction part 130 (atmosphere block 700) engage with housing notch portion 211 and 212 respectively, and the outer wall (outer surface of atmosphere block 700) of outer wall of ink guide part 120 (outer surface of supply block 600) and atmosphere induction part 130 contacts with contact trench 211a and 212a.Connect second housing member 220 then, thereby the housing mating holes part 225a to 225c (not shown in this Figure) of second housing member 220 engages with the bar member 215a to 215c of first housing member 210.At this moment, ink guide part 120 (supply block 600) and atmosphere induction part 130 (atmosphere block 700) engage with the housing notch portion 221 and 222 of second housing member 220 respectively, and the outer wall (outer surface of atmosphere block 700) of outer wall of ink guide part 120 (outer surface of supply block 600) and atmosphere induction part 130 contacts with contact trench 221a and 222a.
Shown in Figure 38 (b), when finishing, first and second housing members 210 and 220 are welded to each other be in the same place (housing 200 welding processes) in the assembling (assembling process) of first and second housings 210 and 220.In the welding process of first and second housing members 210 and 220, first housing welding portion 216 of first housing member 210 and the first housing welding portion 226 of second housing member 220 weld together, and the second housing welding portion 227 of the second housing welding portion 217 of first housing member 210 and second housing member 220 welds together (part shown in the oblique line among Figure 38 (b) is welded together).In this embodiment, whole first and second welding portions 226 and 227 weld together in housing 200 welding processes, but alternatively, can partly weld some positions.In other words, as long as these parts are welded into and make housing 200 during transportation not peel off and be not easy and then can adopt any welding scope or welding method owing to people's behavior is peeled off.
In this embodiment, after ink being distributed in the accumulator element 100, assemble first and second housing members 210 and 220, weld first and second housing members 210 and 220 then, therefore since the vibration that ultrasonic bonding causes by ink absorption.Therefore, can reduce following situation, wherein owing to be accompanied by the vibration of the welding of housing 200, the welding portion of frame part 110 or film 160 are impaired, and perhaps film 160 peels off.And, when the welding portion in first and second housing members 210 and 220 is partly welded, reduced the vibration that produces owing to ultrasonic bonding, therefore can further reduce the damage of various piece or peeling off of film 160.
Shown in Figure 38 (b), housing extension 214a and 224a (housing extension 214a is not shown in the figure) and housing extension 214b and 224b (housing extension 214b is not shown in the figure) are protruding from ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130.Therefore, in the time will being installed in print cartridge 14 in the ink-jet recording apparatus 1, even under the situation that print cartridge 14 drops, therefore housing extension 214a, 214b, 224a and 224b colliding surface can prevent that ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 are impaired.In addition, also opening of atmosphere inlet channel or ink-feed channel can be prevented, therefore ink leakage can be prevented.
Shown in Figure 39 (a), when the welding process of housing 200 is finished, protector 300 is connected to (protector 300 connection procedures) on the housing 200.When print cartridge 14 is connected on multi-function device 1 (see figure 1), remove this protector 300, so protector 300 is constructed such that it can freely connect and dismantle.As mentioned above; the jut 330a1 of protector 300 and 330b1 and housing by first and second housing members 210 and 220 stretch out through hole that notch portion 214a and 224a (referring to Fig. 8) form and stretch out the through hole that notch portion 214b and 224b form by the housing of first and second housing members 210 and 220 and engage, and therefore protector 300 are connected on the housing 200.Because second protector mating part 330a of protector 300 and 330b be along the direction strain that deviates from each other, thereby can be easy to connect and dismounting protector 300.
Shown in Figure 39 (b), in the connection (connection procedure) of protector 300 when finishing, it is inner so that transportation print cartridge 14 (accommodating process) that print cartridge 14 is housed in packaging bag 930.Then by the inner pressure relief (packaging bag 930 packaging space decompression processes) of decompressor 940 with packaging bag 930.Packaging bag 930 is for having the bag element of an openend (end of the front left side of Figure 39 (b)), and in packaging process, and other opens all that will be except opening 931 under the state that surrounds print cartridge 14 part and carry out ultrasonic bonding.This opening 931 is passed in suction tube 941 insertions of decompressor 940, and by starting suction pump (P2) 942 sucking-offs and reducing the atmosphere of packaging bag 930 inside.The air pressure of packaging bag 930 is owing to this decompression is in subatmospheric level, but the air pressure of packaging bag 930 is reduced to the low air pressure p2 (second pressure) for the air pressure p3 that reduced than accumulator chamber 111 inside (or the air pressure p1 when not carrying out decompression process subsequently).When the decompression of carrying out at decompressor 940 is finished, remove suction tube 941 and welding opening 931, thereby cause to transport the state of print cartridge 14.Pass between air pressure p1 to p3 is to concern p2＜p3＜p1.
Because the packaging space decompression process makes the air pressure of packaging bag 930 inside be lower than the air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 inside, so the film 160 of print cartridge 14 can be gone up plastic deformation in packaging bag 930 sides (housing 200 sides).If the air pressure of packaging bag 930 inside is higher than the air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 inside, so, under the state of the inner pressure relief of accumulator chamber 111, film 160 does not harden sometimes and loses flexible, perhaps impaired when print cartridge 14 uses for a long time.When film 160 forfeiture was flexible, the shape of accumulator chamber 111 did not change, and air pressure becomes inhomogeneous, therefore can not supply ink exactly.And when film 160 was impaired, the ink of accumulator chamber 111 inside flow to the outside of print cartridge 14.But in this embodiment, the inside of packaging bag 930 is depressurized and becomes to make air pressure to be lower than the air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 inside, so film 160 can be out of shape (can reply) on packaging bag 930 sides.Therefore, even under the situation that does not have for a long time to use at print cartridge, the curing that also can reduce owing to film 160 causes the accurately situation of ink supply, and can prevent that film 160 from damaging.
Because make the air pressure of packaging bag 930 inside be lower than the air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 inside, so the accumulator chamber 111 inner gases that keep (having the minimum gas that keeps owing to the decompression process of carrying out previously subsequently) can move to accumulator chamber 111 outsides gradually.This is because film 160 is formed by relative breathable nylon polyethylene as mentioned above, therefore the air pressure of accumulator chamber 111 volume inside and in packaging bag 930 inside and the air pressure in the space of accumulator chamber 111 outsides attempt to carry out the transition to poised state, and therefore gas from accumulator chamber 111 internal motions to the outside.Therefore, promoted to be stored in the ink degassing in the accumulator chamber 111, and more difficult labour anger bubble, therefore can keep print quality well.
In this embodiment; under the state that protector 300 is connected on the housing 200, print cartridge 14 is packaged in the packaging bag 930 and decompression, therefore; when packaging bag 930 was out of shape owing to decompression, it never directly contacted with atmosphere induction part 130 (or ink guide part 120).Valve is opened part 721a and is reached atmosphere induction part 130 outsides, therefore, directly contacts if packaging bag 930 is opened part 721a with valve, and then valve is opened part 721a operation, and the atmosphere inlet channel is opened sometimes.If the atmosphere inlet channel is opened, the ink leakage of accumulator chamber 111 inside then.And atmosphere induction part 130 and ink guide part 120 are impaired because of the distortion of packaging bag 930 sometimes.But, in this embodiment, protector 300 is connected on the housing 200, therefore can prevent that atmosphere induction part 130 and ink guide part 120 from damaging, and can prevent that the atmosphere inlet channel from opening.
As mentioned above, print cartridge 14 produces in following process, in this process, after ink being distributed to accumulator chamber 111 inside of frame part 110, housing 200 is welded on the accumulator element 100.In the situation of some conventional ink cartridge, (after the assembling that finishes print cartridge fully) is from hull outside dispensing ink after covering the accumulator element with housing.In the situation of this conventional ink cartridge, must prepare framework and housing according to quantity of ink of being stored and ink color.But, in this embodiment, in the accumulator chamber 111 that ink is distributed to accumulator element 100 after covering shell 200, therefore can use universal component for accumulator element 100.In other words, even under the variform situation of housing, accumulator element 100 also can be general.Therefore, can reduce the manufacturing cost of print cartridge 14.
And, in print cartridge 14, ink dispensing part 150 (ink dispensing plug 520) is hiding fully by housing 200, thereby can not see ink dispensing part 150 from the outside, therefore can prevent to cause ink to spill the problem of outside owing to the user unexpectedly removes ink dispensing plug 520.
Next with reference to Figure 40 the method that print cartridge 14 is installed in the multi-function device 1 is described.Figure 40 is the view that the method in the multi-function device 1 that print cartridge 14 is installed to is shown.
In the time will being connected to print cartridge 14 on the multi-function device 1, at first destroy packaging bag 930, and from the packaging bag 930 inner print cartridges 14 that take out.Remove protector 300 from housing 200 then.The direction that each print cartridge 14 (colored, black and big capacity black) is installed in the multi-function device 1 is identical.
At first, with reference to Figure 40 (a) internal structure of the refill unit 13 of multi-function device 1 is described.In refill unit 13, as mentioned above, the place is provided with pin 49 in the bottom of the back side of housing 40 56 sides, and pin 49 stretches out along the installation direction F (the arrow F among Figure 40 (a)) of print cartridge 14.Be clear that this installation direction F and the longitudinal direction (direction of arrow B that is installed to the print cartridge 14 in the refill unit 13 from Figure 40 (c); Directions X) parallel.Above pin 49, be provided with excess ink detecting sensor 57.Excess ink detecting sensor 57 roughly forms the horseshoe shape towards a left side, and the openend of horseshoe shape is luminous luminous component 57a, and the other end is for receiving the light receiving part 57b (not shown in this Figure) of light.This luminous component 57a and light receiving part 57b be inserted into respectively by housing notch portion 213 and 223 and the through hole that forms of test section 140 in, and connect into and make luminous component 57a and light receiving part 57b 56 stretch out from the back side.Excess ink detecting sensor 57 is constructed such that: receive the light time of launching from luminous component 57a at light receiving part 57b, the control device that is arranged on the multi-function device 1 is not exported (or output) signal, and when the light of launching from luminous component 57a is blocked and do not received by light receiving part 57b, to control device output (or not exporting) signal.
Shown in Figure 40 (a), when will print cartridge 14 is installed, thereby ink guide part 120 being positioned at atmosphere induction part 130 belows with print cartridge 14 (being in the state of having removed protector 300) when being installed in the multi-function device 1.This state is the normal mounting position (or primary importance) of print cartridge 14.
And, under the state that print cartridge 14 is installed in the multi-function device 1, ink guide part 120, test section 140 and atmosphere induction part 130 are disposed in order from bottom to top, and ink guide part 120, test section 140 and atmosphere induction part 130 are formed on the single end face.Be clear that from Figure 40 (b) this single end face is arranged on the side in the place ahead for housing 200 when print cartridge 14 is in the normal mounting position along installation direction F.Therefore, because ink guide part 120, test section 140 and atmosphere induction part 130 are arranged so that they concentrate on the single end face and (are arranged close to each other), so can merge (being arranged close to each other) to single surface (back side 56) at excess ink detecting sensor 57 required on multi-function device 1 side, pin 49 and path 54.If ink guide part 120 is arranged on the bottom surface of print cartridge 14 and test section 140 and atmosphere induction part 130 are arranged on the side of print cartridge 14, then pin 49 must be built up on the bottom surface side of housing 40 of refill unit 13 and and be built up on side (back side 56) side of housing 40 excess ink detecting sensor 57 and path 54, and the scale of multi-function device 1 increases owing to being provided with these parts, thus variation (remotely being provided with toward each other).But in this embodiment, these parts are merged (being arranged close to each other), therefore can reduce the scale of multi-function device 1.
Shining the part (corresponding with the test section 140 among this embodiment) of print cartridge when detecting residual ink amount by use photodetector (corresponding with the excess ink detecting sensor 57 among this embodiment); If the method (according to whether existing ink to detect the method for residual ink amount in the light path of photodetector) that adopts the direct-detection ink to exist then adopts as among this embodiment with ink supply opening (corresponding with the ink guide part 120 among this embodiment) with by the structure that the exposure of photodetector (test section 140) irradiation partly both is arranged on the single end face and just can not take full advantage of ink. In other words, adopt the structure that exposure partly is arranged on ink supply opening below, it is higher relatively that the position of ink supply opening becomes, and the ink that therefore is stored in ink supply opening below is remaining, so consumption efficiency diminishes.Employing partly is arranged on exposure the structure of ink supply opening top, the position of exposure part becomes higher relatively, therefore, and remaining a large amount of inks when photodetector detects scarce China ink, and when informing that according to the testing result of photodetector the user lacks China ink, remaining ink quantitative change is big.But, in this embodiment, used sensor arm 470, therefore, even exposure partly is arranged in the relative higher position, also can synchronously detect the China ink of falling vacant, and the ink supply opening is arranged in the lower position with the moment of real surplus quantity of ink step-down, therefore almost there is not excess ink (this explanation provides in unsuitable position, but will excess ink detection method that use sensor arm 470 be elaborated below).
As long as the structure of print cartridge is arranged so that the ink supply opening is arranged on the bottom surface of print cartridge and exposure partly is arranged on the side of print cartridge, even then also can make full use of ink adopting under the situation that directly detects the method that ink exists.But, in this case, there is independent problem, promptly multi-function device 1 size increases.In other words, have only the described in this embodiment the present invention of employing can realize reducing simultaneously the scale of multi-function device 1 and improve making full use of of ink.
As shown in Figure 40 (a), in inserting the housing extension 214a of housing 200 and 224a (the first housing welding portion 216 and 226) with the process of on door main body 60, sliding, print cartridge 14 is installed, and the back side that pushes away print cartridge 14 along installation direction F is inserted in the refill unit 13 up to the major part with print cartridge 14.And, as mentioned above, on housing extension 214a and 224a, form inclined surface 214a2 and 224a2, therefore because these inclined surfaces 214a2 and 224a2 and print cartridge 14 can be inserted reposefully.Shown in Figure 40 (a), the part at the back side of print cartridge 14 is for promoting part 200a, thereby and this pushed the part that contacts with pressurization retaining member 61.
Shown in Figure 40 (b), when print cartridge 14 is in it at the inner state that is promoted along installation direction F of refill unit 13, projection 55 is coupled to by housing cooperates in the groove that groove 214b2 and 224b2 form.In addition, the supply that the top of pin 49 is arranged on ink guide part 120 600 inside of blocking a shot.Print cartridge 14 is subjected to projection 55 and cooperates the restriction of groove 214b2 and 224b2 along the motion of horizontal direction (from the front side of Figure 40 (b) towards the direction of rear side), and be subjected to the base plate 42 of refill unit 13 and the restriction of top plate portion 44 along moving of vertical direction, therefore can prevent print cartridge 14 oblique insertions, and can prevent that excess ink detecting sensor 57 and pin 49 are impaired.
When the state of door member 60 along the direction of arrow shown in Figure 40 (b) from Figure 40 (b) begins to rotate, the pushing retaining member 61 of door member 60 is contacting the promotion part 200a at a part of back side that forms print cartridge 14, thereby promotes print cartridge 14 along installation direction F.Along with door member 60 further rotates, the door lock member 62 of door member 60 is coupled in the lock construction element mating part 46 of refill unit 13, thereby has finished the installation (state of Figure 40 (c)) of print cartridge 14.Mid point p shown in Figure 40 (c) is the center along the vertical direction (short transverse) of print cartridge 14.The position that 61 pushings of pushing retaining member promote part 200a is to comprise the mid point p of print cartridge 14 and the position of extending below mid point p.In other words, promotion part 200a is arranged on along vertical direction and is positioned at ink guide part 120 tops and the position below atmosphere induction part 130.Though the diagram of this point and explanation will be omitted,, when arriving the state of Figure 40 (c), the top of oscillating arm mechanisms 44b is coupled among latch portion 217a and the 227a, and is keeping print cartridge 14.
In case finished the installation of print cartridge 14, pin 49 be inserted in the ink guide part 120 and can ink supply; The valve of atmosphere induction part 130 is opened the back side 56 that part 721a is contacting housing 40, thereby can suck atmosphere; And with excess ink detecting sensor 57 pass by housing notch portion 213 and 223 and the through hole that forms of test section 140 insert, thereby can detect residual ink amount.To the details of this point be described after a while.
In addition, because excess ink sensor 57 passes by housing notch portion 213 and 223 and the through hole insertion that forms of test section 140 when being installed in print cartridge 14 in the refill unit 13, is positioned at housing 200 inside so the luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 and light receiving part 57b become.Therefore, can prevent from excess ink detecting sensor 57 is caused damage, and prevent owing to the flase drop that causes attached to the dirt on luminous component 57a and the light receiving part 57b, dust etc. is surveyed.
In addition, advanced by helical spring 66 owing to push retaining member 61 as mentioned above, so it can stably keep print cartridge 14.(or just being mounted) has been installed in refill unit 13 time at print cartridge 14, the spring member 630,650,730 of ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 and 750 resilient force on the direction of leaving that side that is furnished with pin 49 (among Figure 40 left; On the direction opposite) with installation direction.As mentioned above, pushing retaining member 61 constitutes the big elastic force of elastic force sum that has than being produced by spring member 630,650,730 and 750, therefore just can stably keep print cartridge 14 in case print cartridge 14 has been installed.In addition, the promotion part 200a that is subjected to pushing retaining member 61 extruding roughly is set in place the middle part between ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130, and uniform elastic force is applied on ink guide part 120 and the atmosphere induction part 130 thereby allow roughly.This is that the imaginary line that wherein connects these three points forms roughly isosceles triangle shape because locate to keep print cartridge 14 at a point (pushing retaining member 61) and two points (ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130) of refill unit 13 back along three point-refill unit 13 fronts of the installation direction of print cartridge 14.Therefore, keep print cartridge 14 to allow stably to keep print cartridge 14 by three points.In addition, because the elastic force of pushing retaining member 61 is used for keeping print cartridge 14, so, to compare with the situation that fixes the frame for movement of print cartridge 14 by surface engagement with print cartridge 14, the lip-deep load of print cartridge 14 reduces.Therefore, can prevent from print cartridge 14 to be caused damage owing to the excessive load that is applied in.
In addition, because the promotion below the centre position of the short transverse of print cartridge 14 (mid point p) of pushing retaining member 61, so do not need very big power to come actuating doors member 60, thus print cartridge 14 stably can be remained on the assigned position place.The rotating hinge of door member 60 is positioned at the place, bottom of housing 40, and the user assigns to open and close the operation of a member by the edge part of operated door member 60.Therefore,, then push application point that retaining member 61 promotes print cartridges 14 and will be positioned at rotating hinge a distance, so the user need apply very big power and closes a member from door member 60 if will promote the top place that part 200a is arranged in the back side of print cartridge 14.On the other hand, if promote the place, utmost point bottom that part 200a is arranged in the back side, for example be arranged in ink guide part 120 belows, then the user closes a member with the power of the enough minimums of energy, but, because the point at place, the bottom of print cartridge 14 is pushed away, so print cartridge 14 may rotate and be tilted promotion sometimes, so pin 49 may inaccurately be inserted in the ink guide part 120.But, according to present embodiment, since promote part 200a be arranged in print cartridge 14 short transverse the below, centre position and above the position corresponding with ink guide part 120, so do not need very big power to come the actuating doors member, thereby print cartridge stably can be installed in this assigned position place.
Here, with reference to Figure 41 the operation of ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 when being installed in print cartridge 14 in the multi-function device 1 is described.Figure 41 illustrates the view that print cartridge 14 is installed in the state in the multi-function device 1.Because Figure 41 is the view that is used for illustrating the operation of ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510, so from this view, omitted the projection 55 etc. of housing 200, multi-function device 1.
As shown in figure 41, when print cartridge 14 being installed in the multi-function device 1 (in refill unit 13 inside), the luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 and light receiving part 57b (not shown) are arranged in the position that clips test section 140.Test section 140 is made of translucent or transparent resin material, thereby allows to pass test section 140 and received by light receiving part 57b from the light that the luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 launches.As mentioned above, because the arm portion 473c that covers of sensor arm 470 is arranged in the encirclement part 141 of test section 140, so can go out residual ink amount by the operation detection of this sensor arm 470.To the operation of this sensor arm be described after a while.
For ink-supplying mechanism 500, when being installed in print cartridge 14 in the multi-function device 1, pin 49 is inserted successively the ink flow path 615 that passes by the space of the inclined wall 606b encirclement of supply block 600, the patchhole 605 of supplying block 600 and supply joint 600, and the valve diapire 621 of the top of pin 49 contact supply valve 620, thereby extruding supply valve 620.Therefore, the joint contact portion 613 of supply joint 610 is left in supply valve 620 motions, thereby forms ink flow path.Pin 49 is communicated with the outlet opening (not shown) of multi-function device 1 by pumping ink opening 52 and ink barrel 53.In addition, in the top of pin 49, form otch 49a and be used to guarantee ink flow path, thereby even under the situation of the valve diapire 621 of the top of pin 49 contact supply valve 620, also guarantee ink flow path by otch 49a.
Here, will the operation of ink-supplying mechanism 500 describe when being subjected to pin 49 extruding at supply valve 620.As mentioned above, be housed in the spring flexible portion 633 that the first inner supply spring 630 of supply valve 620 (and supply slide block 640) has deflection a little.On the other hand, in the spring flexible portion 653 of the second supply spring 650 on being arranged in that side opposite of supply slide block 640 with the first supply spring 630 without any deflection.This is because set the reason of the deflection order of the first and second supply springs 630 and 650.Specifically, have the first supply spring, 630 to the second supply springs, the 650 easy deflections of the spring flexible portion 633 of deflection, thereby when pin 49 is inserted, the first at first deflection of supply spring 630, and deflection after the second supply spring 650.
Here, ink-supplying mechanism 500 comprises the scale error of making from each parts along the height of axes O 1 direction, so parts are many more, scale error may occur more.But because supply slide block 640 contacts with the valve hook portion 626 of valve member 610, it doesn't matter so become in the error aspect the size of the first supply spring 630 at least.Therefore, the scale error of ink-supplying mechanism 500 reduces, and the flexible operation of ink-supplying mechanism 500 becomes more stable.
In addition, the external diameter of the slide block periphery wall 641 of the internal diameter of the valve periphery wall 622 of supply valve 620 and supply slide block 640 forms about equally.Therefore, can prevent from when axes O 1 direction of ink-supplying mechanism 500 is operated, to occur along the moving direction misalignment at supply slide block 640.In addition, the external diameter of the spring bottom 631 and 651 of the internal diameter of slide block periphery wall 641 and the first and second supply springs 630 and 650 forms about equally.Therefore, the misalignment in the time of can reducing on the slide block bearing part 644 that first and second spring members 630 and 650 is arranged in supply slide block 640 on the direction (above-below direction among Figure 41) vertical with axes O 1.In addition, though the profile of the valve periphery wall 622 of supply valve 620 forms the internal diameter that is slightly smaller than ink supply element 116, but because valve jut 622a outwards forms from the valve periphery wall 622 of supply valve 620, so can prevent in supply valve 620 misalignment on moving direction when the direction of axes O 1 is operated.Therefore, the flexible operation along axes O 1 direction becomes more stable.
In addition, be subjected to pin 49 extruding and during at the valve diapire 621 of supply valve 620 along the direction of valve seat 660 (in Figure 41 to the right) motion, be accompanied by this motion, thereby 630 plastic deformations of the first supply spring by compression, so supply slide block 640 is along direction (with the opposite direction of direction of propulsion of the first supply spring 630 and the second supply spring 650) motion of valve seat 660, and the second supply spring experience plastic deformation.This state is at the state shown in Figure 41.
In case print cartridge 14 is installed in the housing 40 of multi-function device 1, the first and second supply springs 630 and 650 also experience strain, thereby form by the ink flow path K shown in the arrow K.This ink flow path K is for being formed on accumulator chamber 111 (referring to Figure 14), the second supply intercommunicating pore 423, the first supply intercommunicating pore 421, the first lid through hole 683 of lid 680 (and second lid through hole 684), the first valve seat through-hole 662b of valve seat 660 and second valve seat through-hole 663, the valve seat of valve seat 660 is communicated with groove 664, the ink flow path 654 of the second supply spring 650, the slide block through hole 645 of supply slide block 640, the ink flow path 634 of the first supply spring member 630, flow channel between first spring member 930 and the valve-supporting part 628, and for guiding the ink flow path 627 that passes supply valve 620 in succession, the flow channel of the otch 49a of pin 49 and the inside of pin 49.Space between the interior perimeter surface of the valve periphery wall 622 of supply valve 620 and ink supply member 116 also is an ink flow path.
Here, will the operation of supply joint 610 when pin 49 being inserted into supply joint 610 inside be described.When pin 49 being press fit among the jut flow channel 615b by step portion flow channel 615a, joint jut 614 is because the friction between the outer surface of it self interior perimeter surface 614a and pin 49 and being spurred by pin 49, and moves (moving among the contact portion flow channel 615c) along the direction of insertion of pin 49 (in Figure 41 to the right).Here, joint contact portion 613 has the structure that is cut into the countersunk shape, so joint jut 614 is along the mobile top 613a that is not directly passed to joint contact portion 613 of the direction of insertion of pin 49.In other words, the top 613a of joint contact portion 613 is difficult to move along direction of insertion, but mobile a little along the direction of leaving pin 49.Therefore, the change of shape of the insertion that is accompanied by pin 49 of supply joint 610 makes joint contact portion 613 away from each other.The shape of supposing joint contact portion 613 has the mild inclined surface that extends to the top 613a of joint contact portion 613 from the interior perimeter surface 614a of joint jut 614, so, when inserting pin 49, joint jut 614 will be out of shape so that move along the direction of insertion of pin 49, the distortion of joint jut 614 will be directly passed to joint contact portion 613, and joint contact portion 613 will move along direction of insertion with joint jut 614.Therefore, therefore the insertion stroke of pin 49 that is used to form the ink flow path between supply valve 620 and joint contact portion 613 must be done pin 49 longer with elongated.In addition, because pin 49 is elongated, more possibility is impaired owing to contacting with other member so it becomes, and ink-supplying mechanism 500 is elongated along the length of axes O 1 direction, has therefore increased its size.But, in the present embodiment, because joint contact portion 613 moves along the direction with the direction of insertion approximate vertical of pin 49, so needn't make that the stroke that is used to form ink flow path is longer.Therefore, can reduce contacting of pin 49 and other member, increase thereby reduce the size of damaging and reducing ink-supplying mechanism 500.
When multi-function device 1 is removed print cartridge 14, pin 49 is extracted out, then the valve diapire 621 contact joint contact portions 613 of supply valve 620, thus ink flow path K blocked.Here, the second supply spring 650 becomes fully and is stretched, and the first supply spring 630 turns back to the deformation state of deflection a little.
When multi-function device 1 is removed print cartridge 14, along with pin 49 is extracted out, near the ink that is present in the ink flow path 615 (contact portion flow channel 615c and jut flow channel 615b) of supplying joint 610 flows towards ink block 600 (in Figure 41 left), and flows out among the step portion flow channel 615a.But,,, flow out to print cartridge 14 outsides thereby can reduce ink so this ink is being kept by the capillary force of the step portion of step portion flow channel 615a because the quantity of ink that flows out among the step portion flow channel 615a is small.In addition, even ink flows out from step portion flow channel 615a, because the opening portion of the ink storage area 602 of supply block 600 is wideer than the opening 612c of step portion flow channel 615a, so the ink that flows out flows in the ink storage area 607 of ink supply block 600.Therefore, can prevent reliably that ink from flowing out from print cartridge 14.
Next will describe atmosphere admission gear 510 sides.In atmosphere admission gear 510, when being installed in print cartridge 14 in the multi-function device 1, the valve of atmos-valve 720 is opened the back side 56 of part 721a contact housing 40, thus extruding atmos-valve 720.Therefore, the joint contact portion 713 of atmosphere joint 710 is left in atmos-valve 720 motion, thereby forms as at the atmosphere inlet channel L shown in the arrow L in these accompanying drawings.In addition, open the part 721a contact back side 56 and during at the valve of atmos-valve 720, the 714 contact back sides 56, joint skirt section of atmosphere joint 710, thereby and joint skirt section 714 experience plastic deformation diameter expansion (or contraction) by the back side 56 extruding.Therefore, joint skirt section 714 becomes and closely remains on the back side 56, thereby blocks the outside and the inboard in joint skirt section 714.The back side 56 on the inboard that is arranged in joint skirt section 714 is formed with the path 54 that acts on the path that sucks atmosphere, and atmosphere is directed in the accumulator chamber 111 by this path 54.
To the operation of atmosphere admission gear 510 when atmos-valve 720 is squeezed be described.As mentioned above, be housed in the spring flexible portion 733 that the inner first air spring 730 of atmos-valve 720 (and atmosphere slide block 740) has deflection a little, and in the spring flexible portion 753 of second largest air spring 750 without any deflection.Therefore, for the first and second big air springs 730 and 750, determined the deflection order equally.
In addition, the external diameter of the slide block periphery wall 741 of the internal diameter of the valve periphery wall 722 of atmos-valve 720 and atmosphere slide block 740 forms about equally.Therefore, can prevent from when axes O 2 directions of atmosphere admission gear 510 are operated, to occur along the moving direction misalignment at atmosphere slide block 740.In addition, the external diameter of the spring of the internal diameter of slide block periphery wall 741 and the first and second atmosphere spring members 730 and 750 bottom 731 and 751 forms about equally.Therefore, the misalignment in the time of can preventing on the slide block bearing part 744 that the first and second big air springs 730 and 750 is arranged in atmosphere slide block 740 on the direction (above-below direction among Figure 41) vertical with axes O 2.
In addition, though the external diameter of the valve periphery wall 722 of atmos-valve 720 forms the internal diameter that is slightly smaller than atmosphere air inlet element 117, but because valve jut 722a outwards forms from the valve periphery wall 722 of atmos-valve 720, so can prevent in atmos-valve 720 misalignment on moving direction when axes O 2 directions are operated.Therefore, make flexible stable operation on axes O 2 directions of atmosphere admission gear 510.
In addition, atmos-valve 720 be subjected to valve open part 721a extruding and along with this motion along the direction of jut 811 (in Figure 41 to the right) when moving, thereby first air spring 730 experience plastic deformations by compression, and when atmos-valve 720 is squeezed, atmosphere slide block 740 moves along the direction of jut 811, and the 750 experience plastic deformations of second largest air spring.This state is at the state shown in Figure 41.
In the time of in the housing 40 that print cartridge 14 is installed in multi-function device 1, the first and second big air springs 730 and 750 also experience strain, thereby form by the atmosphere inlet channel L shown in the arrow L.This atmosphere inlet channel L is following flow channel, and it passes the passage between atmosphere inlet channel 727, first air spring 730 and the valve-supporting part 728 of the joint path 715 that is formed on atmosphere joint 710, atmos-valve 720 in succession; Be formed on the ink flow path 734 of first air spring 730, the slide block through hole 745 of atmosphere slide block 740, the ink flow path 754 of second largest air spring 750, the spring top 752 of second largest air spring 750 and the passage between the jut 811; And first air connectivity hole 434.This flow channel is the primary flow channel of most of air flow warps.In addition, the space between the interior perimeter surface 810 of the valve periphery wall 722 of atmos-valve 720 and atmosphere air inlet element 117 also forms the part of atmosphere inlet channel.Subsequently, as shown in figure 16, atmosphere passes the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431, open communication 433a, atmosphere connecting path 433, open communication 433b, the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432, second air connectivity hole 435 and the third-largest gas intercommunicating pore 436, and is received into accumulator chamber 111 inside.When atmosphere inlet channel L opened, air was inhaled into, thereby made accumulator chamber 111 inside become atmospheric pressure.
As mentioned above, when being installed in print cartridge 14 in the multi-function device 1, form ink flow path K and atmosphere inlet channel L.In addition, the operation of ink-supplying mechanism 500 and atmosphere admission gear 510 makes them operate reposefully and can be with respect to axes O 1 and O2 misalignment.Therefore, make that the installation of print cartridge 14 is easier, allow to carry out reliably ink supply simultaneously and suck atmosphere.
Next with reference to Figure 42 and Figure 43 the method that detects the residual ink amount in the accumulator chamber 111 is described.Figure 42 illustrates the view of sensor arm 470 according to the operation of the residual ink amount in the accumulator chamber 111.Figure 42 (a) illustrates the state with excess ink, and Figure 42 (b) illustrates and do not have excess ink the state of (lacking China ink).Figure 43 is the view of the operating principle of schematically illustrated sensor arm 470.
The rotation direction of sensor arm 470 is by the decision of making a concerted effort that acts on buoyancy on right side part (covering on the arm portion 473c side) and left side (on balance portion 471 sides) and gravity.But, for the purpose of simplifying the description, now dummy is added in all masterpieces on the sensor arm 470 and is used on the balance portion 471 and describes.That is to say, in this explanation, ignored buoyancy and gravity on the part except balance portion 471 that acts on sensor arm 470.Alternatively, think that buoyancy and gravity that whole sensor arm 470 receives act on the balance portion 471.Under this hypothesis, the rotation of sensor arm 470 is by the buoyancy and the gravity decision that act on the balance portion 471.Shown in Figure 42 (a), in accumulator chamber 111, store under the state of a large amount of inks (being positioned at least at the ink of being stored under the state of lower end elevation-over of living in of all welding portion 415a, 415b, 416a and 416b), because the balance portion 471 of sensor arm 470 is formed by the resin material with proportion lower than ink proportion, so the buoyancy that produces on the balance portion 471 increases, and balance portion 471 floats in the ink.Shown in Figure 42 (a), when balance portion 471 is positioned at ink inside, making with joint efforts of gravity that produces on the balance portion 471 and buoyancy is subjected to revolving force on (direction of arrow G 1 among Figure 43) in the clockwise direction, contact with the arm support section 143 that the diapire 141a that (surrounds parts 141) from the test section 140 rises but cover arm portion 473c, and so be arranged in the position of the luminous component 57a that is blocked in excess ink detecting sensor 57 and the light path between the light receiving part 57b.This is the state when having ink, and the controller (not shown) of multi-function device 1 determines the existence of ink thus.
Along with the ink of accumulator chamber 111 inside passes ink flow path K and quantity reduces, ink level I descends.Along with ink level I descends, cover arm portion 473c and appear in one's mind on ink level I, and balance portion 471 also appears in one's mind on ink level I subsequently.When balance portion 471 appears in one's mind on ink level I, the gravity that makes sensor arm 470 rotate along counterclockwise (arrow G 2 directions among Figure 43) that produces on making of producing on the balance portion 471 buoyancy that sensor arm 470 is rotated along clockwise direction (arrow G 1 direction among Figure 43) and the balance portion 471 is cancelled out each other, and therefore sums up dynamic balance.Subsequently, I further descends along with ink level, and balance portion 471 is being followed liquid level I and moved downward, so sensor arm 470 rotates counterclockwise.This rotating operation makes that cover arm portion 473c moves upward and leave arm support section 143, and produces light path between the luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 and light receiving part 57b.This state is for lacking ink-condition, and wherein the controller (not shown) of multi-function device 1 determines the scarce China ink of this print cartridge.
In the explanation in front, shown in Figure 42 (b), when almost not remaining any ink, balance portion 471 is positioned near the bottom 400b1 (referring to Figure 15) of accumulator chamber 111.Therefore, when the residual ink amount in the accumulator chamber 111 during step-down, the China ink of can correctly doing to fall vacant is differentiated.
Shown in Figure 42 (b),, also leave some inks in accumulator chamber 111 inside lacking under the ink-condition.The part 400b1 of the bottom of a little higher than formation accumulator of ink level I chamber 111 at this moment.In addition, as mentioned above, accumulator chamber 111 and ink guide part 120 is communicated with by the ink feed chambers 426 (referring to Figure 15) that is limited by supply partition wall 422, and accumulator chamber 111 and ink feed chambers 426 are by being positioned at the second supply intercommunicating pore, 423 connections of the bottom 400b1 below that is arranged on the supply partition wall 422.Becoming at ink level I is lower than second supply during intercommunicating pore 423, and atmosphere enters into the zone of supply partition wall 422 inside, thereby can not ink supply.Therefore, in the present embodiment, be about to because " lacking China ink " and state that can not ink supply in order to detect, sensor arm 470 is designed to rotate and detects the ink-condition of falling vacant when making above ink level I is positioned at the second supply intercommunicating pore 423.Like this, the second supply intercommunicating pore 423 is arranged on the part 400b1 below of the bottom that forms accumulator chamber 111, thereby can prevents from reliably before detecting scarce China ink, to use up ink.In addition, when ink-condition is fallen vacant in differentiation, on the 400b1 of the bottom of accumulator chamber 111 almost without any ink, and ink only remains in 424a inside, recessed portion space, this space 424a is the space of relative narrower that is formed on the position of 400b1 below, bottom in the accumulator chamber 111, thereby the remaining quantity of ink that do not use is considerably less when ink-condition is fallen vacant in detection, thereby eliminates waste.
China ink is differentiated in case done to fall vacant, and lacks China ink in order to indicate this device to the user, lights to lack black lamp or use sound to inform that this device of user lacks China ink.Can also use the counter that is arranged in the controller to remember the number of times of venting and be used for determining that by other employing the software counter that this device lacks China ink detects residual ink amount imaginaryly.
Shown in Figure 42 (a) and 42 (b), the link position of the connecting axle 472a of sensor arm 470 and the arm retained part 425 of frame part 110, be sensor arm 470 around center (pivot) location arrangements of rotating, and be arranged on service duct and form the rear (the left side among Figure 42 (a) and Figure 42 (b)) of part 420 along the installation direction of print cartridge 14 below the test section 140 and above ink guide part 120.In the present embodiment, ink guide part 120, atmosphere induction part 130 and test section 140 are arranged on the side of print cartridge 14 together.Allow so various mechanisms (ink-supplying mechanism, atmosphere admission gear and excess ink testing agency) are arranged on the refill unit 13 of multi-function device 1 together, thereby the shape that prevents refill unit 13 becomes complicated, and also reduced its size.In addition, as coming ink guide part 120 preferred arrangements of part of ink supply at the downside place of print cartridge 14 by making ink flow out to multi-function device 1, so that use ink more completely, and as the upside place of atmosphere induction part 130 preferred arrangements that atmosphere are drawn into the part in the print cartridge 14 at print cartridge 14.Therefore, from the position of space efficiency, test section 140 preferred arrangements are between ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130.In the print cartridge 14 of the present embodiment that constitutes like this, if the location arrangements of the pivot of sensor arm 470 is (or in position identical with test section 140) above test section 140, then the length in the space between balance portion 417 and coupling part 472 will become big and sensor arm 470 will become greatly, and so storable quantity of ink will descend.On the other hand, if the location arrangements of the pivot of sensor arm 470 below ink guide part 120, then the movable range of balance portion 471 will become very little, thereby make and to be difficult to detect the China ink of falling vacant.Therefore, in the present embodiment, the position of the pivot of sensor arm 470 (" pivot " that be made of coupling part 472) is arranged in ink guide part 120 tops and below test section 140.Therefore, as mentioned above, detect the China ink of falling vacant reliably, and avoided causing the accumulator capacity to reduce owing to the size increase of sensor arm 470.
In addition, in the print cartridge 14 of present embodiment, if balance portion 471 is arranged near the supply partition wall 422, then balance portion 471 will be positioned near the second supply intercommunicating pore 423, and will pass to ink by the vibration that the operation of balance portion 471 causes, thereby hinder ink to flow.Specifically, if ink level I fluctuation, then atmosphere may enter into supply partition wall 422 inside by the second supply intercommunicating pore 423, thereby hinders ink supply.On the contrary, be provided with balance portion 471 to such an extent that will make very far that from supply partition wall 422 arm portion 473 is bigger, so balance portion 471 also will become big to guarantee the buoyancy of balance portion 471.Therefore, the quantity of ink that can be stored in the accumulator chamber 111 will reduce.Therefore, in the present embodiment, the position of the pivot of sensor arm 470 is arranged near the supply partition wall 422, and balance portion 471 is arranged on the place in the middle of the Y direction of accumulator chamber 111, thereby has avoided the above-mentioned expansion of sensor arm and the adverse effect that ink is flowed.
When being connected to sensor arm 470 on the arm retained part 425 and but the ink time spent is being arranged, shown in Figure 42 (a), the top end face (upper surface among Figure 42) that covers arm portion 473c is arranged to and the ink level almost parallel.Under this state, when ink level descended and arrive the position identical with the top end face that covers arm portion 473c, the surface tension of ink was as the power that keeps covering arm 473.If ink surface tension keeps covering the buoyancy of the used power of arm portion 473c greater than balance portion 473a, then sensor arm 470 will be operated improperly.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the top end face that forms 140 outsides, test section cover arm portion 473c is endowed a downward-sloping angle, thereby has reduced to cover arm portion 473c and the part ink level almost parallel.Therefore, can reduce by ink surface tension being applied to the power of covering on the arm portion 473c, thereby allow sensor arm 470 normal runnings.
Here, the situation of print cartridge 14 being installed with the orientation of mistake with reference to Figure 44 is discussed.Figure 44 is a cutaway view, print cartridge 14 wherein is shown is installed in state in the multi-function device 1 with the orientation of mistake.
As shown in figure 44, when being inserted into print cartridge 14 in the housing, if put upside down with respect to correct installation orientation top and bottom, then the top of projection 55 will be collided in the top of housing extension 214a and 224a.When installing reversedly, ink guide part 120 will be positioned at atmosphere induction part 130 tops, thereby cause the incorrect orientation (or second orientation) with respect to correct installation orientation in top and bottom and the correct orientation of installing.
As shown in figure 44, to form the outreach t8 that member 48 stretches out than pin 49 from pin long for the total outreach t9 that comprises the outreach that outreach that projection 55 is stretched out from the back side 56 of housing 40 and housing extension 214a and 224a stretch out from housing 200.Providing difference to prevent contact between the top of top of opening part 721a from atmosphere induction part 130 outwardly directed valves and pin 49 between outreach t8 and the outreach t9.Pin 49 is extracted the ink of print cartridge 14 inside out and is given the member of ink jet print head (not shown) with ink feed for being used to, if therefore there is the situation of the impaired or distortion of pin 49, then ink is inaccurately supplied, and inaccurately prints.Therefore, do not wish that the collision of opening part 721a owing to pin 49 and valve makes pin 49 impaired or distortion.But, as mentioned above,, can prevent to open collision between the part 721a at pin 49 and valve by between outreach t8 and outreach t9, providing difference, therefore can prevent the damage or the distortion of pin 49, and allow to supply reliably ink.
In addition, the position of through hole (detection window) on vertical direction (above-below direction among Figure 44) that is formed by test section 140 and housing otch 213 and 223 moves apart the center a little, thereby when print cartridge 14 is inverted installation with respect to correct installation orientation, excess ink detecting sensor 57 may be collided the outer wall of housing 200, and this may damage excess ink detecting sensor 57.But, owing between outreach t8 and outreach t9, provide difference, thus can prevent because with the outer wall collision of housing 200 and excess ink detecting sensor 57 is caused damage, thus can accurately detect residual ink amount.
Next with reference to Figure 45 the method for removing print cartridge 14 from the installment state multi-function device 1 is described.Figure 45 illustrates from multi-function device 1 to remove the view of the method for print cartridge 14.
Shown in Figure 45 (a), in order to remove print cartridge 14 from multi-function device 1 (refill unit 13), the trip lever 63 of door 41 (in Figure 45 (a) left) forward rotates (direction of arrow in Figure 45 (a) is rotated).As mentioned above, when trip lever 63 rotates, the bond-off between door lock member 62 and lock construction element mating part 46, and door 41 is rotated forward.
The part of the sweep 65b that pulls out member 65 of door 41 is arranged in the recessed portion 216a and 226a (recessed portion 226a does not illustrate in Figure 45 (a) in the wings and therefore) of housing 200, therefore, when being unlocked bar 63 rotations, the latch portion 216b of the top contact housing 200 of the sweep 65b that pulls out member 65 of door 41 and 226b (latch portion 226b does not illustrate in Figure 45 (b) in the wings and therefore) (state of Figure 45 (b)).At door 41 when (direction of arrow along Figure 45 (b)) rotates further forward from the state of Figure 45 (b), the sweep 65b that the latch portion 216b of housing 200 and 226b are drawn out member 65 pulls out, and therefore the part of print cartridge 14 stretches out (state of Figure 45 (c)) from housing 40 inside.From this state, the user can be easy to remove print cartridge 14.Therefore, improve print cartridge 14 and changed the operability of operating.
Here, when removing print cartridge 14, multi-function device 1 preventing that with reference to 46 pairs the mechanism of ink drippage from describing.The view of Figure 46 illustrates from multi-function device 1 and removes the state of print cartridge 14 and the front view of print cartridge 14.The view of Figure 46 (a) and Figure 46 (b) is illustrated in the state variation when removing print cartridge 14, and Figure 46 (c) illustrates the front view of print cartridge 14.
As mentioned above, when being installed in print cartridge 14 in the multi-function device 1, pin 49 is inserted into ink guide part 120 inside.Ink-supplying mechanism 500 comprises the valve system that is subjected to the first supply spring 630 and 650 propellings of the second supply spring, therefore when multi-function device 1 is removed print cartridge 14 (at state time) from the state of Figure 46 (a) to Figure 46 (b), ink can outstanding top attached to pin 49 on, perhaps in the poorest situation, ink can flow out from ink guide part 120.Because valve 620 moves along the direction that makes valve 620 contact with joint contact portion 613 owing to the propulsive force of the first supply spring 630 and the second supply spring 650 from supply joint 610 dismounting pins 49 time, so the direction that ink is pushed out makes ink flow out to step portion flow channel 615a from jut flow channel 615b, so some inks may be bonded on the outstanding top of pin 49 or flow to ink guide part 120 outsides.Therefore, when removing print cartridge 14, may drip with ink droplets attached to the ink on the top of pin 49, perhaps ink may flow downward from ink guide part 120.
But, in the present embodiment, shown in Figure 46 (b), since the projection (first jut) that constitutes by housing extension 214a and 224a than ink guide part 120 stretch out the top further outwards (in Figure 46 (b) to the right) stretch out, so, if, also can make on ink guide part 120 side surfaces of ink attached to housing extension 214a and 224a of drippage even drip with ink droplets or ink flows downward from ink guide part 120 attached to the ink on the top of pin 49.In addition, because housing extension 214a and 224a and ink guide part 120 closely be provided with toward each other, so make ink from ink guide part 120 drippages easily attached on housing extension 214a and the 224a.
Shown in Figure 46 (c), the patchhole 605 of supply block 600 is the ink supply opening, pin 49 is inserted in this ink supply opening, and ink flows out by this ink supply opening, and makes (the left and right directions of Figure 46 (c) of the width along print cartridge 14 of housing extension 214a and 224a; The Z direction) thickness t 11 is longer than the diameter t10 of patchhole 605.(diameter of pin 49 forms narrower slightly than the diameter t10 of through hole 605.) in addition, when vertical (from the Y direction) observed, patchhole 605 was housed in the zone that is occupied by housing extension 214a and 224a fully.Therefore, when removing print cartridge 14, even attached to the ink droplet on the top of pin 49 down or ink flow downward from patchhole 605, the ink of drippage also can be caught by housing extension 214a and 224a.In addition, since housing extension 214a and 224a along the installation orientation levels ground (on Figure 46 (a) and left and right directions (b)) of print cartridge 14 stretch out and ink guide part 120 sides on the surface form general planar, so can prevent from further to drip downwards attached to the ink on housing extension 214a and the 224a.Therefore, can prevent that ink from dropping onto in the refill unit 13 downwards and the inside of making refill unit 13 dirty.If made dirty in the inside of refill unit 13, then, therefore make that user's hand is dirty at the installation of print cartridge 14 or the period for removal print cartridge 14 of may making dirty.But, by preventing that as far as possible ink is attached to avoiding these problems on refill unit 13 inside.
Though the expectation said structure prevents dirty, but this structure is not limited thereto, if as Figure 46 (c) shown in housing extension 214a and 224a on the vertical direction (above-below direction among Figure 46 (c)) of print cartridge 14, be arranged in straight line (the straight line P of Figure 46 (c) at the center of passing intercommunicating pore 605 at least in part; Pass the straight line at the center of the opening 600a that supplies block 600) upward get final product.This be because the many inks from the ink that ink guide part 120 and pin 49 drip can take along straight line P to lower channel.Therefore, even housing extension 214a and 224a are short along the length t10 of the width of patchhole 605 along the length ratio of the width of print cartridge 14, this structure also can help to prevent that refill unit 13 is dirty.Therefore in this case, the ink confining force of housing extension 214a and 224a dies down, and can suppose can be dripped in the refill unit 13 by the ink that housing extension 214a and 224a catch.But under the state of having extracted out from ink guide part 120 on the top of pin 49, the print cartridge 14 that change can be stayed refill unit 13 inside hardly always for a long time, but removes from refill unit 13 fast, therefore can not this problem of appearance.Incidentally, even form when very narrow at housing extension 214a and 224a, if print cartridge 14 is installed with the orientation of mistake, then it will collide the top of projection 55, thereby prevent to install incorrectly.In addition, even housing extension 214a and 224a accurately are not arranged on the straight line p, as long as their in the vertical directions are positioned at ink guide part 120 belows, then they can catch the ink that drips from ink guide part 120 to a certain extent, thereby can be more dirty than the inside that prevents refill unit 13 under the situation that housing extension 214a and 224a are not set to a greater degree.
Next with reference to Figure 47 to reducing ink and be attached to the detection surface 140a of test section 140 of print cartridge 14 and the structure on the 140b describing.Figure 47 illustrates to reduce ink and be attached to the detection surface 140a of test section 140 of print cartridge 14 and the view of the structure on the 140b.Figure 47 (a) illustrates the state of installing or remove print cartridge 14 with respect to refill unit 13 (multi-function device 1); Figure 47 (b) is the view that the surface of the test section 140 that is formed with print cartridge 14 is shown; And Figure 47 (c) is the perspective view of print cartridge 14.The print cartridge 14 of Figure 47 (a) illustrates according to the mode of simplifying, and detailed structure is not shown, because this accompanying drawing is provided to show the profile of print cartridge 14 and with respect to the position relation of test section 140.
Shown in Figure 47 (a), when installing with respect to refill unit 13 or removing print cartridge 14, ink may spill from the top of stretching out of stretching out top or pin 49 of ink guide part 120.This is because following two facts: the ink-supplying mechanism 500 of ink guide part 120 opens and closes under the help of the elastic force of the first and second supply springs 630 and 650, therefore ink pressure changes rapidly when the installation and removal of print cartridge 14, thereby making to store at the ink of ink-supplying mechanism 500 inside forces to sputter; When being exposed to the outside suddenly, ink may flow back to and spill from the state (from the state of print cartridge 14 is installed) that is arranged on ink guide part 120 inside when pin 49.Now, be not when each installation or dismounting print cartridge 14, all spilling of ink can occur, and in most cases do not spill any ink.
In addition, shown in Figure 47 (a), be in when orientation is installed at print cartridge 14, test section 140 is arranged on the position corresponding with excess ink detecting sensor 57, so test section 140 is arranged on ink guide part 120 (or pin 49) top.The most of inks that spill from pin 49 and ink guide part 120 under the effect of own wt downwards (opposite) with the direction of test section 140 splash, therefore can be simply reduce ink and be attached on the test section 140 by test section 140 being arranged in ink guide part 120 tops.In addition, detecting surperficial 140a and 140b is formed in the plane with the straight line parallel at the center that is being connected test section 140 and block patchhole 605 (referring to Figure 47 (b)).The most of inks that spill from block patchhole 605 spill according to the substantial linear mode, therefore, even under the situation that ink will spill from block patchhole 605, do not have many inks to be attached to yet and detect on surperficial 140a and the 140b, be attached on surperficial 140a of detection and the 140b thereby can reduce ink.
In addition, shown in Figure 47 (b), if print cartridge 14 is removed and is arranged so that the position relation of ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 during use and be inverted with respect to the installation orientation (orientation of Figure 47 (a)) of print cartridge 14, then ink may drip from the patchhole 605 of the supply block 600 of ink guide part 120.Since from the ink of patchhole 605 drippage in himself weight effect current downflow, so it will be along the test section 140 direction flow out according to the substantial linear mode, and be attached on the detection surface 140a and 140b of test section 140.
But, when being in, test section 140 is arranged in atmosphere induction part 130 belows and the state above ink guide part 120 (state of Figure 47 (b)) following time, the detection of test section 140 surface 140a and 140b will be vertically, and (with reference to the above-below direction of the symbol direction of Figure 47 (b)) arranged, therefore, attached to detecting ink on surperficial 140a and 140b ink guide part 120 sides of will under himself weight effect, dripping.In addition, form smooth surfaces owing to detect the surface of surperficial 140a and 140b by resin material, so the ink that adheres to can be easy to flow downward.Therefore, can reduce ink is attached on the side of test section 140.In addition, when print cartridge 14 is installed, ink guide part 120 is positioned at the place, bottom and atmosphere induction part 130 is positioned at place, top (orientation of Figure 47 (a)), therefore, even there is being ink to be attached on the test section 140 during the installation or removal of print cartridge 14, ink also will flow to ink guide part 120 sides, be attached on surperficial 140a of detection and the 140b thereby can reduce ink.And, as mentioned above, detect the marginal portion 140c of surperficial 140a and 140b and the side 100a of frame part 110 and roughly form the right angle, therefore, attached to detect ink on surperficial 140a and the 140b can be owing to the capillary force effect of marginal portion 140c easier flowing downward.Therefore, can reduce ink is attached on surperficial 140a of detection and the 140b.
In addition, shown in Figure 47 (c), test section 140 is arranged in housing 200 inside, and is formed with on the both sides of detecting surperficial 140a and 140b by housing otch 213 and 223 and allows the luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 and the space that light receiving part 57b enters.Therefore, test section 140 is covered by housing 200, therefore, even ink will spill, also can reduce spilling ink and be attached to and detect on surperficial 140a and the 140b.And, because the part of ink guide part 120 is protruding from housing 200, so in the installation orientation of print cartridge 14 (state of Figure 47 (a)), ink guide part 120 becomes far away to the distance of test section 140.Therefore, the great majority that spill ink do not arrive test section 140, are attached on surperficial 140a of detection and the 140b thereby can reduce ink.In addition, housing extension 214a and 224a and housing extension 214b and 224b are formed on the place, end, ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 are between housing extension 214a and 224a and housing extension 214b and 224b, and housing extension 214a and 224a and housing extension 214b and 224b further stretch out than ink guide part 120.Therefore, if print cartridge 14 by mistake drops, can prevent ink guide part 120 contact print cartridges 14 drops the surface, thereby can reduce ink because contact impact and flowing out from ink guide part 120.Therefore, can reduce ink attached to detecting on surperficial 140a and the 140b.
Next with reference to Figure 48 and Figure 49 the housing 40 (referring to Fig. 2) of refill unit 13 is described.The view of Figure 48 illustrates the front view of housing 40.Figure 48 (a) is the front view that can hold the housing 40 of big capacity black or black print cartridge 14 and colour ink box 14, and Figure 48 (b) is the front view that can hold the housing 2040 of black print cartridge 14 and colour ink box 14.In the present embodiment, housing 40 is arranged in the multi-function device 1, but a kind of multi-function device 1 also can be provided, and wherein replaces housing 40 to be furnished with housing 2040.Figure 49 is a cutaway view, and the simplification cross section of housing 40 and 2040 is shown.
Figure 49 (a) is the simplified cross-sectional view of housing 40 along the XXXXIXa-XXXXIXa line of Figure 48 (a), and Figure 49 (b) is the simplified cross-sectional view of housing 2040 along the XXXXIXb-XXXXIXb line of Figure 48 (b).Figure 49 illustrates the cross section that pin forms member 48 and print cartridge 14, and has omitted other element that constitutes housing 40 and 2040 from this view.In addition, in Figure 48 to 50, colour ink box is shown print cartridge 14c, the black print cartridge is shown print cartridge 14k1, and big capacity black print cartridge is shown print cartridge 14k2.
Shown in Figure 48 (a), housing 40 constitutes and holds four print cartridges, thereby these print cartridges are arranged in housing 40.For the layout of these four print cartridges, three colour ink box 14c are arranged side by side, and big capacity black print cartridge 14k2 or black print cartridge 14k1 and the adjacent layout of these colour ink boxes 14c.In other words, big capacity black print cartridge 14k2 or black print cartridge 14k1 selectively are accommodated in the end position of orientation (left and right directions among Figure 48 (a)) of print cartridge.Housing 40 shown in Figure 48 (a) holds big capacity black print cartridge 14k2.
Shown in Figure 48 (b), housing 2040 constitutes and holds four print cartridges of being arranged.For the layout of these four print cartridges, three colour ink box 14c are arranged side by side, and black print cartridge 14k1 and the adjacent layout of these colour ink boxes 14c.In other words, in housing 40, black print cartridge 14k1 is accommodated in the end position place of the orientation (left and right directions among Figure 48 (b)) of print cartridge.
Because housing 40 not only allows to install big capacity black print cartridge 14k2 but also allows to install black print cartridge 14k1, so it forms the thickness that holds big capacity black print cartridge 14k2.Therefore, the transverse width t14 of housing 40 (orientation along print cartridge 14c and 14k2 is the width of the left and right directions among Figure 48 (a)) is longer than transverse width t15 (orientation along print cartridge 14c and 14k1 is the width of the left and right directions among Figure 48 (b)).In the difference between the transverse width t15 of the transverse width t14 of housing 40 and housing 2040 corresponding to the difference between the height at the vertical wall segments 2220b to 2220e of the height of the vertical wall segments 220b to 220e of second housing member 220 shown in Figure 11 and second housing member 2220 shown in Figure 13.
In addition, housing 40 allows selectively to install black print cartridge 14k1 or big capacity black print cartridge 14k2, and 2040 of housings allow to install black print cartridge 14k1.This means two types multi-function device 1 is provided for the user.Such as discussed above, because the lower user of text printing frequency does not need big capacity black print cartridge 14k2, provide littler multi-function device 1 so be preferably these users, this multi-function device 1 does not allow to install big capacity black print cartridge 14k2.In addition since be used to install the housing 2040 of black print cartridge 14k1 and be used to install the housing 40 of big capacity black print cartridge 14k2 just slightly different aspect profile, so the great majority of mould therefor can between the two, share, thereby cause the cost reduction.
Shown in Figure 49 (a), when being contained in print cartridge 14c and 14k2 in the housing 40, pin 49 penetrates in the ink-supplying mechanism 500 of each print cartridge among print cartridge 14c and the 14k2.Clearance t 16 between the pin 49 that thrusts colour ink box 14c equates, and at the pin 49 that thrusts big capacity black print cartridge 14k2 with thrust clearance t 17 between the pin 49 of adjacent colour ink box 14c and form and have the long distance of ratio gap t16.In the difference between clearance t 16 and the clearance t 17 corresponding to the difference between the height at the vertical wall segments 2210b to 2210e of the height of the vertical wall segments 210b to 210e of first housing member 210 shown in Figure 8 and first housing member 2210 shown in Figure 13.
Shown in Figure 49 (b), print cartridge 14c and 14k1 are being contained in housing 2040 when inner, pin 49 penetrates into ink-supplying mechanism 500 inside of each print cartridge among print cartridge 14c and the 14k1.Clearance t 16 between the pin 49 in penetrating into colour ink box 14c and penetrating among the black print cartridge 14k1 pin 49 with penetrate into adjacent colour ink box 14c in pin 49 between clearance t 17 have the length identical with t17 with the clearance t 16 of housing 40.This is because first housing member 1210 that state (holding orientation) relates to black print cartridge 14k1 that holds of black print cartridge 14k1 in housing 2040 is arranged on the colour ink box 14c side, make thus in penetrating into black print cartridge 14k1 pin 49 and to penetrate into the pin 49 among distance and the big capacity black print cartridge 14k2 that is penetrating into housing 40 between the pin 49 among the adjacent colour ink box 14c identical with the distance that penetrates between the pin 49 among the adjacent colour ink box 14c.In other words, this is because the position of the ink guide part 120 of the position of the ink guide part 120 of print cartridge 14k1 and print cartridge 14k2 is identical with respect to the position of the ink guide part 120 of print cartridge 14c.Therefore, even housing 40 may be different with 2040 transverse width t14 and t15, identical pin also can be set in housing 40 and housing 2040 form member 48, be common component thereby make pin form member 48, and can be reduced in the cost when making two housings and being housing 40 and housing 2040.
In addition, as mentioned above, ink-supplying mechanism 500 is by the valve system of the first supply spring 630 and 650 propellings of the second supply spring, therefore from multi-function device 1 dismounting print cartridge 14 time, ink may flow out from ink guide part 120, and perhaps in the poorest situation, ink can splash everywhere.These pins 49 arrange continuously, and between these pins 49 any demarcation strip are not set, and therefore, when ink guide part 120 spilt, the ink that spills was finally attached on the adjacent needles 49 at ink.These pins 49 are the parts to multi-function device 1 ink supply, therefore when being mixed into different ink colors in the pin 49, change color will occur during printing, and print quality will descend.In the present embodiment, black ink is a pigment ink, and color inks is made of type of dye ink.This is because black ink is mainly used in text printing, and therefore make so that make the edge clear of character by the lower pigment ink of ability that is penetrated in the paper, and color inks is mainly used in image and prints, so it is made so that make a little graininess more not obvious and improve colored appearance by being penetrated into the higher type of dye ink of ability in the paper.Though when mixing, color inks almost do not have the influence of change color,, when black ink mixed with another kind of color ink, it is big that the influence of change color becomes, and therefore do not wish that black ink mixes with other color ink.In addition, confirming when other ink color mixes, comprising that usually the recovery of forcing ink-jet handles (cleanings), but because recovery process has been wasted ink, so the decline of ink utilization ratio.And, because black ink is a pigment ink,, it has higher viscosity so comparing with type of dye ink, can not be easy to it is removed even therefore recover to handle.But, in the present embodiment, storing the print cartridge 14k1 of black ink and 14k2 and in housing 40, be arranged in place, end along arranged direction, and colour ink box 14c is left in ink guide part 120 (with pin 49) skew, therefore, even black ink will splash, the ink that spills also can not be attached on the adjacent needles 49.Therefore, can suppress the decline of print quality, simultaneously can suppress to waste and be used to the ink that recovers to handle in a large number.
Now with reference to Figure 50 the state that big capacity black print cartridge 14k2 or black print cartridge 14k1 and colour ink box 14c are installed in the housing 40 is described.Figure 50 is a simplified cross-sectional view, according to the mode of simplifying the state that print cartridge 14c, 14k1 and 14k2 are installed in housing 40 inside is shown.Figure 50 (a) illustrates the print cartridge 14k1 that is installed in the housing 40 and the state of 14c, and Figure 50 (b) illustrates the print cartridge 14k2 that is installed in the housing 40 and the state of 14c.
Shown in Figure 50 (a), in the base plate 42 and top plate portion 44 of refill unit 13 (housing 40), be formed with respectively can housing case 200 or the housing welding portion 216,226 of housing 1200 and 1216 and housing welding portion 217,227 and 1217 hold groove 42c1 to 42c4 and 44c1 to 44c4.Holding groove 42c1 to 42c4 and 44c1 to 44c4 all forms identical shaped.
In addition, provide separating distance t12, and provide the separating distance t13 longer than distance t12 in the space that holds between groove 42c3 and the 42c4 in the space that holds the space between groove 42c1 and the 42c2 and holding between groove 42c2 and the 42c3.This be because: as mentioned above, black print cartridge 14k1 is formed with the big profile than other colour ink box 14c, so the ink guide part 120 of black print cartridge 14k1 and atmosphere induction part 130 are arranged in along the direction (left and right directions of Figure 50) of ink guide part 120 that leaves other colour ink box 14c and atmosphere induction part 130 and have been offset apart from t12 with apart from the position of the difference of t13.Distance t12 and apart from the difference between the t13 with identical with the difference between the clearance t 17, and corresponding to the difference between difference between the height of the vertical wall segments 2210b to 2210e of the height of the vertical wall segments 210b to 210e of first housing member 210 shown in Figure 8 and first housing member 2210 shown in Figure 13 or height at the vertical wall segments 1210b to 1210e of the height of the vertical wall segments 210b to 210e of first housing member 210 shown in Figure 8 and first housing member 1210 shown in Figure 11 in the clearance t 16 between the above-mentioned pin 49.
In addition, between the inner surface of the outer surface of second housing 220 of black print cartridge 14k1 and side plate 43, be formed with the regulation space X.Form the usefulness that this regulation space X supplies big capacity black print cartridge 14k2.That is to say that shown in Figure 50 (b), this regulation space X is used for allowing refill unit 13 to be used for black print cartridge 14k1 and big capacity black print cartridge 14k2.
Shown in Figure 50 (b), when being installed in big capacity black print cartridge 14k2 in the refill unit 13, the space that can form when black print cartridge 14k1 is installed is occupied.In addition, the position of ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 is when installing print cartridge 14k1 and identical when print cartridge 14k2 is installed.Therefore, can use identical housing 40 for black print cartridge 14k1 with 14k2, thereby can reduce manufacturing cost.
Next with reference to Figure 51 the parts combination that constitutes housing 200,1200 and 2200 is described.Figure 51 is a schematic diagram, schematically illustrated housing member 210,220,1210,2210 and 2220 combination.
Figure 51 (a) is the schematic diagram of housing 200.According to present embodiment, housing 200 comprises first and second housing members 210 and 220, wherein first and second housing members 210 and 220 thickness (first and second housing members 210 and 220 vertical wall segments 210b to 210e and the height of 220b to 220e; Left and right directions among Figure 51 (a)) is respectively t18.
Figure 51 (b) is the schematic diagram of housing 2200.Housing 2200 comprises first and second housing members 2210 and 2220, wherein first and second housing members 2210 and 2220 thickness (first and second housing members 2210 and 2220 vertical wall segments 2210b to 2210e and the height of 2220b to 2220e; Left and right directions among Figure 51 (b)) be respectively t19, it is approximately the twice of thickness t 18.
Figure 51 (c) is the schematic diagram of housing 1200.Housing 1200 comprises first and second housing members 1210 and 220, wherein first and second housing members 1210 and 220 thickness (first and second housing members 1210 and 220 vertical wall segments 1210b to 1210e and the height of 220b to 220e; Left and right directions among Figure 51 (c)) for for first housing member 1210 for t19 and for second housing member 220, be t18.
Therefore, according to present embodiment, form have different appearance and sizes three kinds of housings 200,1200 and 2200 of (different internal volume) by two first housing members with different-thickness and two second housing members with different-thickness.In the present embodiment, forming first and second housing members 210 of housing 200 and 220 thickness equates, and form first and second housing members 2110 of housing 2200 and 2220 thickness and also equate, but making thickness equate so not to be is used to form three kinds of housings 200,1200 with different appearance and sizes and 2200 necessary condition.
That is to say, as long as a side's (first housing member 2210) of the housing member of maximum first print cartridge of formation (housing 2200) thickness is greater than a side's (first housing member 210) of the housing member that constitutes less the 3rd print cartridge (housing 200) thickness, and the opposing party's's (second housing member 2220) the thickness that constitutes the housing member of maximum first print cartridge just can construct three kinds of housings with different appearance and sizes by enough four housing members greater than the opposing party's's (second housing member 220) of the housing member that constitutes less the 3rd print cartridge thickness.Above-mentioned condition will be called as first condition.By adding further condition, thereby can construct four kinds of housings by four housing members to these first conditions.This point will be elaborated in the back.
But, because the mould costliness, so expectation is shared them as far as possible.In the present embodiment, make that second housing member 220 that is used for black is identical with second housing member 220 that is used for colour.Therefore, for second housing member 220 that is used for black, need not special mould, thereby reduced cost.And first housing member 1210 that is used for black only relates to making and is used for more dark colour first housing member 210 and rib 1218 is provided.Therefore, has the identical shape of tip side with the vertical wall segments 210b to 210e of first housing member 210 that is used for colour at first housing member 1210 that is used for black through the tip side of the vertical wall segments 1210b to 1210e of ribs 1218.Therefore, be used for by use first housing member 1210 and 210 major part shared mould and the member corresponding with first housing member 210 and with the corresponding member of first housing member 1210 between change, can produce first housing member 1210 and 210.Therefore, with when constructing two kinds of moulds compare and to reduce cost.In addition, owing to be used for first housing member 2210 of big capacity black print cartridge only except not having rib 1218 this point, have and the identical shape of first housing member 1210 that is used for the black print cartridge, so can use shared mould for the major part of first housing member 210,1210 and 2210.Like this, even when having multiple print cartridge 14c, 14k1 and 14k2, also can realize that cost reduces by using common die as much as possible.
In addition, the housing 200 that differs from one another in size, in 1200 and 2200, if will allow ink guide part 120 and atmosphere induction part 130 to reach outside through hole makes identical shaped, and at first housing member 210, second housing member 220, first housing member 1210 that is used for the black print cartridge, first housing member 2210 that is used for big capacity black print cartridge, with second housing member 2220 that is used for big capacity black print cartridge, corresponding with one and half ones of these through holes semicircular shell notch portion 211 that is roughly, 212,221,222,1211,1212,2211,2212,2221 and 2222 form identical roughly semicircular in shape, for each mould, can use local shared structure, thereby reduce the cost of designing mould.
In the present embodiment, housing 1200 is by second housing member 220 of housing 200 with form with first housing member 1210 of first housing member, the 2210 roughly the same shapes of housing 2200 and make.But, shown in Figure 51 (d), can also produce housing 1200 α by first housing member 210 of housing 200 and second housing member 1220 that forms with second housing member, the 2220 roughly the same shapes of housing 2200.Because the vertical wall segments 210b to 210e and the 220b to 220e of housing member 210 and 220 form highly about equally, and owing to the vertical wall segments 210b to 210e and the 220b to 220e of housing member 2210 and 2220 forms highly about equally, so the appearance and size of housing 1200 α and housing 1200 is roughly the same.
In addition, can form by the housing that constitutes of first housing member 210 and second housing member 2220 simply or be used as being used for the housing of black by the housing that constitutes of first housing member 2210 and second housing member 220.In other words, as long as the combination of housing member allows to form three housings-be used for colored small shell, is used for the big housing of big capacity black and is used for the medium size housing of black, then can adopt the combination of any kind.
Next with reference to Figure 52 second embodiment is described.Figure 52 illustrates the print cartridge 3014 of second embodiment and the view of refill unit 3013.Figure 52 (a) is the view of side of print cartridge 3014 that second embodiment is shown, and Figure 52 (b) is illustrated in print cartridge 3014 and is installed in cutaway view under the state in the refill unit 3013.
Shown in Figure 52 (a), to compare with the print cartridge 14 of first embodiment, the print cartridge 3014 of second embodiment constitutes the position difference of its atmosphere induction part 130.In the print cartridge 3014 of second embodiment, by atmosphere inlet channel 3131 atmosphere is drawn in the print cartridge 3014, this atmosphere inlet channel 3131 forms the labyrinth shape that the through hole 3130 from the end face that is formed on housing 3200 extends.
Shown in Figure 52 (b), the refill unit 3013 of second embodiment constitutes: the position that is arranged on the pushing retaining member 3061 on the door 41 is lower than the position of the pushing retaining member 61 on the door 41 that is arranged on first embodiment.This be because on the side relative of the print cartridge 3014 of second embodiment with pushing retaining member 3061 without any induction part, therefore, the elastic force of effect (owing to the first supply spring 630 and second is supplied the elastic force that spring 650 causes) just acts on the bottom of print cartridge 3014 when being installed in print cartridge 3014 in the refill unit 3013.Therefore, for print cartridge 3014 stably being installed in refill unit 3013 inside, pushing retaining member 3061 and ink guide part 120 constitute along horizontal direction (left and right directions among Figure 52 (b)) and roughly are located along the same line.Owing to roughly be arranged on the same straight line, thus the direction of resilient force also roughly be located along the same line, thereby reduce the inclination of print cartridge 3014 and allow stably to install.
The print cartridge 3014 of second embodiment can comprise and is positioned at its inner accumulator element 100, perhaps can be constructed such that ink is stored in housing 3200 inside.
Next with reference to Figure 53 third and fourth embodiment is described.Figure 53 is a perspective view, and the print cartridge 4014 of third and fourth embodiment and 5014 outward appearance are shown.Figure 53 (a) is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of the print cartridge 4014 of the 3rd embodiment is shown, and Figure 53 (b) is perspective view, and the outward appearance of the print cartridge 5014 of the 4th embodiment is shown.
Shown in Figure 53 (a), the print cartridge 4014 of the 3rd embodiment has and is used for atmosphere is imported to through hole 4130 in the print cartridge 4014 in the part that is formed on its end face (end face of Figure 53 (a)).The air that imports by this through hole 4130 passes labyrinth shape inlet channel 4131 (the relatively long path with less internal diameter), and is directed to print cartridge 4014 inside.Containment member 4132 is adhesive in the ink degassing and the outflow before using to prevent print cartridge 4014 inside on the print cartridge 4014.In order to use print cartridge 4014, containment member 4132 is peeled off, then print cartridge is installed in the multi-function device 1.
Test section 4140 (exposure part) forms from an end face that roughly extends along the vertical direction (above-below direction Figure 53 (a)) of print cartridge 4014 protruding, and is formed with ink guide part 4120 below test section 4140.The ink supply opening 4121 that allows pin 49 insert is formed on stretching out on the top of ink guide part 4120.The structure that the print cartridge 4014 of the 3rd embodiment is not corresponding with accumulator element 100, and ink directly is stored in enclosure interior.
On the right side of Figure 53 (a), have along the cutaway view of the double dot dash line in this figure.As shown in this Fig, in ink guide part 4120, have: joint 4122, it forms the insertion portion that allows pin 49 insert; Valve 4123, it fills the opening of joint 4122, and is arranged on the inboard of print cartridge 4014 along the direction of this joint 4122; And spring members 4124, it is along this valve 4123 of direction bias voltage of joint 4122.Therefore, formed the valve system that opens and closes ink supply port 4121.In addition, divide the inboard of print cartridge 4014 and the partition wall 4125 of ink guide part 4120 and self form individual unit with print cartridge 4014.Shown in Figure 53 (a), this partition wall 4125 is formed for storing the space of valve system.
Shown in Figure 53 (b), use the print cartridge 5014 among the 4th embodiment, replace the ink guide part 4120 among the 3rd embodiment and form the ink guide part 120 of first embodiment and the ink guide part 5120 of analogous shape.All the other structures are identical with print cartridge among the 3rd embodiment, therefore the detailed description that will omit all the other structures.
As among first embodiment, the test section 4140 of third and fourth embodiment can comprise sensor arm 470 in its inside.If it comprises sensor arm 470, then under the state that print cartridge 4014 and 5014 is connected on the multi-function device 1, can accurately detect residual ink amount.In addition, in third and fourth embodiment, projection (first jut) that is formed by housing extension 214a and 224a and the projection (first jut) that is formed by housing extension 214b and 224b are omitted, but can comprise these parts.
Next, will in reference Figure 54 and 55, describe the 5th embodiment.Figure 54 is the perspective view of the housing 200 of the print cartridge 14 among the 5th embodiment, and Figure 55 is cutaway view, the print cartridge 14 of the 5th embodiment wherein is shown has been connected state in the refill unit 13.The housing 200 of the 5th embodiment is constructed such that its edge shape will be different with housing extension 214a and the 224a aspect of first embodiment.Therefore, the structure of the 5th embodiment except the marginal portion of housing extension 214a and 224a is identical with the structure of the print cartridge 14 of first embodiment, and the part identical with first embodiment used identical Reference numeral, so the explanation of these parts will be omitted.
The housing 200 of the 5th embodiment is formed with second extension 214a3 and the 224a3 that the direction (direction left among Figure 54) along housing extension 214b and 224b is stretched out towards housing extension 214b and 224b.By forming these second extension 214a3 and 224a3, housing extension 214a and 214b as when side view is seen (when look down at the top of Figure 54, perhaps for second housing member 220 when the bottom of Figure 54 looks up) for first housing member 210 will be formed with bevel L (or V or U) shape ladder 214a4 and 224a4 (recessed portion) (referring to Figure 55).
Shown in Figure 55, be inverted when being connected on the refill unit 13 (in misorientation) when the print cartridge 14 that is formed with the second extension 214a3 and 224a3, the leading edge of the projection 55 on housing 40 sides will be coupled among ladder 214a4 and the 224a4 (ladder 224a4 not shown in this Figure).Therefore, when being inverted connection print cartridge 14, because projection 55 will correctly be mated ladder 214a4 and 224a4, so can for example prevent following problem all the time: projection 55 is by housing extension 214a and 224a, and advance to the upside of the housing 200 among Figure 55 or advance to housing extension 214a among Figure 55 and the downside of 224a, so print cartridge 14 further inserts towards the back side (right side among Figure 55) of housing 40.Therefore print cartridge bump pin 49 be can prevent all the time, and the destruction or the distortion of pin 49 and excess ink detecting sensor 57 therefore prevented.
The ladder 214a4 of the 5th embodiment and 224a4 see from the side and form L shaped (or V or U-shaped), but also they can be formed corresponding with the edge shape of projection 55.In other words, it can be any desired shape, as long as it is in the shape of print cartridge being installed with misorientation and the edge mate of projection can not fluff in ladder 214a4 and 224a4 the time.
Next describe with reference to Figure 56-58 couple of the 6th embodiment.Figure 56 is a cutaway view, print cartridge 14 with the 6th embodiment is shown wherein is inserted into state in the refill unit 13.Figure 57 is a block diagram, and the summary of the circuit structure of the multi-function device 1 among the 6th embodiment is shown.Figure 58 is a flow chart, the print cartridge of being carried out by CPU971 is shown connects testing process.The 6th embodiment has additional print cartridge connection detecting sensor 960 with respect to the multi-function device 1 of first embodiment.Therefore, identical among the structure except print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 of the 6th embodiment and first embodiment, therefore to first embodiment in the identical identical Reference numeral of part use, so the explanation of these parts will be omitted.
Shown in Figure 56, in the multi-function device 1 of the 6th embodiment, be provided with print cartridge and connect detecting sensor 960.When being connected to print cartridge 14 on the correct link position, the edge of housing extension 214a and 224a will push the protrusion tab that print cartridge is connected detecting sensor 960, and by this protrusion tab of extruding, print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 will send signal to control panel 970.Control panel 970 is the control device of the main control that is used to carry out multi-function device 1.
Shown in Figure 57, control panel 970 comprises: as the CPU971 of calculation element; As the ROM972 of memory, it can not rewrite, and storing control program and fixed value data; As the RAM973 of memory, it can rewrite, and as working storage; As the EEPROM974 of nonvolatile memory, it can rewrite, even and after power supply disconnects, also store data; PC interface 975, it externally is electrically connected between PC980 and the control panel 970; Ink-jet printer 976, it prints by venting according to the instruction of CPU971; LCD part 35, it carries out various demonstrations; Excess ink detecting sensor 57, it detects the residual ink amount in the print cartridge 14; And print cartridge connection detecting sensor 960, whether its detects print cartridge 14 and connects; And interface circuit 978, it carries out the input and output of various signals.Though not shown in this Figure, also include various counters and timer, and carry out the renewal of Counter Value and timer value according to the processing of carrying out in the CPU971.
In EEPROM974, be provided with print cartridge and connect sign 974a.This print cartridge connects sign 974a and will not only occur when print cartridge 14 correctly connects, and is the sign that disappears when removing print cartridge 14.In addition, connect sign 974a in case opened print cartridge, then it will remain on out under the present condition and be disappeared by print cartridge connection detecting sensor 960 up to it.
Print cartridge shown in Figure 58 connects the interrupt procedure of testing process for carrying out with specific interval (for example, every 4ms) after initial set-up procedure (not shown in this Figure) is finished after for multi-function device 1 opening power.In the following description, print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 will be opened when print cartridge connects the protrusion tab pressurized of sensor, and it will not closed during pressurized at protrusion tab.In addition, (when the light path between luminous component 57a and light receiving part 57b gets clogged) will open when excess ink detecting sensor 57 is lower than certain level in the light quantity that is received by light receiving part 57b, and (when the light that is sent by light-emitting component 57a is received by light receiving part 57b) will close when the light quantity that is received by light receiving part 57b surpasses certain level.
When carrying out print cartridge connection testing process, at first, to confirm that print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 and whether opens (S101), if and print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 passes (S101: not), then there is not any print cartridge 14 that is connected on the multi-function device 1, therefore the value that print cartridge is connected sign 974a is set at 0 (S102), and this print cartridge will be shown to also not connection (S103) of this print cartridge 14 on the LCD part 35, and this process will finish.Under situation about using for the first time after factory transports out, the value that print cartridge connects sign 974a has been set at 0 at new multi-function device 1.
Result as the S101 process is confirmed opens (S101: be) if print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960, means that then print cartridge 14 has connected, and this process will confirm that print cartridge connects whether the value that indicates 974a is 1 (S104) then.Connect in the situation of print cartridge 14 at the state that never connects, the value that print cartridge connects sign 974a should be 0 (S104: deny), and this process will confirm whether excess ink detecting sensor 57 opens (S105) according to the moment that print cartridge 14 connects then.If excess ink detecting sensor 57 is closed (S105: not), mean that then the print cartridge 14 that is in from covering between luminous component 57a and the light receiving part 57b under the state that arm portion 473c removes has connected, perhaps in other words, connected the print cartridge that does not almost have excess ink.Therefore, the China ink of on LCD part 35 demonstration being fallen vacant shows (S112), and this process will finish.
On the other hand, in the S105 process, if excess ink detecting sensor 57 is opened (S105: be), then this process will confirm whether excess ink detecting sensor 57 has opened the time long between bit timing (for example, greater than 10s) (S106).If excess ink detecting sensor 57 has been opened the time (S105: be) longer than this special time, then mean in the moment excess ink detecting sensor 57 that connects print cartridge 14 and opened the time longer than this special time, therefore, thinking has on the surface of impurity attached to the luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 and light receiving part 57b, wherein these impurity have blocked the light path between these surfaces, think that perhaps sensor 960 is out of order.Therefore, if the S106 process, then will demonstrate excess ink detecting sensor unusual (S107) for being on LCD part 35, and this process will finish.
In the S106 process, (S106: not), then next this process will determine that print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 and whether opened (for example 10 seconds) long time (S108) between bit timing if excess ink detecting sensor 57 is not opened the time longer than this special time.As mentioned above, in " S104 is for denying " processing afterwards is the process that will carry out in the situation that the state that print cartridge 14 never connects connects, if and print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 and opened the time longer than this special time, then may damage print cartridge and connect detecting sensor 960.Therefore, opened the time (S108: be) longer, will show on liquid-crystal display section 35 that then print cartridge connects detecting sensor unusual (S109), and this process will finish than this special time if print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960.
In the S108 process, if connecting detecting sensor 960, print cartridge do not open the time longer (S108: not) than this special time, at this moment because this means print cartridge 14 correctly connects, will connect the value that indicates 974a to print cartridge and be set at 1 (S110), and this process will finish.In other words, print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 and will change in approximately identical timing with excess ink detecting sensor 57, and when the value of print cartridge connection sign 974a is set at 1,, the state that can utilize multi-function device 1 to print will be set to by detecting the connection of print cartridge 14.
In the S110 process, when print cartridge connects sign 974a and is set to 1, in processing after this, the process of S104 will become and be, and will detect the process of the excess ink in the print cartridge 14.In other words, in the S111 process, to confirm whether excess ink detecting sensor 57 is opened, if and excess ink detecting sensor 57 is opened (S111: be), then in print cartridge 14, ink is arranged, and this process will finish according to present situation, and if excess ink detecting sensor 57 is closed (S111: not), to show on LCD 35 that then lacking China ink shows (S112), and this process will finish.
When the value of print cartridge connection sign 974a is 1, in other words, if do not detect mistake, then multi-function device 1 will allow to carry out print procedure (not illustrating among the figure), therefore can avoid not carrying out print procedure knowing under the state whether print cartridge 14 has connected.
When having shown that each is wrong, and if for example operation execution of unusual delete button of unusual deletion action is arranged, then print cartridge connects and indicates that 974a will be initialized as 0.
As mentioned above, in the 6th embodiment, can not only distinguish and detect the not-connected status of print cartridge 14, and when not having ink, also can detect any unusual in the various sensors.Whether and when changing print cartridge 14, when print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 and will be closed, the value that print cartridge connects sign 974a will be set to 0, therefore can accurately detect print cartridge 14 all the time and connect or do not have ink.And, when removing print cartridge 14, when ink is gone up attached to the luminous component 57a of excess ink detecting sensor 57 or light receiving part 57b, can accurately detect any unusual of when connecting print cartridge 14 excess ink detecting sensor 57.In addition, bad if print cartridge connects detecting sensor 960 when removing print cartridge 14, then can show also that even without connecting print cartridge 14 lacking China ink shows.Therefore, the user can discern certain unusual generation.If carry out unusual deletion action, then, print cartridge is set to 0 because connecting the value of sign 974a, and in the situation that next connects print cartridge 14, can show that then print cartridge connects the unusual of detecting sensor 960, thereby can make the user know this point.
As among first embodiment, if there is not print cartridge to connect detecting sensor 960, excess ink detecting sensor 57 can detect the existence or the shortage of any excess ink.If excess ink detecting sensor 57 becomes out from the pass, excess ink detecting sensor 57 also can detect print cartridge 14 and be connected (print cartridge that has perhaps more precisely, enough residual ink amount is connected).When excess ink detecting sensor 57 detects print cartridge 14 and is connected, also can allow to carry out print procedure.
Below with reference to Figure 59 the 7th and the 8th embodiment is described.Figure 59 illustrates the print cartridge 6014 of the 7th and the 8th embodiment and the perspective view of 7014 outward appearance, Figure 59 (a) is the perspective view that the outward appearance of the print cartridge 6014 among the 7th embodiment is shown, and Figure 59 (b) is the perspective view of outward appearance that the print cartridge 7014 of the 8th embodiment is shown.The 7th is constituted as with the print cartridge 6014 and 7014 of the 8th embodiment and makes that the shape be formed with ink guide part 4120 and 5120 side is different with respect to the print cartridge 4014 and 5014 of third and fourth embodiment.Therefore, identical with structure 5120 the side except being formed with the 7th with the print cartridge 4014 and 5014 of third and fourth embodiment with the ink guide part 4120 of the 8th embodiment, therefore to the 3rd and the 4th embodiment in identical part will use identical Reference numeral, and omission is to the explanation of these parts.
Shown in Figure 59 (a), form recessed portion 6100 (being in ink guide part 4120 tops of the connection status (state among Figure 59 (a)) of print cartridge 4120) above the ink guide part 4120.In the center of this recessed portion 6100, be formed with test section 6140.Therefore, on the both sides of test section 6140, be formed with the luminous component 57a that can insert excess ink detecting sensor 57 and the space of light receiving part 57b.
Shown in Figure 59 (b), be formed with recessed portion 7100 (being in ink guide part 5120 tops of the connection status (state among Figure 59 (b)) of print cartridge 5120) above the ink guide part 5120.In the center of this recessed portion 7100, be formed with test section 7140.Therefore, on the both sides of test section 7140, be formed with the luminous component 57a that can insert excess ink detecting sensor 57 and the space of light receiving part 57b.
And, the print cartridge 6014 of the 7th and the 8th embodiment and 7014 test section 6140 and 7140 are arranged in the recessed portion 6100 and 7100 that is formed on the side, thereby can reduce from ink guide part 4120 and 5120 inks that flow out any of test section 6140 and 7140 are adhered to.
Also the surface of the recessed portion 6100 on ink guide part 4120 and 5120 sides and 7100 can be constituted the inclined surface that tilts along the direction of ink guide part 4120 and 5120.By using this structure, if any ink is arranged attached on test section 6140 and 7140, ink can not be accumulated in recessed portion 6100 and 7100, thereby can reduce any adhere to of ink on test section 6140 and 7140.
The 7th also can comprise sensor arm in inside with the test section 6140 of the 8th embodiment with 7140 as among first embodiment.By using sensor arm 470, can when being connected in the multi-function device 1, print cartridge 4014 and 5014 detect residual ink amount exactly.
Next will describe the 9th embodiment with reference to Figure 60.Figure 60 illustrates the print cartridge 8014 of the 9th embodiment and the view of refill unit 13.With part identical among first embodiment is subsidiary identical Reference numeral is arranged, and the explanation of these parts will be omitted.In addition, though different among the structure of pulling out member 65 of the door main body 60 among the 9th embodiment and first embodiment, this explanation of pulling out member 65 also will be omitted.
Shown in Figure 60, the print cartridge 8014 of the 9th embodiment has the part of promotion 8200a, and this promotion part 8200a is constituted as the pressurization retaining member 61 of contact door main body 60, and outstanding to the outside from the side 1 of print cartridge 8014.In other words, the promotion part 200a of first embodiment is the part of particular range of the side 1 of housing 200, but the promotion part 8200a of the 9th embodiment has the structure that exists with pressurization retaining member 61 contacted specific parts.In the 9th embodiment, the structure that promotes part 8200a makes it outstanding from the side, but it can be formed opposite concave shape.In this case, the pressurization retaining member will constitute from door main body 61 outstanding.
Next describe with reference to Figure 61-63 couple of the tenth embodiment.Figure 61 is a perspective view, and the outward appearance of the print cartridge 9014 of the tenth embodiment is shown.Figure 62 is a decomposition diagram, and the print cartridge 9014 of the tenth embodiment is shown.Figure 63 is the view that is used for illustrating the process that is used to change the accumulator element.So the print cartridge 14 of first embodiment has wherein accumulator element 100 because be to be welded to non-exchange structure in first and second housing members 210 and 220, but opposite, this print cartridge 9014 of the tenth embodiment is constructed such that accumulator element 100 is replaceable.
In addition, the print cartridge 9014 of the tenth embodiment has the print cartridge 14 most of identical structures with first embodiment, therefore, to only the print cartridge 14 different structures with respect to first embodiment be described, and for first embodiment in identical part use identical Reference numeral, the explanation of these parts will be omitted.
Shown in Figure 61, the print cartridge 9014 of the tenth embodiment has the seal 9100 on the outer surface that is connected to housing 200.Sealing part 9100 is connected on the vertical wall segments 210c and maximum surperficial 210a of the maximum surperficial 220a of second housing member 220 and the vertical wall segments 220c and first housing member 210.In other words, seal 9100 is connected on the side with protector 300 relative (relative with the edge surface that is provided with ink guide part 120, atmosphere induction part 130 and test section 140).Seal 9100 not only has the model of row print cartridge 9014 thereon, and it also is printed on the color corresponding with ink color thereon, thereby can visually identify the color of the inks of being stored in the print cartridge 9014.Therefore, by connecting sealing part 9100, the user can visually identify ink color, thereby can prevent that print cartridge 9014 from depositing in housing 40 in the wrong accommodating chamber 50.
Shown in Figure 62, in the vertical wall segments 210b of first housing member 210, be formed with bonding part 9200a and 9200b, they along the direction of second housing member 220 (along the Z direction, or in Figure 62 upward to) outstanding.On the other hand, in the vertical wall segments 220b of second housing member 220, be formed with conjugate foramen 9201a and 9201b, they respectively with the edge join of bonding part 9200a and 9200b.
Therefore, when making print cartridge 9014, at first, accumulator element 100 is placed in first housing member 210, and the bonding part 9200a of first housing member 210 and 9200b are cooperated with the conjugate foramen 9201a and the 9201b of second housing member 920, thereby first housing member 210 is connected with second housing member 220.Then, along the maximum surperficial 220a and the vertical wall segments 210c adhesive seals 9100 of maximum surperficial 210a and the vertical wall segments 210c and second housing member 220 of first housing member 210.Then, by connection protector 300, thereby produce print cartridge 9014.
The print cartridge 9014 of the tenth embodiment has experienced and has made first housing member 210 be connected with second housing member 220, adhere to seal 9100 on first and second housing members 210 and 220 and make bonding part 9200a and 9200b cooperates with conjugate foramen 9201a and 9201b.Therefore, by the associating of cancellation bonding part 9200a and 9200b and conjugate foramen 9201a and 9201b, thereby can cancel connection between first housing member 210 and second housing member 220.Can be simply by cancelling in being connected between bonding part 9200a and 9200b and conjugate foramen 9201a and the 9201b via the edge of conjugate foramen 9201a and 9201b extruding bonding part 9200a and 9200b from the outside of the vertical wall segments 210b that is formed with housing notch portion 221 to 223.
In addition, shown in Figure 63, because first and second housing members 210 are connected by seal 9100 with an edge surface of 220, so the edge that can adopt vertical wall segments 210c and 220c opens and closes operation (direction of arrow in Figure 63 or along the opening and closing operation of directions X) as axis.In other words, seal part 9100 is the connecting elements that is used for connecting first and second housing members 210 and 220, and seal part 9100 is as the articulate material that can open and close first and second housing members 210 and 220.Therefore, by cancellation in the replacing of carrying out accumulator element 100 that is connected between bonding part 9200a and 9200b and conjugate foramen 9201a and the 9201b, and when second housing member 220 is opened with respect to first housing member 210, insert new accumulator element 100, first and second housing members 210 are connected with 220.In this tenth embodiment, during changing accumulator element 100, also can use the product that ink is re-injected in the accumulator element 100 with new accumulator element 100.
As mentioned above, the print cartridge 9014 of the tenth embodiment can be easy to carry out the replacing of accumulator element 100.In addition, in this embodiment, owing to carry out the detection (detecting combination) of excess ink by the excess ink detecting sensor 57 on 140 both sides, test section that are arranged on accumulator element 100 with being connected of print cartridge, if, then will determine without any excess ink (perhaps not connecting any print cartridge) so connect the print cartridge 9104 that does not comprise any accumulator element 100.Therefore, because multi-function device 1 will not carry out any print procedure under the state that connects the print cartridge 9014 that does not comprise any accumulator element 100, so can reduce the possibility that produces the printing problem.
Next with reference to Figure 64 the 11 embodiment is described.Figure 64 is the view that the accumulator element 9300 of the 11 embodiment is shown.The accumulator element 9300 of the 11 embodiment is fixed in first and second housing members, but we will omit the detailed description and the description of first and second housing members.
Shown in Figure 64, the accumulator element 9300 of the 11 embodiment is made of huttriall 9301 and bag element 9302, this huttriall 9301 uses resin material by injection-molded formation, this bag element 9302 has flexibility, and form and to be used for, and be connected with huttriall 9301 in the accumulator space of storage inside ink.Huttriall 9301 has luminous component 57a and the test section between the light receiving part 57b (illuminated portion 9303) that will be placed in excess ink detecting sensor 57, and the ink guide part that comprises ink-supplying mechanism 500 and supply block as among first embodiment.
Therefore, the accumulator element 9300 of the 11 embodiment adopts huttriall 9301 and bag part 9302 to produce, and therefore, compares by the situation of molded formation with resin material with whole accumulator element, can have the structure of simplification.Therefore, the output when making accumulator element 9300 can be improved, thereby the reduction of manufacturing cost can be realized.
The bag part 9302 that use to form the accumulator space that is used for storing ink forms the accumulator element 9300 of the 11 embodiment, therefore, when the ink in the bag part 9302 reduces, bag part 9302 will be shunk according to this minimizing, and when ink exhausts, the accumulator space will greatly be reduced equally.Therefore, sensor arm (rotating member) can not be set and detect residual ink amount in bag part 9302.
But the huttriall 9301 of accumulator element 9300 forms has the property of being in the light, and because it is arranged between the luminous component 57a and light receiving part 57b of excess ink detecting sensor 57, so it will always stop the emission light that sends from luminous component 57a.Therefore, though can not detect the residual ink amount in bag part 9302, but can detect whether include accumulator element 9300 in first and second housing members, multi-function device 1 carries out any print procedure in the time of therefore can preventing in accumulator element 9300 is not comprised in first and second housing members.
Describe the present invention above, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiment, and is easy to inference and in the scope that does not depart from claim of the present invention, can makes various improvement or change based on embodiment.
Now, the improvement example with reference to the combination of Figure 65 to 67 pair of housing member describes.Figure 65 to 67 is the view of the improvement example of the combination that is used for illustrating housing member.As mentioned above, in the present embodiment, use two kinds of first housing members 210 with different-thickness and first housing member 1210 and 2210 and two kind of second housing member 220 with different-thickness form three kinds of housings 200,1200 (or 1200 α) and 2200 with second housing member 2220 with different appearance and sizes.Replace this combination, the combination of the housing member in this improvement example can form four kinds of housings (wherein internal capacity difference) with different appearance and sizes by four housing members.At first, will in reference Figure 65, describe.Shown in Figure 65 (a), housing C1 is formed by housing member 120 and housing member r21.The thickness of housing member 120 is t20, and the thickness of housing member r21 is the t21 thicker than thickness t 20.Shown in Figure 65 (b), housing C2 is formed by housing member 121 and housing member r22.The thickness of housing member 121 is t21, and the thickness of housing member r22 is the t22 thicker than thickness t 21.In addition, be different from difference between the thickness t 20 of the thickness t 21 of housing member 121 and housing member 120 in the difference between the thickness t 21 of the thickness t 22 of housing member r22 and housing member r21.
By housing member 121 and r22 and the housing member 120 of formation housing C1 and the combination of r21 that changes formation housing C2, thus housing C3 and the housing C4 as Figure 65 (d) shown in of formation shown in Figure 65 (c).More particularly, housing C3 is formed by housing member 120 and housing member r22, and housing C4 is formed by housing member 121 and housing member r21.
Therefore, the housing member 121 and the r22 that use to form the housing member 120 of housing C1 and r21 and form housing C2 form on a small scale housing C1, extensive housing C2 and two kinds of medium scale housing C3 and C4.In addition, the appearance and size of housing C1 to C4 (thickness) is all different, and its pass is C1＜C4＜C3＜C2.Therefore, can use four kinds of housing members 120, r21,121 to form four housings according to the quantity of ink of being stored with different profiles with r22.
Like this, need first condition upward to add other second condition using four kinds of four kinds of housing member manufacturings to have in the housing of different profiles.This second condition is: forming maximum first print cartridge, the housing member of (housing C2), minimum the 3rd print cartridge of the thickness t 22 of one side of (housing member r22) and formation, (C1) housing member, difference between the thickness t 21 of one side of (housing member r21), (t22-t21) must be different from the housing member that forms maximum first print cartridge, the housing member of the thickness t 21 of the opposite side of (housing member 121) and minimum the 3rd print cartridge of formation, difference between the thickness t 20 of the opposite side of (housing member 120), (t21-t20).For example, still do not satisfy second condition if satisfy first condition, then thickness will be t20=10mm, t21=25mm, and t22=40mm (t22-t21=15mm, t21-t20=15mm), and the thickness of each housing will be C1=35mm, C2=65mm, C3=50mm, and C4=50mm, thus the housing that is merely able to produce three kinds of sizes meaned, if and satisfied first and second conditions simultaneously, then thickness will be t20=10mm, t21=20mm, and t22=40mm (t22-t21=20mm, t21-t20=10mm), and the thickness of each housing will be C1=30mm, C2=60mm, C3=50mm, and C4=40mm, thereby can produce housing with four kinds of sizes.
Next, will in reference Figure 66, describe.Shown in Figure 66, housing C5 is formed by housing member 120 and housing member r20.The thickness of housing member 120 and r20 forms t20.Housing C2 shown in Figure 66 (b) is identical with housing C2 among Figure 65 (b), therefore the explanation that will omit this housing C2.
By housing member 120 and r20 and the housing member 121 of formation housing C2 and the combination of r22 that changes formation housing C5, thereby form housing C3 shown in Figure 66 (c) and the housing C6 shown in Figure 66 (d).More particularly, housing C3 is formed by housing member 120 and housing member r22, and housing C6 is formed by housing member 121 and housing member r20.In addition, be different from difference between the thickness t 20 of the thickness t 21 of housing member 121 and housing member 120 in the difference between the thickness t 22 of the thickness t 20 of housing member r20 and housing member r22, thereby satisfied above-mentioned first and second conditions simultaneously.
Therefore, housing member 121 and these four kinds of housing members of r22 of use forming the housing member 120 of housing C5 and r20 and forming housing C2 form on a small scale housing C5, extensive housing C2 and two kinds of medium scale housing C3 and C6.In addition, the appearance and size of housing C2, C3, C5 and C6 (thickness) is all different, and its pass is C5＜C6＜C3＜C2.Therefore, can use four kinds of housing members 120, r20,121 to form four housings according to the quantity of ink of being stored with different profiles with r22.
Next, will in reference Figure 67, describe.Because the housing C1 shown in Figure 67 (a) is identical with the housing C1 shown in Figure 65, so will omit the explanation of this housing C1 here.Shown in Figure 67 (b), housing C7 is formed by housing member 122 and housing member r22.The thickness of housing member 122 and r22 forms t21 and t22.
By housing member 120 and r21 and the housing member 122 of formation housing C7 and the combination of r22 that changes formation housing C1, thereby form housing C3 shown in Figure 67 (c) and the housing C8 shown in Figure 67 (d).More particularly, housing C3 is formed by housing member 120 and housing member r22, and housing C8 is formed by housing member 122 and housing member r21.In addition, be different from difference between the thickness t 20 of the thickness t 21 of housing member 122 and housing member 120 in the difference between the thickness t 21 of the thickness t 22 of housing member r22 and housing member r21, thereby satisfied above-mentioned first and second conditions simultaneously.
Therefore, use to form the housing member 120 of housing C1 and housing member 122 and these four kinds of housing members of r22 of r21 and formation housing C7, form on a small scale housing C1, extensive housing C7 and two kinds of medium scale housing C3 and C8.In addition, the appearance and size of housing C1, C3, C7 and C8 (thickness) is all different, and its pass is C1＜C3＜C8＜C7.Therefore, can use four kinds of housing members 120, r21,122 to form four housings according to the quantity of ink of being stored with different profiles with r22.
As mentioned above, in the housing member that forms each housing, when the thickness that is arranged on the housing member on the side and the thickness that is arranged on the housing member on the opposite side not simultaneously, can form four housings by enough four kinds of housing members with different external dimensions (different internal capacity).
Next will another improvement example of present embodiment be described.In above embodiment, by utilizing the elasticity of first and second supply springs 630 and the 650 and first and second big air springs 730 and 750, thereby push supply valve 620 and atmos-valve 720 to stop ink flow path K and atmosphere inlet channel L along the direction of supply joint 610 and atmosphere joint 710.On the contrary, also can utilize the elasticity that adopts the helical spring member that metal material or resin material form to come along the direction pushing supply valve of supply joint and atmosphere joint and atmos-valve to stop ink flow path and atmosphere inlet channel.In addition, make its at least one part for conical, then also can reduce the scale of ink-supplying mechanism and atmosphere admission gear as long as helical spring forms.In addition, do not using under the situation of supply slide block 640 and atmosphere slide block 740, can supply spring 650 and first air spring 730 and second largest air spring 750 with the first supply spring 630 and second and be configured such that them directly adjacent to each other, can also make supply valve and atmosphere intake valve be positioned on the base plane by simplified structure.By using this structure, can simplify ink-supplying mechanism and atmosphere admission gear, thereby can realize the reduction of manufacturing cost.In addition, can also have wherein the structure that first supply (atmosphere) spring and second supply (atmosphere) spring connect into a unit.In addition, in supply valve 620 and atmos-valve 720, do not use under the situation of valve hook 626 and 726, can with the supply (atmosphere) slide block 640 (740) and first and second the supply (atmosphere) springs 630 and 650 (730 and 750) connect into a unit, and have the associating of making supply (atmosphere) slide block and first and second the supply (atmosphere) springs can free-moving structure.
In addition, when check-valves 670 is made of umbrella portion 671 and axial region 672, can only construct check-valves 670 by umbrella portion 671.Check-valves 670 is used for preventing that ink from refluxing, and it can be configured such that therefore it can first lid through hole 683 of inaccessible lid 680 and being connected of the second lid through hole 684.In addition, can construct the lid 680 that does not have the second lid through hole 684.
In addition, in above embodiment,, also can form groove round the periphery of the joint contact portion of supplying joint though form the circular-base form at the joint jut 614 of supply joint 610 and the space between the joint contact portion 613.Because any moving of joint jut will be absorbed by this groove, so can reduce the joint contact portion along with pin 49 inserts and moving along direction of insertion.In addition, by increasing the internal diameter of joint contact portion, thereby can reduce the mobile joint contact portion that passes to of joint jut with respect to the internal diameter of joint jut.
In addition, in above embodiment, though film 160 is welded on the both sides of the first opening 112a of frame part 110 and the second opening 112b, can use opening of sidewall sealing, and film 160 just is welded on another opening.In this case, the second opening 112b side is closed by this sidewall, and by having film 160 is welded on structure on the first opening 112a, can on the sidewall of atmosphere connecting path 433, forms film 160, thereby can reduce the formation of meniscus on the atmosphere connecting path 433.In addition, sealing with sidewall in the situation of the second opening 112b, this sidewall will become supporting substrate, and because this will provide intensity to frame part, not use the structure that is connected to form part (demarcation strip) that is connected in the accumulator chamber so can have.In this case, can a face side have the interior welds part from supporting substrate.
In addition, in above embodiment, the film 160 that is welded on the framework 110 is made of the nylon layer on frame part 110 sides, but also can apply waterproof coating to this nylon layer.By using this structure, can prevent from atmosphere connecting path 433, to form meniscus.
In addition, in above embodiment, ambient air flow path forms part 430 and is constructed such that it is downward-sloping towards the second atmosphere connected chamber chamber 432 from the first atmosphere connected chamber chamber 431, but owing to a surface of ambient air flow path 433 is made of film 160, so can prevent from ambient air flow path 433, to form meniscus.Therefore, can have the wherein not necessarily downward-sloping structure of ambient air flow path formation part 430, and can have the lower horizontal structure of state of the ambient air flow path of making formation part 430 when connecting print cartridge 14.
In addition, in above embodiment, carry out all welding processes though adopt supersonic welding to fetch, but, under the situation that may use bonding agent to connect, can use bonding agent to realize that all connect, and also can adopt different welding methods to weld.For example, can replace the welding of housing 200, not separate with 220 because only importantly guarantee first and second housing members 210 by the connection of adopting bonding agent.
Industrial applicibility
Print cartridge of the present invention, ink-jet recording system and print cartridge group are widely used for family and office purposes.
Claims (13)
1. ink cartridge unit, it comprises at least three kinds of print cartridges with different size,
Wherein each print cartridge has first housing member and second housing member, and these housing members interconnect with formation has the roughly housing of rectangular shape, and the ink storage chamber is arranged in this housing,
Wherein each housing member has board member and wall extension, this board member forms first surface, described first surface is to form the surface that has maximum area in all surface of the housing of rectangular shape roughly, this wall extension generally perpendicularly extends from the outer rim of board member, and the surface of the first surface adjacency of formation and housing
Wherein said at least three kinds of print cartridges comprise first print cartridge, second print cartridge and the 3rd print cartridge, and first print cartridge is dimensionally greater than second print cartridge, and second print cartridge is dimensionally greater than the 3rd print cartridge,
Wherein the wall extension of first housing member of first print cartridge is than the wall extension height of first housing member of the 3rd print cartridge, and the wall extension of second housing member of first print cartridge is than the wall extension height of second housing member of the 3rd print cartridge,
Wherein first housing member of second print cartridge is identical with first housing member of first print cartridge, and second housing member of second print cartridge is identical with second housing member of the 3rd print cartridge.
2. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each housing member also has first and cuts part, and the first cut-away branch is formed on the far-end of wall extension.
3. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein first of first housing member of each print cartridge first cut-away that cuts second housing member of part and corresponding print cartridge is divided identical, and cut part with first of second housing member and be connected to form and run through opening by making first of first housing member cut part, and the described opening that runs through is to be used for from the ink supply path of ink storage chamber to the outside ink supply of housing.
4. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein be formed on first in first housing member of first print cartridge cut part have with first housing member that is formed on the 3rd print cartridge in first cut-away divide identical shape, be formed on first in second housing member of first print cartridge cut partly have with second housing member that is formed on the 3rd print cartridge in first cut-away divide identical shape.
5. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of the wall extension of first housing member of first print cartridge is identical with the height of the wall extension of second housing member of first print cartridge, and the height of the wall extension of first housing member of the 3rd print cartridge is identical with the height of the wall extension of second housing member of the 3rd print cartridge.
6. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corresponding height of the wall extension of the housing member of first print cartridge is the twice of height of wall extension of the corresponding housing member of the 3rd print cartridge.
7. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein is different from difference between the height at the wall extension of second housing member of the height of the wall extension of second housing member of first print cartridge and the 3rd print cartridge in the difference between the height of the wall extension of first housing member of the height of the wall extension of first housing member of first print cartridge and the 3rd print cartridge.
8. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 1, first housing member of wherein said second print cartridge has short transverse along wall extension from the extended rib of board member, and the height of its center rib is corresponding to the difference between the height of the wall extension of first housing member of the height of the wall extension of first housing member of first print cartridge and the 3rd print cartridge.
9. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein forms confining wall with each housing member, and this confining wall forms spatial accommodation, and this spatial accommodation is used to hold the valve system that is used for opening and closing described ink-feed channel.
10. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 3, also comprise ink storing member, this ink storing member limits described ink storage chamber, and be accommodated in the housing that forms by housing member, wherein ink storing member has ink guide part, this ink guide part extends to hull outside by the described opening that runs through in being housed inside housing the time, wherein is formed with the ink supply opening at the place, end of the extension of ink guide part.
11. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein ink storing member comprises atmosphere introducing part, this atmosphere is introduced part atmosphere is incorporated in the ink storing member, and extend abreast with ink guide part, wherein the wall extension of each housing member cuts in the same level of part and has second and cut part being formed with first, these of housing member second cut-away divides formation to run through opening, and atmosphere introducing part runs through opening by this and extends to hull outside.
12. ink cartridge unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ink storing member is included in ink guide part and atmosphere is introduced the exposure part of extending abreast with the ink supply member between the part, wherein, when print cartridge is installed on the ink jet recording device, can penetrate this exposure part by the illumination that the optical pickocff from be arranged on ink jet recording device is launched, wherein the wall extension of each housing member cuts in the same level of part and has the 3rd and cut part being formed with first, the 3rd cut-away of these housing members divides formation to run through opening, and the exposure part runs through opening by this and is exposed to hull outside.
13. as each described ink cartridge unit in the claim 1 to 12, wherein housing member is formed by resin material.
Applications Claiming Priority (11)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP284646/2005 | 2005-09-29 | ||
| JP2005284646A JP4539517B2 (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2005-09-29 | ink cartridge |
| JP2005342697 | 2005-11-28 | ||
| JP342697/2005 | 2005-11-28 | ||
| JP377987/2005 | 2005-12-28 | ||
| JP2005377987 | 2005-12-28 | ||
| JP064972/2006 | 2006-03-09 | ||
| JP2006064972A JP4524677B2 (en) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-03-09 | Ink cartridge set |
| JP2006081806A JP4479684B2 (en) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-03-23 | ink cartridge |
| JP081806/2006 | 2006-03-23 | ||
| PCT/JP2006/319609 WO2007037445A1 (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-25 | Unit of ink cartridges |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN101132925A CN101132925A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN101132925B true CN101132925B (en) | 2010-09-01 |
Family
ID=37976972
Family Applications (10)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN2006800064647A Active CN101132918B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-25 | Ink cartridge, ink jet recording system and ink cartridge |
| CN200680006465A Active CN100581829C (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-25 | Ink cartridge, and system including ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus |
| CN2006800065512A Active CN101132925B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-25 | Ink cartridge unit |
| CN2006800065353A Active CN101132922B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge, and ink jet recording system |
| CN200680006466A Active CN100581830C (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge, and ink jet recording apparatus |
| CN2006800064670A Active CN101132921B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge, and method for replacing ink storage element in the ink cartridge |
| CN2006800065438A Expired - Fee Related CN101132923B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge |
| CNB2006800065508A Active CN100569527C (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Print cartridge and printer |
| CN2006800065565A Active CN101151160B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink box and ink-jet recording device |
| CN2006800065599A Active CN101132926B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge, ink jet recording equipment and assembly of them |
Family Applications Before (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN2006800064647A Active CN101132918B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-25 | Ink cartridge, ink jet recording system and ink cartridge |
| CN200680006465A Active CN100581829C (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-25 | Ink cartridge, and system including ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus |
Family Applications After (7)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN2006800065353A Active CN101132922B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge, and ink jet recording system |
| CN200680006466A Active CN100581830C (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge, and ink jet recording apparatus |
| CN2006800064670A Active CN101132921B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge, and method for replacing ink storage element in the ink cartridge |
| CN2006800065438A Expired - Fee Related CN101132923B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge |
| CNB2006800065508A Active CN100569527C (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Print cartridge and printer |
| CN2006800065565A Active CN101151160B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink box and ink-jet recording device |
| CN2006800065599A Active CN101132926B (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-29 | Ink cartridge, ink jet recording equipment and assembly of them |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP4539517B2 (en) |
| CN (10) | CN101132918B (en) |
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-
2005
- 2005-09-29 JP JP2005284646A patent/JP4539517B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2006
- 2006-09-25 CN CN2006800064647A patent/CN101132918B/en active Active
- 2006-09-25 CN CN200680006465A patent/CN100581829C/en active Active
- 2006-09-25 CN CN2006800065512A patent/CN101132925B/en active Active
- 2006-09-29 CN CN2006800065353A patent/CN101132922B/en active Active
- 2006-09-29 CN CN200680006466A patent/CN100581830C/en active Active
- 2006-09-29 CN CN2006800064670A patent/CN101132921B/en active Active
- 2006-09-29 CN CN2006800065438A patent/CN101132923B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2006-09-29 CN CNB2006800065508A patent/CN100569527C/en active Active
- 2006-09-29 CN CN2006800065565A patent/CN101151160B/en active Active
- 2006-09-29 CN CN2006800065599A patent/CN101132926B/en active Active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CN101132923B (en) | 2011-02-02 |
| JP4539517B2 (en) | 2010-09-08 |
| CN100581829C (en) | 2010-01-20 |
| CN101132922B (en) | 2011-02-02 |
| CN101132926B (en) | 2010-11-17 |
| CN101132923A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN101132921A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN101132920A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN101132919A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| JP2007090727A (en) | 2007-04-12 |
| CN101132924A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN100569527C (en) | 2009-12-16 |
| CN101132922A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN101132925A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN100581830C (en) | 2010-01-20 |
| CN101132921B (en) | 2010-05-19 |
| CN101132918A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN101132918B (en) | 2010-12-08 |
| CN101151160A (en) | 2008-03-26 |
| CN101132926A (en) | 2008-02-27 |
| CN101151160B (en) | 2010-06-16 |
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