CN109963720B

CN109963720B - Printing fluid cartridge and system using the same

Info

Publication number: CN109963720B
Application number: CN201780005279.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 宫尾崇宏
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-31
Filing date: 2017-07-31
Publication date: 2021-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-31
Also published as: AU2017426463B2; SG11201907784WA; NZ756677A; CN109963720A; CA3054274A1; CA3054274C; WO2019026111A1; AU2017426463A1

Abstract

The printing fluid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a printing fluid consuming device (10) in an insertion direction. The printing fluid box comprises: a storage chamber (32, 33, 432), a supply (34, 434), a front surface (40, 49, 340, 440), a rear surface (41, 341, 441), an upper surface (39, 339, 439), an electrical interface (64, 65, 464, 465), a locking surface (151, 451), one protrusion (67, 285, 467, 567, 667, 767, 867, 968) and another protrusion (43, 90, 890). The storage chamber is configured to store printing fluid. The one protrusion and the other protrusion define a plurality of imaginary planes each passing through the one protrusion and the other protrusion. The plurality of imaginary planes includes a specific imaginary plane (X1). The particular imaginary plane is located higher between the one projection and the other projection than any other imaginary plane. The electrical interface is positioned downwards in the direction of gravity with respect to a certain imaginary plane in the attached posture.

Description

Printing fluid cartridge and system using the same

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to printing fluid cartridges and systems using the same.

Background

Conventionally, there is known an inkjet recording apparatus configured to record an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink stored in an ink cartridge through nozzles. There is known an inkjet recording apparatus in which a new ink cartridge can be mounted each time ink is consumed. In an inkjet recording apparatus capable of performing color printing, a plurality of ink cartridges can be mounted. For example, japanese patent application publication 2015-58545 discloses an ink cartridge provided with an IC board.

[ list of references ]

[ patent document ]

[ patent document 1] Japanese patent application publication 2015-58545

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

When the ink cartridge lands on the ground or collides with another object, the ink cartridge is liable to generate an impact on an IC board provided at a surface of a case of the ink cartridge. As a result, the electrical interface on the IC board is broken or deformed, locking the information stored in the IC board and not being readable. Further, when the ink cartridge lands on the ground, not only the IC board but also other members may be broken by collision with the ground. Providing a protective wall around the IC board or other member can be a solution to the problem, but the protective wall around the IC board or other member can become an obstacle when attaching the IC board to the case.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a printing fluid cartridge in which the electrical interface is sufficiently protected against breakage and to which the electrical interface can be easily attached.

(1) To achieve the above and other objects, the present disclosure provides a printing fluid cartridge configured to be inserted into a printing fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction crossing a gravity direction in an attached posture. The printing fluid cartridge includes: a storage chamber, a supply portion, a rear surface, an upper surface, an electrical interface, a locking surface, one protrusion, and another protrusion. The storage chamber is configured to store printing fluid. The supply portion is configured to supply printing fluid from the storage chamber. The supply portion is provided at the front surface. The rear surface is spaced from the front surface in a rearward direction opposite the insertion direction. The storage chamber is located between the front surface and the rear surface. The upper surface is disposed upward with respect to the storage chamber in the attached posture and faces upward opposite to the direction of gravity. An electrical interface is disposed at the upper surface and is configured to contact a contact portion disposed in the printing fluid consuming apparatus. The locking surface is disposed upward relative to the storage chamber in the attachment attitude and is configured to engage with a printing fluid consuming device. A protrusion is provided at the upper surface. The one projection is disposed forward in the insertion direction with respect to the electrical port and has a certain portion. The detection surface is disposed upward relative to the storage chamber in the attachment attitude and is configured to receive a detection signal from the printing-fluid consuming apparatus. Another protrusion is provided at the upper surface and is disposed rearward with respect to the electrical port. The other protrusion has another specific portion. The one projection and the other projection define a plurality of imaginary planes, each imaginary plane passing through the one projection and the other projection. Each of the plurality of imaginary planes extends in a width direction perpendicular to the gravity direction and the insertion direction in the attached posture. The plurality of imaginary planes include a specific imaginary plane defined by the one specific portion and the another specific portion. The particular imaginary plane is positioned higher between the one projection and the other projection than any other imaginary plane. The electrical interface is positioned downwards in the direction of gravity with respect to a certain imaginary plane in the attached posture. The detection surface, the electrical interface and the locking surface are arranged in the recited order above the upper surface in the rearward direction.

According to the above configuration, when the printing fluid cartridge lands on the ground, the one protrusion can first collide with the ground instead of the electrical interface, and thus the electrical interface is protected against collision impact.

(2) It is preferable that: the other protrusion being arranged upwardly with respect to the electrical interface; and the electrical interface is arranged upwardly with respect to the one protrusion in the attached posture.

According to the above configuration, since the one protrusion is located lower than the electrical interface, the one protrusion does not interfere with the attaching operation of the electrical interface to the printing fluid cartridge. Thus, the electrical interface can be easily attached to the printing-fluid cartridge.

(3) It is preferred that the detection surface is disposed downwardly with respect to a certain imaginary plane between the one protrusion and the other protrusion.

The externally accessible member is protected against impacts caused when the printing fluid cartridge is dropped onto ground level.

(4) It is preferable that: a locking surface is provided at the further projection.

(5) It is preferable that: the dimension of the other projection in the width direction is larger than the dimension of the one projection in the width direction; and the other projection is disposed upward in the gravitational direction with respect to the one projection in the attached posture.

According to the above configuration, since the other projection is larger in size than the one projection, the other projection is durable. The other projection is positioned upwardly relative to the one projection, and the other projection can thereby collide with the ground to thereby protect the electrical interface.

(6) It is preferable that: the printing-fluid cartridge further having a center of gravity; the one protrusion is positioned forward relative to the center of gravity; and the locking surface is positioned rearwardly relative to the center of gravity.

According to the above configuration, when the one projection and the other projection collide with the ground plane, the case 31 can be rotated in the rotation direction.

(7) It is preferable that: the other projection includes an abutment surface disposed forwardly and facing upwardly relative to the locking surface in the attachment attitude; and the abutment surface includes the other specific portion.

According to the above configuration, when the printing fluid cartridge is dropped onto the floor surface in a posture in which the printing fluid cartridge is upside down, the abutment surface is likely to collide with the floor surface to thereby protect the lock surface.

(8) It is preferable that the other projection includes an operation portion at the upper surface disposed rearward with respect to the locking surface.

(9) It is preferable that: the printing fluid cartridge further comprises a support portion disposed at the upper surface; and the support portion supports the electrical interface and is continuously connected to the one protrusion.

According to the above configuration, the support portion is continuously connected to the one protrusion, thereby reinforcing the one protrusion.

(10) It is preferable that: the one protrusion includes a top surface having a width in a width direction that is smaller than a length of the top surface in the insertion direction.

(11) It is preferable that the specific imaginary plane passes through an uppermost portion of the one protrusion.

(12) It is preferable that the specific imaginary plane passes through the foremost part of the one protrusion.

(13) It is preferable that the specific imaginary plane passes through the uppermost portion of the other protrusion.

(14) It is preferable that the specific imaginary plane passes through the foremost part of the one protrusion.

(15) It is preferred that the detection surface is provided at the one protrusion.

(16) It is preferable that the one specific portion is disposed downward with respect to the other specific portion in the attaching posture, and the lock surface is positioned rearward with respect to the other specific portion in the attaching posture.

According to the above configuration, the specific imaginary plane is separated upward from the other specific portion in the backward direction. The locking surface is thereby protected from receiving shocks caused by a drop of the printing fluid cartridge, since the imaginary plane coincides with the ground surface.

(17) It is preferable that the detection surface is disposed rearward in the insertion direction with respect to the one specific portion in the attachment posture, and the one specific portion is disposed downward with respect to the other specific portion in the attachment posture.

According to the above configuration, when the printing fluid cartridge is inserted into the printing fluid consuming apparatus, the detection surface positioned rearward from the one specific portion is prevented from being broken. Since the one specific portion positioned forward is provided lower than the other specific portion positioned rearward, the member provided in the printing fluid consuming apparatus is prevented from being broken due to collision with the printing fluid cartridge.

(18) It is preferable that: a system includes a printing fluid cartridge and a printing fluid consuming apparatus including a contact; the printing fluid consuming apparatus further comprises a sensor, a lock portion, a printing fluid consuming portion, and a supply tube; the sensor is configured to emit a detection signal and detect at least one of a detection surface during insertion of the printing fluid cartridge and a detection surface in an attachment attitude of the printing fluid cartridge; the lock portion is configured to engage with the locking surface; and in the supply tube, printing fluid flows from the printing fluid cartridge to be supplied to the printing fluid consuming part.

(19) It is preferred that the system further comprises a determiner configured to determine whether the printing fluid cartridge is attached to at least one of the printing fluid consuming apparatus and a type of the printing fluid cartridge based on the detection of the detection surface by the sensor.

(20) According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is also provided a printing fluid cartridge including a storage chamber, a supply portion, a rear surface, an upper surface, a locking surface, a protrusion, and an electrical interface. The storage chamber is configured to store printing fluid. The supply portion includes a supply hole through which the printing fluid is configured to flow out of the storage chamber in a forward direction intersecting with a direction of gravity in the upright posture. The supply portion is provided at the front surface. The rear surface leaves the front surface in a rearward direction opposite to the forward direction in the upright posture. The storage chamber is located between the front surface and the rear surface. The upper surface is disposed upward relative to the storage chamber in the upright posture and faces upward opposite to the direction of gravity. The locking surface is disposed at the upper surface and faces rearward. The one protrusion is located at the upper surface and has a detection surface extending in a forward direction. An electrical interface is disposed at the upper surface. The locking surface, the electrical interface and the one projection are arranged in the recited order in the forward direction in the upright position. The one projection, the electrical interface and the locking surface are arranged upwardly in the recited order in the upright position.

(21) It is preferable that: the one protrusion has one specific portion; the printing-fluid cartridge further comprises a further protrusion located at the upper surface and set back with respect to the electrical interface; the other protrusion has another specific portion; the one projection and the other projection define a plurality of imaginary planes, each imaginary plane passing through the one projection and the other projection; the plurality of imaginary planes each extending in a width direction perpendicular to the gravity direction and the forward direction in the standing posture; the plurality of imaginary planes include a specific imaginary plane defined by the one specific portion and the another specific portion; the particular imaginary plane is positioned higher between the one projection and the other projection than any other imaginary plane; and the electrical interface is positioned downward in the direction of gravity with respect to a particular imaginary plane in the upright position.

(22) It is preferable that the locking surface has a width in the width direction that is longer than a width of the one projection in the width direction.

According to the above configuration, since the other projection is larger in size than the one projection, the other projection is durable. The other projection is positioned upwardly relative to the one projection, and the other projection can thus collide with the ground to thereby protect the electrical interface.

(23) It is preferable that: the printing-fluid cartridge of claim further having a center of gravity; the one protrusion is closer to the front surface in the forward direction than the center of gravity is to the front surface; and the locking surface is closer to the rear surface in the rearward direction than the center of gravity is to the rear surface.

According to the above configuration, when the one projection and the other projection collide with the ground plane, the case can be rotated in the rotation direction.

(24) Preferably, the printing fluid cartridge further comprises an abutment surface disposed between the locking surface and the one projection, the abutment surface facing upwardly.

(25) It is preferable that: the printing fluid cartridge further comprises a support portion disposed at the upper surface; and the support portion supports the electrical interface and is continuously connected to the one protrusion.

(26) Preferably, the one protrusion is configured to receive a detection signal from the printing fluid consuming device.

(27) It is preferable that: the printing fluid cartridge further comprises a bottom surface and a supply; the bottom surface is disposed downwardly below the upright position and opposite the upper surface relative to the storage chamber. The supply portion is provided at the front surface; and the supply portion includes a supply hole, a valve configured to open and close the supply hole, and the supply portion includes a pushing member that pushes the valve toward the supply hole.

(28) It is preferable that the specific imaginary plane passes through an uppermost portion of the one protrusion.

(29) It is preferable that the specific imaginary plane passes through the foremost part of the one protrusion.

(30) It is preferable that the specific imaginary plane passes through the uppermost portion of the other protrusion.

(31) It is preferable that the specific imaginary plane passes through the foremost part of the other protrusion.

Advantageous effects of the invention

In the printing fluid cartridge according to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the electrical interface provided at the upper surface from being broken without affecting the attaching operation of the electrical interface to the printing fluid cartridge.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view conceptually showing an internal configuration of a printer including a cartridge attaching portion configured to detachably accommodate an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a cartridge attaching portion and an opening of the cartridge attaching portion;

fig. 3 is a sectional view of a cartridge attachment portion including a door formed with a slit, in which two of the ink cartridges according to the embodiment are inserted into corresponding insertion spaces, taken along a plane III-III in fig. 4;

fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge (magenta) according to the embodiment is attached to the cartridge attaching part in the first posture;

fig. 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the enclosed area VB illustrated in fig. 4, and fig. 5B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the enclosed area VA illustrated in fig. 4;

fig. 6 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge (magenta) according to an embodiment when viewed from its forward and upward angles;

fig. 7 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge (magenta) according to an embodiment when viewed from its rearward and upward angles;

fig. 8 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge (magenta) according to the embodiment taken along an imaginary plane X2 illustrated in fig. 9B and shows an internal configuration of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment;

fig. 9A is a left side view of an ink cartridge (magenta) according to the embodiment and illustrates an arrangement of parts provided at an upper surface of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment, and fig. 9B is a rear side view of the ink cartridge (magenta) according to the embodiment;

fig. 10 is a left side view of the ink cartridge (magenta) according to the embodiment and illustrates a positional relationship between various components of the ink cartridge in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction;

fig. 11A is a perspective view of an ink cartridge of black according to the embodiment when viewed from a rearward and upward angle thereof, and fig. 11B is a rear side view of the ink cartridge of black according to the embodiment;

fig. 12 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge of black according to an embodiment when viewed from its forward and upward angles;

fig. 13A to 13D are top views of ink cartridges of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow, respectively, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a top view of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment, which is black;

FIG. 15 is a top view of a magenta ink cartridge according to an embodiment;

fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a state in which an ink cartridge (magenta) is inserted in a corresponding insertion space of a cartridge attaching part according to the embodiment;

fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge (magenta) according to the embodiment is inserted further forward in the corresponding insertion space of the cartridge attaching part after the state illustrated in fig. 16 and is in the second posture in the corresponding insertion space;

fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge (cyan) is inserted in the insertion space of the ink cartridge for magenta and the light-blocking plate (interference surface) of the ink cartridge (cyan) abuts against the door of the ink cartridge for magenta;

fig. 19 is a flowchart illustrating steps of a process performed by a controller of the printer for determining the type of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment attached to the cartridge attaching portion;

fig. 20 is a left side view of an ink cartridge according to a first modification to the embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a left side view of an ink cartridge according to a second modification to the embodiment;

fig. 22 is a vertical sectional view of an ink cartridge according to a second modification to the embodiment;

fig. 23A is a perspective view of an ink cartridge according to a third modification to the embodiment, and fig. 23B is a vertical sectional view of the ink cartridge according to the third modification to the embodiment taken along a plane XXIIB-XXIIB shown in fig. 23A;

fig. 24 is a left side view of an ink cartridge according to a fourth modification to the embodiment;

fig. 25 is a left side view of an ink cartridge according to a fifth modification to the embodiment;

fig. 26 is a left side view of an ink cartridge according to a sixth modification to the embodiment;

fig. 27 is a left side view of an ink cartridge according to a seventh modification to the embodiment;

fig. 28 is a vertical sectional view of an ink cartridge according to an eighth modification to the embodiment;

fig. 29 is a flowchart illustrating steps of a process according to a variation of the embodiment, which is executed by a controller of a printer to determine whether an ink cartridge according to the embodiment is attached to a cartridge attachment portion;

fig. 30 is a flowchart illustrating steps of a process according to another variation of the embodiment, which is executed by a controller of a printer to determine whether an ink cartridge according to the embodiment is attached to a cartridge attachment portion.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail while referring to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment described below is merely one example of the present disclosure and that modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In the following description, the forward direction 51 is defined as a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment is inserted into the cartridge attachment portion 110, and the backward direction 52 is defined as a direction opposite to the forward direction 51, that is, a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted from the cartridge attachment portion 110. The forward direction 51 and the rearward direction 52 are horizontal in this embodiment.

Further, the downward direction 53 is defined as a direction perpendicular to the forward direction 51 or the backward direction 52, and the upward direction 54 is defined as a direction opposite to the downward direction 53. Further, the rightward direction 55 and the leftward direction 56 are defined as directions perpendicular to the forward direction 51 and the downward direction 53. The right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are also parallel to the horizontal direction. The rightward direction 55 and leftward direction 56 are also parallel to the horizontal plane in this embodiment.

In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 (in an attached state) and the ink cartridge 30 can be used or operated by the printer 10, the downward direction 53 coincides with the direction of gravity acting on the ink cartridge 30 (i.e., the direction of gravity), and the upward direction 54 coincides with the direction opposite to the direction of gravity. Further, the rightward direction 55 and the leftward direction 56 are defined as directions perpendicular to the forward direction 51 and the downward direction 53. More specifically, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 and can be used by the printer 10, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the rear side of the ink cartridge 30, the rightward direction 55 is a rightward direction and the leftward direction 56 is a leftward direction.

Note that the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110 or the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is operable by the printer 10 means the state of the ink cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 has been fully inserted into the attached position in the cartridge attaching portion 110. Hereinafter, the posture of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110 or a state where the ink cartridge 30 can be operated by the printer 10 will be referred to as an "attached posture".

In other words, in the attached posture, the ink cartridge 30 has a height in the gravity direction; a depth in a forward direction 51 or a rearward direction 52 (i.e., an insertion direction) orthogonal to a direction of gravity; and a width in a rightward direction 55 or a leftward direction 56 (i.e., a width direction) orthogonal to the gravity direction (height) and the insertion direction (depth).

Further, in the following description, the forward direction 51 and the backward direction 52 may be collectively referred to as a front-rear direction. The upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 may be collectively referred to as an up-down direction. The right direction 55 and the left direction 56 may be collectively referred to as a left-right direction.

In this specification, "face forward" includes orientation in a direction that includes a forward component, "face rearward" includes orientation in a direction that includes a rearward component, "face downward" includes orientation in a direction that includes a downward component, and "face upward" includes orientation in a direction that includes an upward component. For example, "the front surface faces forward" means that the front surface may be oriented in a forward direction, or the front surface may be oriented in a direction that is oblique to the forward direction.

< overview of Printer 10>

Fig. 1 shows a system 1 configured by a printer 10 and an ink cartridge 30 according to an embodiment. First, a detailed structure of the printer 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1.

The printer 10 is configured to form an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a sheet based on an inkjet recording system. As illustrated in fig. 1, the printer 10 includes a recording head 21, an ink supply device 100, and an ink tube 20 connecting the recording head 21 to the ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge attachment portion 110. The cartridge attaching portion 110 can detachably accommodate therein a plurality of ink cartridges 30.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, four

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K each storing ink of one of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black can be mounted in the

corresponding insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K of the cartridge attaching portion 110. Hereinafter, the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K may be referred to as "ink cartridge 30" or "ink cartridges 30" whenever necessary without any necessity of distinguishing colors. Similarly, when it is not necessary to distinguish colors, the

insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K of the cartridge attaching part 110 may be referred to as "insertion space 111" or "insertion spaces 111".

The cartridge attachment portion 110 has a wall formed with an opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 can be inserted into the cartridge attachment portion 110 through the opening 112 in the forward direction 51 (i.e., an insertion direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity), and extracted from the cartridge attachment portion 110 through the opening 112 in the rearward direction 52 (i.e., a removal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity).

Each ink cartridge 30 stores therein ink that can be used by the printer 10 for printing. When the ink cartridges 30 are completely mounted in the cartridge attaching portion 110, the ink cartridges 30 are connected to the recording head 21 through the corresponding ink tubes 20.

The recording head 21 includes sub tanks 28, each sub tank 28 for temporarily storing ink supplied from a corresponding ink cartridge 30 through a corresponding ink tube 20. The recording head 21 further includes a plurality of nozzles 29, and ink supplied from the sub-tank 28 is selectively ejected through the plurality of nozzles 29 according to an inkjet recording system. More specifically, the recording head 21 includes a recording head control board (not shown) and piezoelectric elements 29A each corresponding to one of the nozzles 29. The head control board is configured to selectively apply a driving voltage to the piezoelectric elements 29A to selectively eject ink of each color from the nozzles 29. In this way, the recording head 21 is configured to consume the ink stored in the respective ink cartridges 30 mounted in the cartridge attachment portion 110.

The printer 10 further includes a sheet tray 15, a sheet feeding roller 23, a conveying path 24, a pair of conveying rollers 25, a platen 26, a pair of discharge rollers 27, and a sheet discharge tray 16. The sheet from the sheet tray 15 is fed onto a conveying path 24 by a sheet feeding roller 23, and then conveyed onto a platen 26 by a conveying roller 25. The recording head 21 is configured to selectively eject ink onto the sheet as the sheet moves over the platen 26, thereby recording an image on the sheet. The sheet having passed through the platen 26 is then discharged by the discharge roller 27 onto the sheet discharge tray 16 provided at the downstream end of the conveying path 24.

< ink supply apparatus 100>

As illustrated in fig. 1, an ink supply device 100 is provided in a printer 10. The ink supply device 100 is functionally used to supply ink to the recording head 21. As described above, the ink supply device 100 includes the cartridge attachment portion 110 for detachably receiving the ink cartridge 30 therein. Fig. 1 depicts a state in which one of the ink cartridges 30 has been completely received in the cartridge attachment portion 110. In other words, the ink cartridge 30 depicted in fig. 1 is in the attached posture in which the ink cartridge 30 is used by the printer 10.

< Cartridge attaching part 110>

In the ink supply device 100,

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K (four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) can be detachably mounted. Specifically, as illustrated in fig. 1 to 3, the cartridge attachment section 110 includes a housing 101 and four sets of ink needles 102, a tank 103, an optical sensor 113, four contacts 106, a lever 125, a positioning section 107, and a door 108, the four

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K each using one set.

< case 101>

The case 101 constitutes an outer cover of the cartridge attachment portion 110. As depicted in fig. 2, the housing 101 has a box-like shape defining an interior space therein. Specifically, the housing 101 includes a top wall defining a top of the internal space, a bottom wall defining a bottom of the internal space, an end wall connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, and an opening 112 located opposite to the end wall in the front-rear direction. The opening 112 can be exposed to a surface (user interface) that a user can face when using the printer 10.

The four ink cartridges 30 can be inserted into the casing 101 through the opening 112 and removed from the casing 101. In the housing 101, the bottom wall is formed with four guide grooves 109 for guiding insertion/removal of the corresponding ink cartridges 30. Specifically, when the ink cartridges 30 are inserted into the housing 101 through the openings 112 and removed from the housing 101, the lower ends of the respective ink cartridges 30 are received in the corresponding guide grooves 109 and are thereby guided in the front-rear direction in fig. 2. Further, the housing 101 includes three plates 104 that partition the internal space into four

insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K. The

respective insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K are elongated in the up-down

directions

53 and 54. The four

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K can be mounted in the four

insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K, respectively.

As illustrated in fig. 2, the four

insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K of the housing 101 are arranged in this order from the left end to the right when the housing 101 is viewed from the rear of the housing 101 in the forward direction 51. Specifically, the ink cartridge 30C is adapted to be inserted into the insertion space 111C. The ink cartridge 30M is adapted to be inserted into the insertion space 111M. The ink cartridge 30Y is adapted to be inserted into the insertion space 111Y. The ink cartridge 30K is adapted to be inserted into the insertion space 111K. That is, when the ink cartridge 30 is accommodated in the casing 101, the ink cartridge 30M is interposed between the

ink cartridges

30C and 30Y in the left-right direction. As will be described later, the ink cartridge 30K has a left-right dimension larger than that of each of the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y. Therefore, the insertion space 111K has a left-right dimension larger than that of each of the

insertion spaces

111C, 111M, and 111Y.

< ink needle 102>

Each ink needle 102 is formed of resin and has a substantially hollow tubular shape. As illustrated in fig. 2, the ink needle 102 is provided at a lower end portion of an end wall constituting the casing 101. Specifically, each ink needle 102 is provided at a position corresponding to an ink supply portion 34 (described later) of a corresponding ink cartridge 30 mounted in the cartridge attachment portion 110. The respective ink needles 102 project rearward from the end wall of the housing 101. The ink needle 102 has a distal end 102E facing rearward.

A cylindrical guide portion 105 is provided at the end wall to surround each ink needle 102. Each guide 105 projects rearward from the end wall. Each guide portion 105 has a protruding end that opens rearward. Specifically, each ink needle 102 is located at the diametrical center of the corresponding guide portion 105. Each guide 105 is shaped to allow the ink supply 34 of the corresponding ink cartridge 30 to be received in the corresponding guide 105.

During the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attaching portion 110 in the forward direction 51, i.e., in the process for moving the ink cartridge 30 to the attaching posture, the ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 enters the corresponding guide portion 105 (refer to fig. 4). When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted forward in the forward direction 51, the ink needles 102 enter the ink supply ports 71 of the corresponding ink supply portions 34. The ink needles 102 are thus connected to the corresponding ink supplies 34 to allow communication with each other. Therefore, the ink stored in the second ink chamber 33 formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is allowed to flow into the corresponding tank 103 through the ink valve chamber 35 defined in the ink supply portion 34 and the inner space defined in the corresponding ink needle 102.

Incidentally, the distal end 102E of each ink needle 102 may have a flat shape or a pointed shape. The guide 105 may be formed in any shape provided that the guide 105 can allow the ink cartridge 30 to be attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. The guide portion 105 need not be provided in the cartridge attachment portion 110.

< contact 106>

A set of four contacts 106 is provided for each of the four insertion spaces 111 of the housing 101. Precisely, the contacts 106 are disposed in a holder (not shown) supported by the cartridge attachment portion 110. As illustrated in fig. 4, for each insertion space 111, the four sets of contacts 106 are each provided at the top wall of the housing 101 at a position close to the end wall of the housing 101. The four contacts 106 of each set are disposed rearward with respect to the corresponding ink needle 102. Each of the four contacts 106 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the top wall toward the corresponding insertion space 111 of the housing 101. Although not illustrated in detail in the drawing, the four contacts 106 in each group are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. As will be described later, the four contacts 106 in each group are arranged at positions respectively corresponding to the four electrodes 65 provided at each ink cartridge 30. Each contact 106 is formed of a material having electrical conductivity and elasticity. The contacts 106 are thus able to elastically deform upward.

In the present embodiment, among the four sets of four contacts 106, one set is provided for each of the four

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K in the present embodiment. That is, a total of sixteen contacts 106 are provided at the housing 101. However, the number of contacts 106 and the number of electrodes 65 may be arbitrary.

Each contact 106 is electrically connected to the arithmetic logic unit via a circuit. In the present embodiment, each contact 106 is connected to a controller 117 (see fig. 1) provided in the cartridge attachment section 110. For example, the controller 117 may include a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the housing 101, the contacts 106 engage with the corresponding electrodes 65. When in contact with the corresponding electrode 65, the contact 106 is electrically connected to the corresponding electrode 65, so that the voltage Vc is applied to one of the electrodes 65; the other of the electrodes 65 is grounded; signals are exchanged between the controller 117 and the other of the electrodes 65; and power is supplied to the other of the electrodes 65. As a result of establishing the electrical connection between the contacts 106 and the electrodes 65, the controller 117 is able to electrically access the data stored in the IC of each ink cartridge 30. The outputs from the respective contacts 106 through the circuit are configured into an input controller 117.

< rod 125>

As illustrated in fig. 4, each lever 125 is provided at an end wall of the casing 101 at a position upward from the corresponding ink needle 102 for each insertion space 111. Each rod 125 has a substantially cylindrical shape and protrudes rearward from the end wall of the housing 101. In a state where the ink cartridges 30 are attached to the cartridge attaching portions 110, that is, when the ink cartridges 30 are in the attached postures, the levers 125 are received in the air communication ports 96 (described later) of the corresponding ink cartridges 30, respectively.

< optical sensor 113>

As illustrated in fig. 4, the optical sensor 113 is provided at the top wall of the housing 101. Specifically, for each insertion space 111, each optical sensor 113 is disposed at a position rearward from the corresponding rod 125 but forward from a group of four contacts 106. Each of the optical sensors 113 includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion. The light emitting portion is arranged opposite to the light receiving portion and spaced apart from the light receiving portion in a left-right direction. When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110, the light-blocking plate 67 of the attached ink cartridge 30 is located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the corresponding optical sensor 113. In other words, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are arranged to be opposed to each other with the light-blocking plate 67 of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110 interposed therebetween.

The optical sensor 113 is configured to output different detection signals according to whether light emitted in the left-right direction from the light emitting section is received by the light receiving section. For example, when the light emitted from the light emitting section is not received at the light receiving section (i.e., when the intensity of the light received at the light receiving section is less than a predetermined intensity), the optical sensor 113 outputs a low-level signal. On the other hand, when the light receiving portion receives the light emitted from the light emitting portion (i.e., when the intensity of the received light is equal to or greater than a predetermined intensity), the optical sensor 113 outputs a high level signal.

< locking shaft 145>

As illustrated in fig. 4, a lock shaft 145 is also provided at the housing 101. The lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction at a position near the top wall of the housing 101 and the opening 112. A latch shaft 145 is provided at the rear of the contact 106. The lock shaft 145 is a columnar member extending in the left-right direction. For example, lock shaft 145 is a cylindrical metal. The lock shaft 145 has both ends fixed to walls defining both ends of the housing 101 in the left-right direction. Thus, the lock shaft 145 is not movable (e.g., not pivotable) relative to the housing 101. The lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction across the four insertion spaces 111 corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30, respectively. In each insertion space 111, a certain space is provided around the lock shaft 145. Therefore, a locking surface 151 (described later) of each ink cartridge 30 can be engaged with the latch shaft 145 by moving upward or rearward.

The lock shaft 145 is functionally used to maintain the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 in the attached state. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attaching portion 110 and pivoted into a posture (i.e., an attaching posture) used thereby, the ink cartridge 30 comes into engagement with the latch shaft 145 in the corresponding insertion space 111. Further, the lock shaft 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 in the attached posture in the cartridge attaching portion 110 against the urging force of coil springs 78 and 98 (described later) that urge the ink cartridge 30 of the ink cartridge 30 rearward as a whole.

< positioning part 107>

As illustrated in fig. 4, the positioning portion 107 is arranged close to the top wall of the housing 101. Each positioning portion 107 is provided between a corresponding one of the sets of contacts 106 and the lock shaft 145 in the front-rear direction. The positioning part 107 protrudes downward from the top wall of the housing 101. The positioning portion 107 is formed integrally with the housing 101. Each positioning portion 107 has a lower end surface configured to abut against the contact surface 84 of the corresponding ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110 (in the attached posture). The lower end surface of each positioning portion 107 is positioned slightly upward with respect to the lower end of the corresponding contact 106.

< door 108>

As illustrated in fig. 3 and 4, the doors 108 (specifically, the

doors

108C, 108M, 108Y, and 108K) are disposed near the top wall of the housing 101. Each door 108 protrudes downward from a wall defining an upper edge of each insertion space 111. Each door 108 is provided for each insertion space 111 at a position between the corresponding optical sensor 113 and the contact 106 of one set in the front-rear direction. Referring to fig. 3, each door 108 includes a pair of opposing walls 118 and a slot 119 disposed between the opposing walls 118. The opposing walls 118 extend in the left-right direction from adjacent partition members such as the adjacent two plates 104, which are opposed to each other in the left-right direction and define the corresponding insertion spaces 111, respectively. The opposing walls 118 extend in the up-down direction and are paired to oppose each other in the left-right direction with a certain gap defined therebetween. This gap between a pair of opposing walls 118 serves as a slot 119 in each door 108. In other words, each slit 119 is defined by two opposing end surfaces of a pair of opposing walls 118 extending in the up-down direction. However, the slits 119 (

slits

119C, 119M, 119Y, and 119K) are formed at positions different from each other in the left-right direction in the

respective insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K. Specifically, the relative positions between the slits 119 (the

slits

119C, 119M, 119Y, and 119K) and the corresponding contacts 106 in the

respective insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K in the left-right direction are different from each other. More specifically, for example, referring to fig. 3, when the slit 119M of the door 108M is located at substantially the right and left center of the insertion space 111M, the slit 119C of the door 108C is positioned offset from the right and left center of the insertion space 111C (i.e., rightward with respect to the right and left center of the insertion space 111C). The respective slits 119C, 119M, 119Y, and 119K in the

insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K are formed at such left and right positions corresponding to the left and right positions of the light-blocking plates 67(67C, 67M, 67Y, and 67K) of the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K, respectively. Each slit 119 has a width in the left-right direction (defined as a width W1 illustrated in fig. 14 and 15) that is larger than the width of the corresponding light-blocking panel 67 in the left-right direction. That is, the light-blocking

plates

67C, 67M, 67Y, and 67K are allowed to pass through the corresponding

slits

119C, 119M, 119Y, and 119K in the front-rear direction.

< tank 103>

As illustrated in fig. 1, each of the tanks 103 is disposed forward from the housing 101 and is connected to a corresponding ink needle 102. The can 103 has a box-like shape that allows the ink to be stored therein. An atmosphere communication port 124 is formed at an upper portion of each canister 103 so that the canister 103 can be opened to the atmosphere through the atmosphere communication port 124. The tank 103 has an internal space communicating with the internal space of the ink needle 102. With this structure, ink can flow out of the ink cartridge 30 through the ink needle 102 and be stored in the tank 103. Each tank 103 is also connected to a corresponding ink tube 20. Therefore, the ink stored in the inner space of each tank 103 is supplied to the recording head 21 through the corresponding ink tube 20.

< Cap 114 and Cap sensor 115>

As illustrated in fig. 1, the cartridge attachment portion 110 further includes a lid 114 and a lid sensor 115. The cover 114 is configured to open and close the opening 112 of the housing 101. The cover 114 extends in the left-right direction. The cover 114 is pivotally movable relative to the housing 101 about an axis 116 disposed near the lower end of the housing 101. The cover 114 has a substantially flat plate shape and constitutes a part of the outer surface of the printer 10. The cover sensor 115 is configured to detect whether the cover 114 is in a closed position that closes the opening 112.

In the state illustrated in fig. 1, the cover 114 is in the closed position. The cover 114 in the closed position extends upwardly relative to the shaft 116. When the cover 114 is in the closed position, the opening 112 of the housing 101 is closed. At this time, the user cannot perform insertion and removal of the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the cartridge attaching portion 110. The cover sensor 115 is disposed at such a position that the cover sensor 115 can detect the presence of a portion of the cover 114 in the closed position. To move the lid 114 from the closed position to the open position that opens the opening 112, the lid 114 pivots about the shaft 116 to move the upper end of the lid 114 downward. The cover 114 in the open position extends substantially horizontally in the rearward direction 52 relative to the shaft 116. When the cover 114 pivots from the closed position toward the open position, the cover 114 comes out of the range where the cover sensor 115 can detect the cover 114. When the cover 114 is in the open position, the opening 112 of the housing 101 is opened. In this state, the user can insert/remove the ink cartridge 30 into/from the cartridge attaching portion 110.

< controller 117>

As illustrated in fig. 1, the cartridge attachment section 110 further includes a controller 117. As described earlier, the controller 117 is an arithmetic logic unit including, for example, a CPU, a memory, and the like. The controller 117 may be configured as a controller of the printer 10. The controller 117 is configured to receive signals output from the optical sensor 113 and the lid sensor 115. In response to receiving a signal indicating that the cover 114 is in the closed position from the cover sensor 115, the controller 117 is configured to determine the type of the ink cartridge 30 inserted into the insertion space 111 based on the signal output from the optical sensor 113. Details of the detection performed by the controller 117 will be described later.

< ink Cartridge 30>

The ink cartridge 30 is a container configured to store ink therein. The

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K have substantially the same structure as each other, but have some differences from each other.

Hereinafter, in order to describe a configuration common to all the ink cartridges 30, the structure of the ink cartridge 30M will be described first with reference to fig. 4 to 10 as an illustrative example. Subsequently, the detailed structure of the ink cartridge 30K and the differences between the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K will be described.

The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment portion 110 and attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 in the posture illustrated in fig. 4 to 10. Hereinafter, this posture (attachment posture) of the ink cartridge 30 in the attached state will also be referred to as an upright posture whenever necessary. That is, the upright posture corresponds to the attachment posture. In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110, the ink cartridge 30 is in the upright posture. In the upright posture or in the attached posture, the ink stored in the first ink chamber 32 of the ink cartridge 30 can flow out from the first ink chamber 32 to be supplied into the corresponding ink needle 102 through the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34. That is, the ink cartridge 30 can be used in the printer 10 when in the attached posture or in the upright posture.

Specifically, as will be described later, the ink cartridge 30 includes a front wall 40, a rear wall 41, an upper wall 39, and a bottom wall 42. When the ink cartridge 30(30M) is in the upright posture or in the attached posture illustrated in fig. 4 to 10, the direction from the rear wall 41 toward the front wall 40 coincides with the forward direction 51; the direction from the front wall 40 towards the rear wall 41 coincides with the rearward direction 52; the direction from the upper wall 39 toward the bottom wall 42 coincides with the downward direction 53, and the direction from the bottom wall 42 toward the upper wall 39 coincides with the upward direction 54.

In the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30, the front wall 40 is oriented facing forward or in the forward direction 51; the rear wall 41 is spaced from the front wall 40 in the front-rear direction; the upper wall 39 is located between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 in the front-rear direction; and the bottom wall 42 is spaced from the upper wall 39 in the up-down direction. The bottom wall 42 is located between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 in the front-rear direction. In other words, in the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30, the front wall 40 faces forward, the rear wall 41 faces rearward, the bottom wall 42 faces downward, and the upper wall 39 faces upward.

More specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the attachment posture or the standing posture, the front surface of the front wall 40 constitutes the front surface of the ink cartridge 30; the rear surface of the rear wall 41 constitutes the rear surface of the ink cartridge 30; the upper surface of the upper wall 39 constitutes the upper surface of the ink cartridge 30; and the bottom surface of the bottom wall 42 constitutes the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 30. That is, in the upright posture (attachment posture) of the ink cartridge 30, the front surface of the front wall 40 faces forward, the rear surface of the rear wall 41 faces rearward, the bottom surface of the bottom wall 42 faces downward, and the upper surface of the upper wall 39 faces upward.

Hereinafter, for the sake of simplifying the explanation, the front surface of the front wall 40 will be referred to as the front surface 40 whenever necessary; the rear surface of the rear wall 41 will be referred to simply as the rear surface 41; the upper surface of the upper wall 39 will be referred to as the upper surface 39; and the bottom surface of the bottom wall 42 will be referred to as the bottom surface 42.

As illustrated in fig. 4 to 10, the ink cartridge 30(30M) includes a case 31 of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the standing posture, box body 31 has a substantially flat shape with a height in the up-down direction (in the direction of gravity), a width in the left-right direction, and a depth in the front-rear direction, the width being smaller than the height and the depth. The box 31 comprises a front wall 40, a rear wall 41, an upper wall 39, a bottom wall 42 and

side walls

37 and 38.

In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the upright posture or in the attached state, the front surface 40 (the front surface of the front wall 40) faces forward, the rear surface 41 (the rear surface of the rear wall 41) faces rearward, the upper surface 39 (the upper surface of the upper wall 39) faces upward, and the bottom surface 42 (the bottom surface of the bottom wall 42) faces downward. The

side walls

37 and 38 extend to intersect the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 so as to connect the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41. In the erected posture (attachment posture) of the ink cartridge 30, the outer surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38 face right and left, respectively.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, the box body 31 includes a lower shell 31L and an upper cover 31U fitted to the lower shell 31L. In the lower case 31L, a first ink chamber 32 and a second ink chamber 33 are formed (see fig. 8). The lower case 31L includes a bottom wall 42, and the upper cover 31U includes an upper wall 39. In the cartridge body 31, at least a part of the rear wall 41 constituting the lower case 31L can transmit light so that the liquid surfaces of the inks stored in the first ink chamber 32 and the second ink chamber 33 can be observed from the outside. The upper surface of upper cover 31U constitutes upper surface 39 of box body 31.

As illustrated in fig. 7 and 8, the rear surface 41 includes an upper portion 41U and a lower portion 41L. The upper portion 41U is positioned upward from the lower portion 41L. The lower portion 41L is positioned forward from the upper portion 41U. The upper and

lower portions

41U and 41L are each a flat surface. The upper portion 41U and the lower portion 41L cross each other but are not orthogonal to each other. Specifically, the lower portion 41L is inclined with respect to the up-down direction so as to extend closer to the front surface 40 toward the lower surface 42. In other words, in the present embodiment, the upper portion 41U constitutes the rearmost portion of the rear surface 41 in the rearward direction 52. Further, in the present embodiment, the upper portion 41U also constitutes the rearmost portion of the ink cartridge 30. In fig. 10, the last point of the ink cartridge 30 is illustrated as point P5.

As illustrated in fig. 4 and 8, the lower surface 42 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. Specifically, assuming that the lower surface 42 has a front end 42F and a rear end 42R, the bottom surface 42 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction such that the front end 42F is positioned downward with respect to the rear end 42R. The front end 42F of the lower surface 42 (inclined surface) is positioned forward relative to the IC board 64 as will be described later. A rear end 42R of the lower surface 42 (inclined surface) is connected to a lower end of the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41. Preferably, the lower surface 42 is inclined at an angle of 2 ° to 4 ° with respect to the horizontal.

As illustrated in fig. 6 and 7, the case 31 further includes a sub-lower wall 48 and a connecting wall 49 belonging to the lower shell 31L. A secondary lower wall 48 is positioned upwardly from the lower wall 42. A secondary lower wall 48 extends rearwardly from the lower end of the front wall 40. In the present embodiment, the front end of the sub lower wall 48 is positioned forward from the front end of the ink supply portion 34, and the rear end of the sub lower wall 48 is positioned rearward from the front end of the ink supply portion 34. The connecting wall 49 connects the lower wall 42 (lower surface 42) and the sub-lower wall 48. The ink supply portion 34 extends forward from the connecting wall 49 at a position downward from the sub-lower wall 48 and upward from the lower surface 42. Note that the front end of the sub lower wall 48 may be arranged at an arbitrary position, for example, at a position rearward from the front end of the ink supply portion 34.

As illustrated in fig. 4, 6 to 9A and 10, the upper wall 39 belonging to the upper cover 31U has a stepped upper surface. Specifically, the upper surface 39 (the upper surface of the upper wall 39) includes a rearward portion that is raised upward relative to a forward portion of the upper surface 39. Hereinafter, the rearward portion will be referred to as a raised portion 39A whenever necessary.

The first protrusion 43 is provided on the upper surface 39 of the case 31. More specifically, the first protrusion 43 is provided at the elevated portion 39A of the upper surface 39. The first projection 43 extends in the front-rear direction and is located at substantially the right-left center of the upper surface 39 (the raised portion 39A). The first projection 43 has a rear end with its surface facing rearward. This surface serves as a locking surface 151.

The locking surface 151 is a plane parallel to the direction of gravity (downward direction 53). That is, the locking surface 151 extends in the up-down direction and in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the locking surface 151 extends upward from the upper surface 39 (raised portion 39A) of the box body 31. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110, the lock surface 151 facing rearward comes into contact with the lock shaft 145 from the front thereof in an engaging area E (illustrated in fig. 5A). In other words, the locking surface 151 has an engagement area E configured to engage the lock shaft 145 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110. The bonding area E is positioned upward with respect to the IC board 64 in the attachment posture. The contact (engagement) between the lock surface 151 (engagement area E) and the lock shaft 145 in the front-rear direction enables the ink cartridge 30 to be held in the cartridge attaching portion 110 against the biasing force of the coil spring 78 of the ink supply portion 34 as will be described later. Although the locking surface 151 contacts the lock shaft 145 at the engagement area (surface contact) in this embodiment, the locking surface 151 may be brought into contact with the lock shaft 145 at a certain point (point contact) as long as the locking surface 151 can receive the rearward urging force of the coil spring 78 to maintain the ink cartridge 30 in the attached state. As an example, the locking surface 151 may make contact with the lock shaft 145 at a point of engagement P3 within the engagement region E (see fig. 5A).

The first protrusion 43 further includes a horizontal surface 154 and an inclined surface 155. A horizontal surface 154 extends forwardly from the upper edge 151U of the locking surface 151. That is, the horizontal surface 154 is disposed forward from the locking surface 151. The horizontal surface 154 is a surface extending in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction. The horizontal surface 154 is a surface located farthest from the upper surface 39 among the surfaces constituting the first protrusion 43. The horizontal surface 154 has a side-to-side dimension that is less than its front-to-back dimension. An inclined surface 155 extends forwardly and downwardly from the front edge of the horizontal surface 154. That is, the front edge of the horizontal surface 154 is the rear edge of the inclined surface 155 (represented as point P1 in fig. 7, 8, 9A, and 10). The inclined surface 155 is disposed forward relative to the horizontal surface 154. The inclined surface 155 is an upward and forward facing surface. Preferably, the inclined surface 155 is inclined at an angle of 15 ° to 25 ° with respect to the horizontal direction. In other words, the locking surface 151 and the inclined surface 155 are connected to each other via the horizontal surface 154. Therefore, the boundary edge between the locking surface 151 and the inclined surface 155 does not constitute a ridge-like shape. The inclined surface 155 is located between the IC board 64 and the locking surface 151 in the front-rear direction. During insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attaching part 110, the lock shaft 145 is smoothly guided rearward beyond the locking surface 151 while abutting against and sliding along the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154.

Further, the box body 31 (upper cover 31U) further includes a pair of sub upper walls 91 extending in the front-rear direction. One of the sub upper walls 91 is located forward from the upper wall 39 (will be referred to as a front sub upper wall 91F), and the other sub upper wall 91 is located rearward from the upper wall 39 (will be referred to as a rear sub upper wall 91R). The front sub upper wall 91F has a front end connected to the upper end of the front wall 40 and a rear end connected to the front end of the upper wall 39 via a connecting wall 95 extending in the up-down direction. The rear sub upper wall 91R has a rear end connected to the upper end of the rear wall 41. The front and rear sub

upper walls

91F and 91R are positioned downward with respect to the central portion of the upper surface 39 in the front-rear direction.

The operating portion 90 is also provided on the upper surface 39 (raised portion 39A) of the case 31 at a position rearward from the locking surface 151. The operating portion 90 is provided upward with respect to the rear sub upper wall 91R (the upper surface of the rear sub upper wall 91R) and is spaced therefrom in the front-rear direction. The operation portion 90 has a substantially flat plate-like shape. Specifically, the operating portion 90 protrudes upward from the elevated portion 39A of the upper surface 39, and is then bent obliquely rearward and downward. The operating portion 90 protrudes upward from the raised portion 39A of the upper surface 39 to the same extent as the first protrusion 43 protrudes from the raised portion 39A in the up-down direction. Here, "the same degree" means that the upper edge of the operating portion 90 is positioned 0 to 1mm higher or 0 to 1mm lower with respect to the upper edge of the first protrusion 43 (i.e., with respect to the horizontal surface 154). The operating portion 90 is connected to the lower edge 151L of the locking surface 151 via a surface 156 constituting a part of the upper surface 39 (or a part of the raised portion 39A). The rib 94 is provided between the operating portion 90 and the rear sub upper wall 91F. The rib 94 connects the operating portion 90 and the rear sub upper wall 91R in the up-down direction and extends in the front-rear direction. The rib 94 has a dimension in the left-right direction smaller than each of the dimension of the operating portion 90 in the left-right direction and the dimension of the rear sub upper wall 91R.

The operating portion 90 has a surface facing obliquely upward and rearward. This surface serves as an operative surface 92. The operation surface 92 and the rear sub upper wall 91R are at least partially aligned with each other in the up-down direction. In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from above, the operation surface 92 and the rear sub upper wall 91R overlap each other. On the operation surface 92, a plurality of projections such as a plurality of ridges 93 extending in the left-right direction are formed to be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The ridges 93 (as the plurality of projections) allow the user to easily visually recognize the operating surface 92. The ridge 93 can also serve to prevent the user's finger from slipping over the operating surface 92 when he or she operates the operating surface 92.

The operation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from behind and from above. The user operates the operation surface 92 to remove the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 from the operation surface 92. The operating portion 90 is fixed to the case 31 so as not to move relative to the case 31. For example, the operating portion 90 may be integrally formed with the case 31 so as not to pivot with respect to the case 31. Therefore, the force applied from the user to the operation surface 92 is directly transmitted to the case 31 without changing the direction of the force.

As illustrated in fig. 4, 6 to 8, 9A, and 10, the second projection 83 is also provided at the upper surface 39 (raised portion 39A) of the box body 31 at a position forward from the first projection 43. The second protrusion 83 is provided at the upper cover 31U. The second projection 83 extends forward from the front end of the first projection 43. That is, the second protrusion 83 and the first protrusion 43 are connected to each other. The second protrusion 83 is formed at the same left and right position as the first protrusion 43. The second protrusion 83 supports the IC board 64. The second projection 83 has a rear end portion whose upper surface serves as a contact surface 84. In other words, the contact surface 84 is connected to the lower end (front end) of the inclined surface 155 and extends forward therefrom. The contact surface 84 faces upward (i.e., a flat upper surface). That is, the contact surface 84 is located between the IC board 64 and the locking surface 151 in the front-rear direction. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110, the contact surface 84 comes into contact with the positioning part 107 of the cartridge attaching part 110, thereby providing positioning of the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the cartridge attaching part 110 with respect to the up-down direction. The contact surface 84 is a surface that is not movable relative to the IC board 64. In the present embodiment, the contact surface 84 is made of the same material as the member (i.e., the upper cover 31U) that supports the IC board 64. The inclined surface 155 may have any configuration. For example, a continuous surface need not be formed between the contact surface 84 and the locking surface 151. Alternatively, for example, the second protrusion 83 having the contact surface 84 and the first protrusion 43 having the locking surface 151 may not be formed to be continuous with each other. That is, the second protrusion 83 and the first protrusion 43 may be separately provided on the upper surface 39 so as to protrude upward from the upper surface 39.

Note that the front surface, the rear surface, the top surface, the bottom surface, and the side surfaces constituting the ink cartridge 30 need not be configured as one flat plane, respectively. That is, the front surface of the ink cartridge 30 can be any surface(s) that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in its upright posture is viewed from its front side and is positioned forward with respect to the front-rear center of the ink cartridge 30. In the present embodiment, the front surface 40 (i.e., the front surface of the front wall 40 connecting the sub lower wall 48 and the front sub upper wall 91F) and the front surface of the connecting wall 49 connecting the sub lower wall 48 and the bottom wall 42 (bottom surface 42) constitute the front surface of the ink cartridge 30. Further, a connecting wall 95 connecting the front sub upper wall 91F and the upper wall 39 also constitutes the front surface of the ink cartridge 30. On the other hand, the ink cartridge 30 may not have the sub lower wall 48 and the front sub upper wall 91F. In other words, the front surface 40 of the ink cartridge 30 may be configured to continuously connect one surface of the upper surface 39 and the lower surface 42.

Similarly, the rear surface of the ink cartridge 30 can be any surface(s) that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in its upright posture is viewed from its rear side and is positioned rearward with respect to the front-rear center of the ink cartridge 30. The upper surface of the ink cartridge 30 can be any surface(s) that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in its upright posture is viewed from above and is positioned upward with respect to the center of the ink cartridge 30 in the up-down direction. The lower surface of the ink cartridge 30 can be any surface(s) that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in its upright posture is viewed from below and is positioned downward with respect to the center of the ink cartridge 30 in the up-down direction. The same applies to the side surfaces of the ink cartridge 30.

As illustrated in fig. 4, 6 to 8, 9A, and 10, a light blocking plate 67 is also provided at the upper surface 39 (the upper surface of the upper wall 39). Specifically, the light-blocking panel 67 projects upward from the upper surface 39 at a position forward with respect to the raised portion 39A. In the present embodiment, the light-blocking panel 67 is integrally formed with the upper cover 31U. The light blocking plate 67 extends in the front-rear direction. The light barrier 67 is positioned forward relative to the second protrusion 83. The light-blocking plate 67 is connected to the raised portion 39A supporting the second protrusion 83 on which the IC board 64 is provided. In other words, the elevated portion 39A constituting a part of the upper surface 39 also serves as a support portion that supports the IC board 64.

Light barrier 67 is also positioned forward and downward relative to IC board 64. In the present embodiment, the light-blocking plate 67 is a plate made of a resin containing a coloring material (e.g., carbon black pigment) capable of absorbing light. Alternatively, the light-blocking panel 67 may be configured by attaching a material that cannot transmit light, such as aluminum, to the side surface of the panel that can transmit light.

The light-blocking panel 67 has a flat plate-like shape whose left-right dimension (width W1 illustrated in fig. 14) is smaller than its front-rear dimension. The light-blocking panel 67 has a front surface 67b, left and right side surfaces 67a, an upper surface 67c, and an inclined surface 67 d.

The front surface 67b of the light-blocking plate 67 is a surface that faces forward under the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30. The front surface 67b serves as an interference surface 67b of the ink cartridge 30. That is, the interference surface 67b is forward below the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30. Interference surface 67b extends upwardly from upper surface 39 of box 31. In other words, the interference surface 67b is a flat surface extending upward from the upper surface 39 of the box body 31. The interference surface 67b is a flat plane extending in the up-down direction and in the left-right direction. The interference surface 67bM of the ink cartridge 30M is configured to abut against any one of the doors 108 other than the corresponding door 108M when the ink cartridge 30M is inserted into any one of the insertion spaces 111 other than the prescribed insertion space 111M. That is, the interference surface 67bM of the ink cartridge 30M is designed to abut against the door 108C or the door 108Y or the door 108K in a state where the ink cartridge 30M is inserted into the insertion space 111C or the insertion space 111Y or the insertion space 111K. More specifically, the interference surface 67bM of the ink cartridge 30M is designed to abut against any one of the door 108C, the door 108Y, and the door 108K during insertion of the ink cartridge 30M into any one of the insertion space 111C, the insertion space 111Y, and the insertion space 111K other than the insertion space 111M, that is, during insertion of the ink cartridge 30M until the ink cartridge 30M is completely attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 to be in the attachment posture.

Two side surfaces 67a of the light-blocking plate 67 are positioned rearward from the interference surface 67 b. Two side surfaces 67a facing rightward and leftward, respectively, serve as light blocking surfaces 67a of the light blocking plate 67. The inclined surface 67d is an inclined surface that connects the front edge of the upper surface 67c and the upper edge of the interference surface 67 b. The inclined surface 67d faces forward and upward. The rear edge of the inclined surface 67d, i.e., the front edge of the upper surface 67c (indicated as point P2 in fig. 7, 8, 9A, 10) is the highest portion (i.e., the uppermost portion) of the light-blocking panel 67. The upper edge of the interference surface 67b is positioned slightly downward with respect to the upper surface (the horizontal surface 154 and the inclined surface 155) of the first protrusion 43. The interference surface 67b is positioned forward and downward from the electrode 65 of the IC board 64.

As illustrated in fig. 6 and 9A, two side surfaces 67a (light-blocking surfaces 67a) of the light-blocking panel 67 extend rearward from left and right ends of the interference surface 67b (see also fig. and 12). That is, the interference surface 67b and each side surface 67a are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction. Further, referring to fig. 8, the interference surface 67b is located rearward with respect to an inner surface 40R (rear surface) of the front wall 40, which inner surface 40R defines a front edge of the first ink chamber 32 as will be described later.

The light blocking plate 67 is configured to block light of the optical sensor 113 traveling in the left-right direction from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion. More specifically, when light emitted from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor 113 is incident on the right or left side surface 67a of the light-blocking plate 67 before reaching the light receiving portion, the intensity of the light received at the light receiving portion is less than a predetermined intensity, for example, zero. Note that the light-blocking panel 67 may completely block light traveling in the left-right direction, or may partially attenuate light, may refract light to change its traveling direction, or may completely reflect light.

As illustrated in fig. 6 to 9A and fig. 10, the light blocking plate 67(67M) is formed with a cutout 66 (66M). The cutout 66 is configured to allow light to pass therethrough in the left-right direction (light transmission section). The cutout 66 is a space provided by cutting out a part of the upper end portion of the light blocking plate 67. In other words, the cutout 66 is recessed downward from the upper surface 67c of the light-blocking panel 67. The cutout 66 extends in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction. The cutout 66 is formed at a position that coincides with the corresponding optical sensor 113 in the left-right direction when the ink cartridge 30 having the light-blocking plate 67 provided with the cutout 66 is mounted in the corresponding insertion space 111. In other words, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110, the cutout 66 of the light-blocking plate 67 of the attached ink cartridge 30 is located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the corresponding optical sensor 113. Therefore, light from the light emitting portion of the corresponding optical sensor 113 is not blocked by the cutout 66, and is received at the light receiving portion.

Note that the light blocking plate 67 of the present embodiment is provided with the cutout 66 as the light transmitting portion. However, the light transmission portion of the light-blocking plate 67 may not necessarily be provided as a cutout as long as light from the light emission portion of the optical sensor 113 can pass through the light transmission portion. For example, the light transmission section may be provided as a through hole passing through a part of the light-blocking panel 67 in the left-right direction, or as a transparent plate provided in the light-blocking panel 67.

More precisely, in the present embodiment, a part of each side surface 67a surrounded by a dotted line D in fig. 9A serves as a light blocking portion of the light blocking plate 67. That is, the light emitted from the light emitting portion of the corresponding optical sensor 113 is configured to be incident on this portion D of one of the light blocking surfaces 67a during insertion of the ink cartridge 30. This portion D can block or attenuate incident light from the optical sensor 113 during insertion of the ink cartridge 30 and is thus configured to be detected by the controller 117 through the optical sensor 113. This portion D may be used as a detection surface D of the light barrier 67. This detection surface D has a rear edge Dr which also constitutes the front edge of the cutout 66 (light transmission portion). In the attached state of the ink cartridge 30, the optical sensor 113 is positioned opposite to the cutout 66. This means that, in the light blocking surface 67a, the light from the optical sensor 113 is incident on the detection surface D but cannot be incident on a portion located rearward from the cutout 66.

The light blocking plate 67 may not be formed with the cutout 66. For example, the light-blocking panel 67 of the ink cartridge 30C depicted in fig. 17 is not formed with the cutout 66. In a case where the cutout 66 is not formed in the light-blocking panel 67, when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110, one of the side surfaces 67a of the light-blocking panel 67 is opposed to the light emitting portion of the optical sensor 113 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor 113 is blocked by the light-blocking plate 67 and is not received at the light receiving portion.

The ink cartridge 30 may or may not include the cutout 66 depending on the type of the ink cartridge 30. For example, the type of the ink cartridge 30 may be changed according to the color of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30, the initial amount of ink (larger or smaller), or the type of ink (pigment ink or dye ink). In the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is configured to store different initial amounts of ink for each color. Specifically, the ink cartridge 30M storing magenta ink can be classified into two types: a larger amount type and a smaller amount type. The ink cartridge 30M of the larger amount type stores, as its initial ink amount, an ink amount larger than the initial ink amount stored in the first ink chamber 32 of the ink cartridge 30M of the smaller amount type in the first ink chamber 32. In this example, the larger-volume type ink cartridge 30M includes the light-blocking panel 67M formed with the cutout 66M, and the smaller-volume type ink cartridge 30M includes the light-blocking panel 67M without the cutout 66M. In the present embodiment, as will be described in detail later, the type of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110 (i.e., the initial amount of ink) can be determined based on the presence or absence of the cutout 66 in the light-blocking panel 67.

As illustrated in fig. 6 to 8, the IC board 64 is disposed at the upper end of the second protrusion 83 and between the light-blocking plate 67 and the first protrusion 43. The IC board 64 is located in a recess recessed downward and formed in the second protrusion 83, the recess being located forward from the contact surface 84. The IC board 64 is supported from below by the second protrusion 83. Specifically, although not depicted in detail in the drawing, the photo-curable resin is filled in the recess of the second protrusion 83, whereby the IC board 64 is attached to the second protrusion 83.

The IC board 64 includes, for example, a substrate, an IC (not illustrated), and four electrodes 65 mounted on the upper surface of the substrate. The substrate is made of silicon, for example. The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit and stores data indicating information relating to the ink cartridge 30 such as a lot number, a manufacturing date, and an ink color in a readable manner. Alternatively, the IC board 64 may be formed of a flexible board (substrate) provided with ICs and electrodes, which has flexibility.

Electrode 65 is electrically connected to the IC. The four electrodes 65 each extend in the front-rear direction. The four electrodes 65 are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction. The four electrodes 65 are arranged on the upper surface of the substrate such that the electrodes 65 are exposed upward to allow electrical access thereto from above. The electrodes 65 of the IC board 64 are brought into contact with the corresponding contacts 106 each at a contact point P4 (illustrated in fig. 10) to be electrically connected thereto during insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attaching portion 110, and are electrically connected to the corresponding set of contacts 106 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110.

As illustrated in fig. 9A and 10, the IC board 64 is disposed rearward with respect to the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34. The IC board 64 is disposed forward from the locking surface 151. The IC board 64 is also positioned downward from the upper edge 151U of the locking surface 151 but upward with respect to the light blocking plate 67. Further, as illustrated in fig. 4, the IC board 64 is positioned rearward in the forward direction 51 with respect to the distal end 102E of the ink needle 102 in the attached posture.

As described above, the connecting wall 95 connects the front sub upper wall 91F and the upper wall 39. That is, the connecting wall 95 extends upward from the rear end of the front sub upper wall 91F. The connecting wall 95 faces forward. An air communication port 96 is formed in the connecting wall 95. That is, the air communication port 96 is provided upward with respect to the center of the dimension of the case 31 in the up-down direction. The air communication port 96 is a through hole formed in the connection wall 95. The air communication port 96 has a substantially circular cross-section (see fig. 6) and has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the corresponding rod 125 of the cartridge attachment portion 110. The lever 125 is configured to enter the air communication port 96 during insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment portion 110.

< internal Structure of case 31 >

As illustrated in fig. 8, a first ink chamber 32, a second ink chamber 33, an ink valve chamber 35, and an air valve chamber 36 are provided inside the cartridge body 31.

The first ink chamber 32 and the air valve chamber 36 are separated by a partition wall 44. The first ink chamber 32 and the second ink chamber 33 are partitioned by a partition wall 45. Both the partition wall 44 and the partition wall 45 are walls extending in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction. The partition wall 44 and the partition wall 45 are disposed opposite to each other in the up-down direction. Through holes 46 are formed in the partition wall 44. The first ink chamber 32 and the air valve chamber 36 communicate with each other through the through-hole 46.

As illustrated in fig. 8, specifically, the first ink chamber 32 is a space surrounded by: a lower surface 44L of the partition wall 44, an upper surface 45U of the partition wall 45, and an inner surface 40R of the front wall 40, an inner surface 41F of the rear wall 41 (a front surface of the rear wall 41), and inner surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38. The lower surface 44L and the upper surface 45U define upper and lower edges of the first ink chamber 32, respectively. The

inner surfaces

40R, 41F and 38 of the

side walls

37 and 38 define the front, rear and side edges of the first ink chamber 32, respectively. The inner surface 40R is a rear surface of the front wall 40, i.e., a surface opposite to the front surface 40 (front surface of the front wall 40). The inner surface 41F is a front surface of the rear wall 41, that is, a surface opposite to the rear surface 41 (rear surface of the rear wall 41). The inner surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38 are surfaces opposite to the outer surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38. In fig. 7, the inner surface of the side wall 38 is not illustrated.

The second ink chamber 33 is positioned downward from the first ink chamber 32 in the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30. The second ink chamber 33 is capable of storing ink therein. The second ink chamber 33 has a capacity smaller than that of the first ink chamber 32. That is, a smaller amount of ink is stored in the second ink chamber 33 than in the first ink chamber 32.

The second ink chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 are partitioned by a partition wall 50. The second ink chamber 33 communicates with the first ink chamber 32 through a communication port 47 formed in the partition wall 45 (see fig. 8). The second ink chamber 33 communicates with the ink valve chamber 35 through a through hole 99 formed in the partition wall 50. The partition wall 50 defines a rear edge of the ink valve chamber 35, i.e., a rear edge 75R of the ink supply portion 34 (see fig. 8).

The second ink chamber 33 is a space surrounded by: a lower surface 45L of the partition wall 45, an upper surface 42U of the lower wall 42, a rear surface 50R of the partition wall 50, an inner surface 41F of the rear wall 41, and inner surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38. The lower surface 45L and the upper surface 42U define upper and lower edges of the second ink chamber 33, respectively. The rear surface 50R, the inner surface 41F, and the inner surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38 define the front, rear, and side edges of the second ink chamber 33, respectively.

In the air valve chamber 36, a valve 97 and a coil spring 98 are provided. The air valve chamber 36 can communicate with the ambient air through an air communication port 96 formed in the connecting wall 95. The valve 97 is movable between a closed position sealing the air communication port 96 and an open position separated from the air communication port 96. The coil spring 98 is disposed rearward from the valve 97 so as to be able to expand and contract in the front-rear direction. The coil spring 98 urges the valve 97 in the forward direction 51 (toward the air communication port 96). Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied, the valve 97 is in contact with the air communication port 96 to seal the air communication port 96. The coil spring 98 has a spring constant smaller than that of the coil spring 78 of the ink supply portion 34.

Incidentally, the member for sealing the air communication port 96 is not limited to the valve 97. For example, a seal may be removably affixed to the connecting wall 95 to seal the air communication port 96.

During insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment portion 110, the rod 125 of the cartridge attachment portion 110 enters the inside of the air communication port 96, thereby moving the valve 97 rearward from the closed position toward the open position against the biasing force of the coil spring 98. When the valve 97 is separated from the air communication port 96 by the rod 125 and is in the separated position, the first ink chamber 32 is opened to the atmosphere.

The ink supply portion 34 is provided at a connection wall 49 constituting a front surface of the ink cartridge 30. The ink supply portion 34 has a cylindrical outer shape. More specifically, the ink supply portion 34 includes a hollow cylindrical barrel 75 and a gasket 76. The cylinder 75 projects forward from the connecting wall 49. The cylinder 75 has a front end opened to the outside of the ink cartridge 30. The cylinder 75 defines therein an inner space serving as the ink valve chamber 35.

A gasket 76 is provided at the open front end of the barrel 75. The spacer 76 is a disc-shaped member and has a central portion formed with a through hole. The gasket 76 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. A through hole penetrates a central portion of the gasket 76 in the front-rear direction to provide a tubular inner peripheral surface defining the ink supply port 71. The ink supply port 71 has a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink needle 102.

In the ink valve chamber 35, a valve 77 and a coil spring 78 are provided. The valve 77 is movable in the front-rear direction to open and close the ink supply port 71 passing through the center portion of the gasket 76. A coil spring 78 biases the valve 77 forwardly. Therefore, the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71 of the gasket 76 without applying an external force.

When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment portion 110 in a state where the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71, the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply port 71. The outer peripheral surface of the ink needle 102 that enters the ink supply port 71 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface defining the ink supply port 71 to provide a liquid-tight seal therewith when the gasket 76 is elastically deformed. When the distal end 102E of the ink needle 102 passes through the ink supply port 71 of the gasket 76 and enters the inside of the ink valve chamber 35, the distal end 102E of the ink needle 102 comes into contact with the valve 77. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge attaching portion 110, the distal end 102E of the ink needle 102 moves the valve 77 rearward against the biasing force of the coil spring 78, thereby separating the valve 77 from the ink supply port 71 to open the ink supply port 71. Therefore, the ink in the valve chamber 35 is allowed to flow into the inner space of the ink needle 102.

Note that, instead of the valve 77, the ink supply portion 34 may be closed with a film. In this case, the ink supply port 71 may be defined by the front end of the cylinder 75 instead of the gasket 76. Alternatively, the ink supply port 71 may be configured to be closed by a sealing member without a through-hole. In this case, the ink supply port 71 may be formed by piercing the ink needle 102 into the sealing member, and is closed by the elasticity of the sealing member itself when the ink needle 102 is removed from the sealing member. Still alternatively, the ink supply portion 34 need not be provided as a cylindrical member. For example, a through hole may be formed in the front wall 40 to penetrate the front wall 40 in its thickness direction (front-rear direction). The ink supply is defined in part by a front wall 40.

Referring to fig. 9A, here, an imaginary plane X1 including a point P1 and a point P2 and extending in the left-right direction is assumed. As explained above, the point P1 represents a boundary edge where the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 are connected to each other; and point P2 represents the front edge of the upper surface 67c of the light barrier 67. In the present embodiment, the imaginary plane X1 is inclined to extend downward toward the front. The IC board 64 is disposed below the imaginary plane X1.

More specifically, assume a region defined between imaginary plane X1 and upper surface 39 of box body 31, i.e., a space above upper surface 39 of box body 31 and below imaginary plane X1. The IC board 64 is disposed in this area. Further, the side surface 67a of the light-blocking panel 67, the cutout 66, the IC board 64, the contact surface 84, and the inclined surface 155 are all disposed between the point P1 and the point P2 in the front-rear direction within the area defined between the upper surface 39 and the imaginary plane X1 in the up-down direction. In other words, all members accessible from above or left or right of the ink cartridge 30 are provided in this area. In other words, in the ink cartridge 30 of the present embodiment, there is no member extending beyond the imaginary plane X1 between the point P1 and the point P2. That is, of all the members located between the point P1 and the point P2 on the upper surface 39 of the ink cartridge 30, the upper edge of the inclined surface 155 (point P1) is the highest point, and the front edge of the upper surface 67c of the light-blocking plate 67 (point P2) is the second highest point.

Specifically, an imaginary plane X1 is defined as the highest plane among imaginary planes each passing through and extending in the width direction between the front protrusion and the rear protrusion. Here, the front protrusion is defined as a protrusion positioned forward with respect to the IC board 64 and the rear protrusion is defined as a protrusion positioned rearward with respect to the IC board 64. In other words, between the front protrusion and the rear protrusion, the imaginary plane X1 is positioned higher than any other imaginary plane extending in the width direction and passing through the front protrusion and the rear protrusion. Thus, ink cartridge 30 has no members or structures that cross imaginary plane X1 between points P1 and P2, except for the members where points P1 or P2 are located. In this embodiment, the light-blocking panel 67 is an example of the front protrusion and the first protrusion 43 and the operation portion 90 is an example of the rear protrusion.

In the forward direction 51, the lock surface 151, the IC board 64, and the light blocking plate 67 are arranged in this order from the rear surface 41 toward the front surface 40. In the up-down direction, the light-blocking plate 67, the IC board 64, and the locking surface 151 are arranged in this order upward. More specifically, the uppermost portions of the light-blocking plate 67, the IC board 64, and the lock surface 151 are arranged upward in the recited order in the upward direction 54.

Further, as illustrated in fig. 14, the first protrusion 43 has a dimension or width in the left-right direction (width W3) larger than the width W1 of the light-blocking panel 67 in the left-right direction. That is, the first protrusion 43 has a width (W3) wider than the light-blocking panel 67 and protrudes further upward from the upper surface 39 with respect to the light-blocking panel 67. The first projection 43 is designed to protect the light barrier 67 against external damage, such as, for example, impact that may be sustained when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped onto the floor.

Further, referring to fig. 8, the light-blocking plate 67 is positioned forward in the front-rear direction with respect to the center of gravity G of the ink cartridge 30, while the locking surface 151 is positioned rearward in the front-rear direction with respect to the center of gravity G of the ink cartridge 30. In other words, the light-blocking panel 67 is positioned closer to the front surface 40 than the center of gravity G to the front surface 40 in the front-rear direction. In the front-rear direction, the locking surface 151 is located closer to the rear surface 41 than the center of gravity G to the rear surface 41.

Referring to fig. 10, in which the ink cartridge 30 is in the attachment posture or the standing posture, the IC board 64 is positioned rearward in the front-rear direction with respect to the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34. Further, the IC board 64 is positioned rearward in the front-rear direction with respect to the partition wall 50 that defines the rear edge 75R of the ink supply portion 34. The contact surface 84 is also positioned rearward relative to the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply 34. The IC board 64, the contact surface 84, and the inclined surface 155 are aligned in the front-rear direction in this order from front to rear. More specifically, referring to fig. 9B and fig. 13A to 13D, an imaginary plane X2 is assumed, which imaginary plane X2 passes through the left-right center of the IC board 64, and the imaginary plane X2 extends in parallel to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, this imaginary plane X2 also passes through the centers of the contact surface 84, the inclined surface 155, and the locking surface 151 in the left-right direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the imaginary plane X2 also passes through the left and right centers of the ink supply port 71.

Also, on the upper surface 39 between the IC board 64 and the inclined surface 155 in the front-rear direction, the upper edge (point P1) of the inclined surface 155 is the uppermost position. The contact surface 84 is positioned slightly higher relative to the electrode 65 on the IC board 64, but is positioned lower than the upper edge (point P1) of the inclined surface 155. The contact surface 84 is located at substantially the same level as the lower edge of the inclined surface 155 or is positioned slightly lower relative to the lower edge of the inclined surface 155.

The ink supply portion 34, the IC board 64, and the locking surface 151 are aligned in the front-rear direction in this order from front to rear. More specifically, referring to fig. 8 and 10, the IC board 64 is arranged rearward in the front-rear direction with respect to the ink supply portion 34 (ink supply port 71). Further, the IC board 64 and the contact surface 84 are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction.

The light-blocking plate 67 is located between the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34 and the IC board 64 in the front-rear direction. The light-blocking plate 67 is also positioned lower than the upper surface of the IC board 64 (i.e., the electrode 65). The front end 42F of the bottom surface 42 is positioned forward relative to the IC board 64.

Fig. 10 summarizes the positional relationship among the above-described elements of the ink cartridge 30.

Distance D1 is greater than distance D2(D1> D2). Here, the distance D1 is defined as the distance in the front-rear direction between the ink supply port 71 (i.e., the front end surface of the ink supply portion 34 in which the ink supply port 71 is opened) and the joining point P3 on the lock surface 151. The distance D2 is defined as the distance between the engagement point P3 on the locking surface 151 and the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 (the rearmost point P5 on the rear surface 41) in the front-rear direction. Further, distance D2 is shorter than distance D5 (D2< D5). The distance D5 is defined as the distance between the contact point P4 on the electrode 65 of the IC board 64 and the engagement point P3 on the locking surface 151 in the front-rear direction. Distance D5 is greater than distance D6(D5> D6). The distance D6 is defined as the distance between the contact point P4 on the electrode 65 of the IC board 64 and the front-rear center of the contact surface 84 in the front-rear direction.

Further, the distance D3 is longer than the distance D4 (D3> D4). The distance D3 is defined as the distance between the vertical center of the ink supply port 71 and the upper edge 151U of the locking surface 151 in the up-down direction. The distance D4 is defined as the distance between the vertical center of the ink supply port 71 and the contact surface 84 in the up-down direction. Further, the distance D4 is shorter than the distance D7 (D4< D7), where the distance D7 is defined as the distance between the vertical center of the ink supply port 71 and the upper end 151U of the inclined surface 155 in the up-down direction. The contact point P4 on the electrode 65 is spaced from the ink supply port 71 (the front end face of the ink supply portion 34 in which the ink supply port 71 is opened) by a distance D8. That is, the distance D8 is defined as the distance in the front-rear direction between the ink supply port 71 (the front end face of the ink supply portion 34 in which the ink supply port 71 is opened) and the contact point P4 on the electrode 65 of the IC board 64.

Preferably, the distance D1 may range from 90mm to 95 mm; distance D2 may range from 20mm to 25 mm; distance D3 may range from 71mm to 80 mm; distance D4 may range from 70mm to 73 mm; distance D5 may range from 30mm to 35 mm; and distance D6 may range from 10mm to 13 mm. These numbers are merely examples and should not be limited thereto.

Note that, in the present embodiment, of the light-blocking plate 67, the IC board 64, and the lock surface 151, the light-blocking plate 67 is positioned closest to the front surface 40 (the front surface of the front wall 40) defining the foremost edge of the ink cartridge 30. That is, the light-blocking panel 67 is an element located closest to the foremost edge of the ink cartridge 30 among those elements configured to be accessed from the outside (i.e., among the light-blocking panel 67, the IC panel 64, and the locking surface 151). Therefore, the distance D2 between the rearmost point P5 and the joining point P3 in the front-rear direction is shorter than the distance D9 defined between the foremost edge (the front surface of the front wall 40) and the front edge of the light-blocking panel 67 (i.e., the interference surface 67b) in the front-rear direction.

< comparison of

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K >

< ink Cartridge 30K >

The ink cartridge 30K is different from the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y in terms of ink color and capacity of the first ink chamber 32.

The ink cartridge 30K stores black ink. As illustrated in fig. 11A to 15, the ink cartridge 30K differs from the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y in that a cartridge body 31 of the ink cartridge 30K has a left-right dimension larger than that of the cartridge body 31 of the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y. Therefore, the capacity of the first ink chamber 32 of the ink cartridge 30K is larger than the capacity of the first ink chambers of the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y.

Referring to fig. 13A to 13D, the side surface 37 (labeled 37K in fig. 13A) of the ink cartridge 30K is positioned further away from the imaginary plane X2 than the side surface 37 of each of the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y is from the imaginary plane X2 in the rightward direction 55. The left-right dimension of the ink cartridge 30K is defined as a distance between outer edges of the case body 31 of the ink cartridge 30K in the left-right direction (i.e., a distance between the side surface 37K and the side surface 38 of the case body 31 of the ink cartridge 30K).

Further, referring to fig. 13A to 13D, the first protrusions 43 and the second protrusions 83 for the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y are provided on the upper surface 39 at the right and left center of the upper surface 39. On the other hand, on the upper surface 39 of the case body 31 of the ink cartridge 30K, the first protrusion 43 and the second protrusion 83 are arranged offset from the left-right center of the upper surface 39 of the case body 31. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the first protrusion 43 and the second protrusion 83 of the ink cartridge 30K are provided on the upper surface 39 of the case body 31 at positions offset leftward with respect to the left-right center of the upper surface 39. On the other hand, the first protrusion 43 and the second protrusion 83 for the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y are provided on the upper surface 39 at the right and left centers thereof.

The

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K are different from each other in terms of the left-right position of the light-blocking plate 67. That is, as shown in fig. 13A to 13D, the specific positions of the respective light-blocking

panels

67C, 67M, 67Y, and 67K in the left-right direction are different from each other among the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K.

Referring to fig. 13A and 14, regarding the ink cartridge 30K, the left-right position of the light-blocking plate 67K does not fall within the width of the IC board 64 in the left-right direction. That is, the light-blocking plate 67K of the ink cartridge 30K is not aligned with the IC board 64 (the second protrusion 83 and the first protrusion 43) in the front-rear direction.

More specifically, as illustrated in fig. 14, in the ink cartridge 30K, the width W1 of the light-blocking panel 67K is smaller than the width W2(W1< W2), where the width W2 is defined as the distance (dimension) between the right edge of the upper surface 39 (right-side surface 37K) and the right edge of the interference surface 67b (i.e., right-side surface 67a of the light-blocking panel 67K) in the left-right direction in the ink cartridge 30K. In other words, the width W2 is the shortest distance between one of the outer edges of the upper surface 39 (i.e., the right edge of the upper surface 39) and one of the light-blocking surfaces 67a of the light-blocking panel 67K (i.e., one of the outer edges of the interference surface 67b) in the left-right direction in the ink cartridge 30K. Note that, in the ink cartridge 30K, the right edge (right side surface 37K) of the upper surface 39 is closer to the right side surface 67a (right edge of the interference surface 67b) of the light-blocking plate 67K than the left edge (left side surface 38) of the upper surface 39 to the right side surface 67a of the light-blocking plate 67K in the left-right direction.

Further, referring to fig. 14, an imaginary plane X3 representing the outermost edge of the cartridge body 31 of the ink cartridge 30M (30C, 30Y) in the left-right direction is assumed. That is, the imaginary plane X3 corresponds to the side surface 37 of the ink cartridge 30M (30C, 30Y) in the present embodiment. The light-blocking panel 67K of the ink cartridge 30K is positioned outward in the left-right direction with respect to the imaginary plane X3, i.e., opposite to the imaginary plane X2 with respect to the imaginary plane X3. In other words, in the left-right direction, the distance L1 is greater than the distance L2(L1> L2), where the distance L1 is the distance between the side surface 67a (left side surface 67aK) of the light-blocking panel 67K and the imaginary plane X2; and distance L2 is the shortest distance between imaginary plane X2 and the outermost edge of cartridge body 31 of ink cartridge 30M (30C, 30Y) in the left-right direction (i.e., the distance between imaginary plane X2 and side surface 38 in the left-right direction in the present embodiment). That is, in the ink cartridge 30K, the interference surface 67b (67bK) of the light-blocking plate 67K is not aligned with the IC board 64 in the front-rear direction and is shifted rightward from the imaginary plane X2. Or the interference surface 67b (67bK) of the light-blocking plate 67K and the IC board 64 are arranged at positions different from each other in the left-right direction.

On the other hand, referring to fig. 13B to 13D, the light-blocking

panels

67C, 67M, and 67Y of the

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, and 30Y are all arranged at such left and right positions in the left-right direction as to fall within the width of the IC board 64 (the width of the second protrusion 83 and the first protrusion 43). However, the specific positions of the light-shielding

plates

67C, 67M, and 67Y in the left-right direction are different from each other.

More specifically, as illustrated in fig. 13B and 15, the light-blocking panel 67M of the ink cartridge 30M is located on the imaginary plane X2 to extend along the imaginary plane X2. In the present embodiment, the interference surface 67bM of the light-blocking panel 67M intersects the imaginary plane X2. As illustrated in fig. 13C, the light-blocking panel 67C of the ink cartridge 30C is positioned leftward with respect to the imaginary plane X2. That is, the interference surface 67bC of the light-blocking panel 67C is positioned offset leftward with respect to the imaginary plane X2. In other words, the interference surface 67bC of the ink cartridge 30C is closer to the left edge (left side surface 38) of the upper surface 39 than the interference surface 67bM of the ink cartridge 30M to the left edge (left side surface 38) of the upper surface 39 in the left-right direction. As illustrated in fig. 13D, the light-blocking panel 67Y of the ink cartridge 30Y is positioned rightward with respect to the imaginary plane X2. That is, the interference surface 67bY of the light-blocking panel 67Y is positioned offset rightward with respect to the imaginary plane X2. In other words, the interference surfaces 67bC, 67bY of the light-blocking

plates

67C, 67Y are positioned away from the imaginary plane X2 in the left-right direction and are offset from the center of the IC board 64 in the left-right direction.

< attachment/detachment of ink cartridge 30 to cartridge attaching part 110>

Next, a process for attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attaching portion 110 will be described with reference to fig. 4, 5A, 5B, 16, and 17. In fig. 4, 5A, 5B, 16, and 17, the ink cartridge 30M is depicted as an example.

As illustrated in fig. 8, in the ink cartridge 30 before being attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110, the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71 of the gasket 76. Therefore, at this time, the flow of ink to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 is interrupted. Further, in this state, the valve 97 closes the air communication port 96. Therefore, the first ink chamber 32 is not opened to the atmosphere. Further, before the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110, the opening 112 of the casing 101 is closed by the cover 114 at the closed position.

To insert/remove the ink cartridge 30 into/from the cartridge attachment portion 110, the user pivots the cover 114 from the closed position to the open position.

The ink cartridge 30 is configured to be inserted into the casing 101 through the opening 112 of the cartridge attachment portion 110 in an upright posture, i.e., a posture in which the front surface 40 of the cartridge body 31 faces forward and the upper surface 39 of the cartridge body 31 faces upward. Because the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the cartridge body 31 is positioned rearward relative to the lower portion 41L, i.e., because the upper portion 41U is positioned closer to the user than the lower portion 41L is to the user, the user pushes the upper portion 41U forward to insert the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attaching portion 110. The bottom portion of the ink cartridge 30 thus enters a corresponding guide groove 109 provided in the bottom surface of the casing 101.

As the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the housing 101, the ink supply portion 34 enters the corresponding guide portion 105. Simultaneously, the rod 125 enters the corresponding air communication port 96.

Further, the interference surface 67b of the light-blocking panel 67 reaches the corresponding door 108 of the cassette attachment portion 110. For example, in a case where the ink cartridge 30M is inserted into the prescribed insertion space 111M of the casing 101, the left and right positions of the interference surface 67bM of the light-blocking panel 67M coincide with the left and right positions of the slit 119M of the door 108M. Thus, when the cartridge body 31 of the ink cartridge 30M moves in the forward direction 51 along the corresponding guide groove 109, the interference surface 67bM passes through the slit 119M without abutting against the opposing wall 118 of the door 108M, and moves through the door 108M to be positioned forward from the door 108M as depicted in fig. 16. The locking surface 151 is in turn positioned rearwardly from the lock shaft 145.

Here, as a comparative example, it is assumed that the ink cartridge 30C is inserted into the insertion space 111M which does not correspond to the ink cartridge 30C. In this case, since the left and right positions of the interference surface 67bC do not coincide with the left and right positions of the slit 119M, as illustrated in fig. 18, when the box body 31 of the ink cartridge 30C moves in the forward direction 51 along the guide groove 109, the interference surface 67bC abuts toward the opposing wall 118 of the door 108M. The interference surface 67bC of the ink cartridge 30C therefore cannot pass through the slit 119M. As a result, the ink cartridge 30C cannot be inserted further forward in the forward direction 51 from the state depicted in fig. 18. Therefore, the ink needle 102 does not separate the valve 77 of the ink cartridge 30C from the packing 76. That is, the ink supply port 71 is not yet opened by the ink needle 102 and thus the ink supply portion 34 is not connected to the ink needle 102. Further alternatively, when the interference surface 67bC abuts toward the opposing wall 118 of the door 108M, the ink needle 102 may be separated from the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34 in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, "the ink supply portion 34 is connected to the ink needle 102" indicates a state in which the ink needle 102 separates the valve 77 from the ink supply port 71 and the ink supply port 71 is opened. Therefore, in fig. 18, the ink supply portion 34 is not connected to the ink needle 102 because the ink needle 102 is in contact with the gasket 76 but the valve 77 still closes the ink supply port 71.

In this way, the light-blocking panel 67 of the ink cartridge 30 can be functionally used as a physical key to see whether the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the correct one of the insertion spaces 111 of the cartridge attachment portion 110 (the assigned insertion space 111).

When the ink cartridge 30M is further inserted in the forward direction 51 after passing through the door 108M, the ink needle 102 passes through the ink supply port 71 to separate the valve 77 from the packing 76 against the biasing force of the coil spring 78. As a result, the vertical position of the ink supply portion 34 is fixed with respect to the cartridge attachment portion 110. In this state, the ink cartridge 30M is applied with the biasing force of the coil spring 78 of the ink supply portion 34 as a whole so that the ink cartridge 30M is pushed rearward. The rod 125 that has entered the air communication port 96 abuts against the valve 97 to separate the valve 97 from the air communication port 96 against the biasing force of the coil spring 98. As a result, the first ink chamber 32 is opened to the atmosphere through the through-hole 46, the air valve chamber 36, and the air communication port 96.

Further, the first projection 43 reaches the lock shaft 145, and the inclined surface 155 comes into contact with the lock shaft 145 and slidably moves in the forward direction 51 with respect to the lock shaft 145.

The ink cartridge 30M is applied with the biasing force in the rearward direction 52 generated by the compressed coil springs 78 and 98. The magnitude of the biasing force produced by each of the coil springs 78 and 98 is determined by its spring constant and the distance it is compressed from its natural length. The spring constant of the coil spring 98 is smaller than the spring constant of the coil spring 78. The compression distance of coil spring 78 (the distance separating valve 77 from ink supply port 71) is greater than the compression distance of coil spring 98 (the distance separating valve 79 from air communication port 96). As a result, in a state where the ink cartridge 30M is accommodated in the cartridge attaching portion 110, the magnitude of the biasing force generated by the coil spring 78 is larger than the magnitude of the biasing force generated by the coil spring 98.

Since the user pushes the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41, the ink cartridge 30M is also applied with a rotational moment acting in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 16. However, against this rotational moment, the contact between the inclined surface 155 and the lock shaft 145 causes the ink cartridge 30M to pivot in the clockwise direction in fig. 17 about the center C of the ink supply port 71 of the packing 76 into which the ink needle 102 is inserted. That is, the center C of the ink supply port 71 serves as the pivot center of the ink cartridge 30 in the present embodiment.

Incidentally, the position of the pivot center of the ink cartridge 30 may be changed according to the shape of the ink needle 102 and the shape of the ink supply port 71. In the present embodiment, actually, as shown in fig. 4 and 17, the pivot center is the center of the portion PP where the ink needle 102 and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular ink supply port 71 contact each other. In the present embodiment, the pivot center is the center of the portion PP where the ink needle 102 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the gasket 76 defining the ink supply port 71. This portion PP where the ink needle 102 and the ink supply port 71 (the inner peripheral surface of the gasket 76) contact each other will be hereinafter referred to as a specified portion PP as long as necessary. The ink cartridge 30 is thus inserted in the forward direction 51 in the posture illustrated in fig. 16 and 17. Hereinafter, the postures illustrated in fig. 16 and 17 are referred to as second postures.

Since the lower surface 42 of the box body 31 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction (horizontal direction), a certain space can be obtained between the lower surface 42 and the bottom surface of the guide groove 109. This space allows the above-described pivotal movement of the ink cartridge 30M in the clockwise direction.

Further, since the inner diameter of the air communication port 96 is larger than the outer diameter of the rod 125, a certain space is also provided between the rod 125 and the air communication port 96. This space also allows the pivotal movement of the ink cartridge 30 in the clockwise direction. In other words, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110, the lever 125 and the air communication port 96 do not contact each other. That is, vertical positioning is not performed between the rod 125 and the air communication port 96.

In the second posture, a certain space is also provided between the electrodes 65 of the IC board 64 and the corresponding one set of contacts 106 in the up-down direction. That is, the electrode 65 and the contact 106 are separated from each other in the up-down direction. Further, in the second posture due to the clockwise pivoting of the ink cartridge 30M, the contact surface 84 is located below the corresponding positioning portion 107. A certain space is formed between the positioning portion 107 and the contact surface 84 in the up-down direction. That is, the positioning portion 107 and the abutting portion 84 are separated from each other in the up-down direction.

When the ink cartridge 30M is inserted further forward in the forward direction 51 from the state illustrated in fig. 16 against the biasing force of the coil spring 78, the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 of the first protrusion 43 move forward beyond the lock shaft 145, thereby reaching a position closer to the end wall of the casing 101 than the lock shaft 145 to the end wall as illustrated in fig. 17. In the ink cartridge 30M in the second posture, the lock surface 151 is positioned lower with respect to the lock shaft 145.

As described above, as the user pushes forward on the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41, the ink cartridge 30M (30) is applied with a rotational moment acting in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 17. Further, a rotational moment acting in the clockwise direction in fig. 17 is also generated in the ink cartridge 30M (30) due to the biasing force of the coil spring 98 provided in the air valve chamber 36. In a state where the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 are no longer abutted toward the lock shaft 145, the ink cartridge 30M (30) is caused to pivot in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 17 about the pivot center C due to the urging force of the user against the biasing force of the coil spring 98. The contact surface 84 thus comes into contact with the positioning portion 107 from below.

At this time, the locking surface 151 faces rearward and is opposed to the lock shaft 145 in the front-rear direction. When the user stops pushing the ink cartridge 30M (30) in the forward direction 51, the ink cartridge 30M (30) is moved rearward by the biasing force of the coil spring 78. The locking surface 151 thus moves rearward to abut from the front thereof toward the lock shaft 145. This contact between the locking surface 151 and the latch shaft 145 restricts the ink cartridge 30 from moving further rearward in the rearward direction 52. That is, the positioning of the ink cartridge 30M (30) in the front-rear direction with respect to the cartridge attaching part 110 is provided by the contact between the lock surface 151 and the lock shaft 145.

Further, since the contact surface 84 abuts against the positioning portion 107 from below at this time, the ink cartridge 30M (30) is also restricted from moving upward. That is, the ink cartridge 30M (30) is prevented from further pivoting in the counterclockwise direction about the center C. This abutment between the contact surface 84 and the positioning portion 107 thus provides positioning of the ink cartridge 30M (30) in the up-down direction. As a result, as illustrated in fig. 4, the ink cartridge 30M (30) is fixed in position in the corresponding insertion space 111M (111) of the cartridge attaching portion 110. For the purpose of explanation, hereinafter, the posture (attachment posture) of the ink cartridge 30M (30) illustrated in fig. 4 will also be referred to as a first posture whenever necessary. Thus, the attachment of the ink cartridge 30M (30) to the cartridge attaching part 110 is completed. In other words, the ink cartridge 30 can pivot about the center C of the ink supply port 71 to move between the first posture and the second posture.

In this embodiment, "insertion of the ink cartridge 30" is regarded as being completed when the ink cartridge 30 is fixed in position with respect to the cartridge attaching portion 110 with the locking surface 151 engaged with the lock shaft 145. That is, the "insertion of the ink cartridge 30" is not regarded as being ended only because the ink needle 102 is inserted into the ink supply portion 34.

In the first posture (attachment posture), the following force acts on the ink cartridge 30.

Namely, because: the self weight of the ink cartridge 30; the biasing force that IC board 64 receives from contacts 106; and a rotational moment acting in the clockwise direction and generated by the coil spring 98 provided in the air valve chamber 36, the ink cartridge 30 is applied with a force acting downward (i.e., in a direction moving from the first posture to the second posture) about the center C. On the other hand, the ink cartridge 30 is also applied with a force acting upward about the center C (i.e., in a direction moving from the second posture to the first posture) due to a rotational moment acting in the counterclockwise direction, which is generated by the coil spring 78 in the ink valve chamber 35 acting on the locking surface 151. Because the contact surface 84 abuts against the positioning portion 107, the contact surface 84 receives a component of the upward force acting on the ink cartridge 30, thereby providing positioning of the ink cartridge 30 in the up-down direction.

In the first posture, the lock shaft 145 is separated in the up-down direction from a surface 156 extending rearward from the lower edge 151L of the locking surface 151. That is, the lock shaft 145 does not contribute to any positioning of the ink cartridge 30 in the up-down direction. Therefore, in the cartridge attaching part 110, the up-down positioning of the ink cartridge 30 is performed not by the lock shaft 145 provided independently of the housing 101 but by the positioning part 107 formed integrally with the housing 101 and provided closer to the one set of contacts 106 than the lock shaft 145 to the contacts 106.

Referring to fig. 4, an imaginary arc Q of a circle centered on the center C and passing through the center Z (see fig. 5A) of the lock shaft 145 is assumed. As illustrated in fig. 4, in the ink cartridge 30M (30) in the first posture, the upper edge 151U of the locking surface 151 is located outside the imaginary arc Q, and the lower edge 151L of the locking surface 151 is located inside the imaginary arc Q. The ink cartridge 30M (30) in the first posture is fixed in position by contact between the ink supply port 71 and the ink needle 102 and by contact between the lock surface 151 and the lock shaft 145. In this state, the ink cartridge 30M (30) in the first posture is applied with the biasing force of the coil spring 78 acting in the rearward direction 52. As a result, a moment acting forward and upward is generated in the ink cartridge 30M (30). This moment corresponds to the magnitude of the force that presses the ink cartridge 30M (30) to pivot in the counterclockwise direction about the center C.

In the ink cartridge 30M (30) in the first posture, the electrodes 65 of the IC board 64 electrically contact the corresponding contacts 106 while elastically deforming the contacts 106 upward. At this time, when the IC board 64 is pushed down by elastically deforming the contact 106, the IC board 64 keeps elastically deforming the contact 106 due to the above-described moment acting on the ink cartridge 30M (30).

Further, in the process of the ink cartridge 30M being pivoted counterclockwise from the state illustrated in fig. 17, the electrodes 65 of the IC board 64 positioned rearward from the center C and forward from the locking surface 151 are brought into contact with the contacts 106 from below to be electrically connected thereto, respectively. That is, in the present embodiment, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 moves during insertion and removal thereof (i.e., the front-rear direction) intersects with the direction in which the electrodes 65 and the contacts 106 of the IC board 64 contact and separate from each other (i.e., the up-down direction). Therefore, the electrode 65 of the IC board 64 is prevented from moving in the front-rear direction with respect to the contact 106 when in contact with the contact 106, thereby preventing generation of foreign matter such as swarf of the electrode 65.

After attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment portion 110, the user pivots the cover 114 from the open position to the closed position. When the cover 114 is in the closed position, the cover sensor 115 outputs a detection signal indicating that the cover 114 is detected. In response to receiving the detection signal from the cover sensor 115, the controller 117 determines whether the cutout 66 is provided in the light-blocking panel 67 of the attached ink cartridge 30, based on the signal output from the optical sensor 113. The controller 117 then determines the type of the attached ink cartridge 30, such as the initial capacity of the ink cartridge 30 and the composition of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30, based on the presence or absence of the cutout 66. The relationship between the presence or absence of the cutout 66 and the type of the ink cartridge 30 is prestored as predetermined data in the memory of the controller 117.

Next, a process for removing the attached ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge attaching portion 110 will be described.

To remove the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge attachment portion 110, the user first pivots the cover 114 from the closed position to the open position and presses down on the operating surface 92 of the ink cartridge 30. In the first posture of the ink cartridge 30, the operation surface 92 faces upward and rearward. Therefore, when the user operates the operation surface 92, a force acting downward and forward is applied to the ink cartridge 30. The locking surface 151 is separated from the latch shaft 145 by a forward acting force, and the ink cartridge 30 is pivoted in the clockwise direction in fig. 4 by a downward force. As a result, as illustrated in fig. 17, the contact surface 84 is separated from the positioning portion 107, and the electrodes 65 of the IC board 64 are separated from the respective contacts 106. The locking surface 151 is also located downwardly from the lock shaft 145. That is, the ink cartridge 30 is moved from the first posture to the second posture. When the IC board 64 and the locking surface 151 are separated from the contact 106 and the latch shaft 145, respectively, the ink cartridge 30 moves rearward relative to the cartridge attaching portion 110 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 78 in accordance with the change of the ink cartridge 30 from the first posture to the second posture. The user can thus grasp the cartridge body 31 to remove the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge attaching portion 110. When the ink cartridge 30 is drawn out from the cartridge attaching portion 110, the light-blocking plate 67 passes through the slit 119 of the corresponding door 108, and moves rearward through the door 108.

< determination regarding type of ink cartridge 30 attached to cartridge attachment section 110>

Now, how to determine the type of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 will be described while referring to the flowchart of fig. 19.

In the present embodiment, the controller 117 determines the type of the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the insertion space 111 based on the output signal from the optical sensor 113. As described above, the output signal from the optical sensor 113 changes depending on whether the cutout 66 is formed in the light-blocking plate 67 in the mounted ink cartridge 30.

Specifically, referring to fig. 19, the controller 117 first determines in S11 whether the cover 114 is in the open position. The controller 117 repeats step S11 (S11: no) unless the controller 117 receives a high level signal from the lid sensor 115. Upon receiving the high level signal from the cover sensor 115, the controller 117 determines that the cover 114 is in the open position (S11: yes). The controller 117 then determines in S12 whether the high-level signal from the optical sensor 113 is changed to a low-level signal. When the detection surface D of the light-blocking plate 67 of the ink cartridge 30 comes between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 113 during insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attaching portion 110, the signal output from the optical sensor 113 becomes a low level at least once.

That is, the change of the signal from the high level to the low level at the optical sensor 113 means that the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the assigned insertion space 111 of the cartridge attaching part 110. For example, if the ink cartridge 30M is inserted into the insertion space 111C other than the assigned insertion space 111M, the optical sensor 113 of the insertion space 111C does not output a low-level signal because the optical sensor 113 of the insertion space 111C cannot detect the detection surface D of the light-blocking panel 67M of the ink cartridge 30M that cannot pass through the slit 109C of the door 108C as illustrated in fig. 18.

When the signal from the optical sensor 113 changes to the low level (S12: yes), the controller 117 then sets the flag stored in the memory to on in S13. That is, the open flag means that the ink cartridge 30 having the light-blocking plate 67 (detection surface D) has been inserted into the assigned insertion space 111 of the cartridge attachment portion 110.

In the case where the signal from the optical sensor 113 does not change to the low level but is maintained at the high level (S12: no), the controller 117 then proceeds to step S14. Unless the detection surface D of the light-blocking plate 67 passes the optical sensor 113, that is, in a case where the ink cartridge 30 is not inserted into the assigned insertion space 111 of the cartridge attachment portion 110, the optical sensor 113 continues to emit a high-level signal. Note that, here, even if the ink cartridge 30 without the light-blocking plate 67 (detection surface D) is inserted into the assigned insertion space 111, the optical sensor 113 continues to output a high-level signal because the light from the optical sensor 113 is not interrupted (S12: no). The controller 117 thus proceeds to step S14.

The controller 117 then determines whether the cover 114 is closed in S14. Specifically, when the signal output from the cover sensor 115 changes to the low level, the controller 117 determines that the cover 114 is in the closed position (S14: YES) and proceeds to step S15. As long as the signal from the lid sensor 115 remains at the high level and does not change to the low level (S14: no), the controller 117 returns to step S12.

After the cover 114 is determined to be in the closed position in S14, the controller 117 determines whether access to the IC board 64 through the contacts 106 is enabled in S15. In the case where the controller 117 cannot access the IC board 64 (S15: no), the controller 117 determines in S21 that the ink cartridge 30 is not attached to the cartridge attachment section 110. In this case, the controller 117 may issue a warning to the user to notify him that the ink cartridge 30 is not attached to the cartridge attachment section 110, for example, by a message such as "no cartridge" on the display.

In the case where the controller 117 can access the IC board 64 (S15: yes), the controller 117 determines in S16 whether the flag stored in the memory is on. When the flag is not on (S16: NO), the controller 117 determines in S20 that the ink cartridge 30 without the light-blocking panel 67 is attached. In this case, the controller 117 may issue a warning to the user by a message such as "no cartridge detected" on the display to notify him that the inserted ink cartridge is abnormal, for example, the ink cartridge 30 may lose the light-blocking plate 67 due to some damage such as an impact on the light-blocking plate 67.

When the flag is on (S16: yes), the controller 117 then determines in S17 whether the signal output from the optical sensor 113 is high level or low level. In the case where the signal from the optical sensor 113 is a high-level signal (S17: high), the controller 117 determines in S18 that the attached ink cartridge 30 is of type a. That is, for example, the ink cartridge 30 having the light-blocking plate 67 formed with the cutout 66 as shown in fig. 6 to 8 belongs to the type a. The optical sensor 113 is configured to output a high-level signal in a case where the cutout 66 is formed in the light blocking plate 67 of the attached ink cartridge 30. The type a cartridge 30 may be, for example, a high capacity cartridge whose initial ink capacity is large. In a case where the controller 117 determines that the attached ink cartridge 30 belongs to type a, the controller 117 may set an initial number of sheets that the printer 10 can print with the initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 of type a. Alternatively, the controller 117 may set a threshold corresponding to the initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 of type a. If the printer 10 has used an amount of ink greater than the threshold, the controller 117 may stop the printing operation, or may issue a warning to the user to notify him that a small amount of ink remains in the attached ink cartridge 30.

In the case where the signal output from the optical sensor 113 is a low-level signal (S17: low), the controller 117 determines in S19 that the attached ink cartridge 30 is of type B. That is, for example, the ink cartridge 30 having the light-blocking plate 67 without the cutout 66 as shown in fig. 18 belongs to the type B. The optical sensor 113 is configured to output a low-level signal in a case where the cutout 66 is not formed in the light-blocking plate 67 of the attached ink cartridge 30. The cartridge 30 of type B may be a low capacity cartridge whose initial ink capacity is not large or smaller than the initial ink capacity of the ink cartridge 30 of type a. In a case where the controller 117 determines that the attached ink cartridge 30 belongs to type B, the controller 117 may set an initial number of sheets that the printer 10 can print with the initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 of type B. Alternatively, the controller 117 may set a threshold corresponding to the initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 of type B. If the printer 10 has used an amount of ink greater than the threshold, the controller 117 may stop the printing operation, or may issue a warning to the user to notify him that a small amount of ink remains in the attached ink cartridge 30.

< operation and technical advantages of the embodiment >

In the ink cartridge 30 according to the present embodiment, the IC board 64 is positioned downward with respect to the imaginary plane X1. When the ink cartridge 30 is turned upside down and placed on a ground level such as a floor surface or the ground, the imaginary plane X1 corresponds to the ground level. Therefore, in the upside down posture in which the ink cartridge 30 is turned upside down, the points P1 and P2 are in contact with the ground plane. Meanwhile, the IC board 64 is located in a space defined between the ground plane and the upper surface 39, whereby the IC board 64 and the imaginary plane X1 have a certain distance to provide a certain gap therebetween. Because of the arrangement of these members, the first protrusion 43 or the light-blocking plate 67 can first collide with the ground plane instead of the IC board 64. Therefore, the IC board 64 provided at the upper surface 39 is prevented from being broken. Further in this embodiment, the cutout 66, the IC board 64, and the contact surface 84, which are accessible from above, the left side, or the right side of the ink cartridge 30, and a part of the side surface 67a are provided in the area defined between the upper surface 39 and the imaginary plane X1. Therefore, the member accessible from the outside is protected against the impact caused when the ink cartridge 30 falls onto the ground level.

Further, the first protrusion 43 and the light-blocking plate 67 are arranged forward and backward from the IC board 64, and the ink cartridge 30 need not provide a protrusion protruding upward with respect to the IC board 64. Therefore, IC board 64 can be easily attached to case 31. Further, the IC board 64 is located between the first protrusion 43 and the light-blocking plate 67 in the front-rear direction, so that the IC board 64 is sufficiently protected by the first protrusion 43 and the light-blocking plate 67.

The light-blocking panel 67 is positioned forward with respect to the center of gravity G, and the first projection 43 is positioned rearward with respect to the center of gravity G. Therefore, when the first protrusion 43 and the light-blocking panel 67 collide with the ground plane, the cassette body 31 can rotate in the rotation direction. Here, the rotation direction is determined by the order of collision of these members, i.e., the first protrusion 43 and the light-blocking plate 67. That is, when the first projection 43 and the light-blocking plate 67 collide with the ground plane in this order, the housing 31 rotates clockwise when viewed from the left side.

The first protrusion 43 has a horizontal surface 154 positioned forward relative to the locking surface 151. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped onto the ground surface in the upside-down posture, the horizontal surface 154 is likely to collide with the ground surface of the floor surface to thereby protect the locking surface 151.

Further, the upper end portion of the operating portion 90 is separated from the upper surface 39 to the same extent as the first protrusion 43 protrudes from the upper surface 39 or the elevated portion 39A in the up-down direction. The upper end portion of the operating portion 90 is likely to collide with the ground surface together with the first protrusion 43, and the impact due to the drop of the ink cartridge 30 is thus dispersed to the first protrusion 43 and the operating portion 90. Thus, the impact on cartridge 31 is effectively dispersed.

Further, the second protrusion 83 of the rise portion 39A is continuously connected to the light-blocking panel 67, thereby reinforcing the light-blocking panel 67.

< variants and modifications >

In the following, various modifications to the depicted embodiments will be described. Similar parts and components will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the depicted embodiment to avoid repetitive explanation.

1. First modification

In the above embodiment, the interference surface 67b constitutes the front surface of the light-blocking panel 67. However, the interference surface 67b and the light-blocking plate 67 need not be integrally formed. For example, as illustrated in fig. 20, the ink cartridge 230 may include a protrusion 285 having an interference surface 285b and a light blocking panel 267 having a light blocking surface 267a as a detection surface D. That is, the protrusion 285 (interference surface 285b) and the light blocking plate 267 (light blocking surface 267a) are provided independently of each other. As in the embodiment, the interference surface 285b is arranged to be aligned with the light barrier 267 in the front-to-rear direction. The protrusion 285 is located forward from the light barrier 267 in the front-to-rear direction. The light blocking plates 267 are configured to block light from the respective optical sensors 113 during insertion of the ink cartridges 230 and in the attached postures of the ink cartridges 230. The light barrier 267 shown in fig. 20 is not formed with a cut-out. The point P2 is located at the uppermost and foremost part of the light barrier 267, i.e. the point P2 is located forward with respect to the detection surface D.

Incidentally, in this configuration of the first modification, the protrusion 285 may be configured not to block light. That is, in the case where the protrusion 285 and the light blocking plate 267 are provided as separate members from each other, the protrusion 285 may or may not be made of a material (e.g., light-transmitting resin) capable of transmitting light therethrough.

With this structure, by separating the interference surface 285b from the light-blocking panel 267, an impact that would hit on the interference surface 285b upon erroneous insertion of the ink cartridge 230 is prevented from being directly transmitted to the light-blocking panel 267. Further, in the case where the protrusions 285 can transmit light, the protrusions 285 do not interfere with the detection of the light blocking plates 267 by the respective optical sensors 113 during the insertion of the ink cartridges 230 into the corresponding insertion spaces 111 of the cartridge attachment portion 110.

2. Second variant

Further, fig. 21 and 22 depict an ink cartridge 330 according to a second modification to the embodiment.

The ink cartridge 330 includes a case 331 constructed of an upper cover 331U and a lower case 331L. The cartridge body 331 includes a front surface 340, a rear surface 341, an upper surface 339, a bottom surface 342, side surfaces 337 and 338, a sub lower wall 348, and a connecting wall 349 corresponding to the front surface 40, the rear surface 41, the upper surface 39, the bottom surface 42, the side surfaces 37 and 38, the sub lower wall 48, and the connecting wall 49, respectively, of the ink cartridge 30 of the embodiment. In fig. 21, the side wall 337 is not shown. As in the embodiment, the ink supply portion 34 is provided at the connecting wall 349.

In a side view, as shown in fig. 21, the ink cartridge 330 has the same configuration on the upper surface 339 as on the upper surface 39 of the ink cartridge 30 of the embodiment. Note that the ink cartridge 330 shown in fig. 21 includes the light-blocking panel 67 without the cutout 66. That is, the portion of the light-blocking plate 67 corresponding to the cutout 66 (the portion indicated by the dashed circle in fig. 21) now serves as the detection surface D. That is, the light from the optical sensor 113 is configured to be incident on the detection surface D.

In the depicted embodiment, a coil spring 98 is disposed in the air valve chamber 36 to move the valve 97 to open and close the air communication port 96. Therefore, at the time when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attaching portion 110 and attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110, the ink cartridge 30 receives the urging force (caused by the coil spring 98) acting in the clockwise direction and the urging force (caused by the coil spring 78 of the ink supplying portion 34) acting in the counterclockwise direction.

In contrast, referring to fig. 22, the ink cartridge 330 according to the second modification does not include the valve 97 and the coil spring 98. That is, during insertion and attachment of the ink cartridge 330 with respect to the cartridge attachment portion 110, the ink cartridge 330 is configured to receive the urging force of the coil spring 78 of the ink supply portion 34 as the urging force acting in the rearward direction 52.

More specifically, once the ink needle 102 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 and connected to the ink supply portion 34, since no downward rotational moment is applied to the ink cartridge 330, the ink cartridge 330 exerts an upward rotational moment about the center C (portion PP) by the urging force of the coil spring 78 acting in the counterclockwise direction, except for the user pushing the upper portion of the rear surface 341 forward. The ink cartridge 330 is thus pivoted counterclockwise from the second posture to the first posture. As a result, as in the depicted embodiment, the electrode 65 of the IC board 64 comes into contact with the contact 106 from below to be electrically connected thereto; and the contact surface 84 comes into contact with the positioning portion 107 from below. When the user releases his finger from the ink cartridge 330, the ink cartridge 330 moves in the rearward direction 52 due to the urging force of the coil spring 78, so that the lock surface 151 abuts from its front side toward the lock shaft 145. The ink cartridge 330 is thus fixed in position in the front-rear direction. That is, the lock surface 151 receives a rearward moment applied from the coil spring 78, thereby maintaining the ink cartridge 330 in the attached state (in the first posture or the upright posture).

Also in the ink cartridge 330 of the second modification, the light-blocking plate 67 and the IC board 64 are arranged on the upper surface 39 constituting the cartridge body 31 such that the interference surface 67b of the light-blocking plate 67 is disposed forward and downward with respect to the electrode 65 of the IC board 64. With this structure, the door 108 corresponding to the interference surface 67b is less likely to contact the electrode 65 of the IC board 64 during insertion of the ink cartridge 330 into the corresponding insertion space 111 of the cartridge attachment portion 110.

Further, as in the ink cartridge 30 of the depicted embodiment, abutment toward the lock shaft 145 by the lock surface 151 in the front-rear direction; and positioning of the ink cartridge 330 with respect to the cartridge attaching part 110 is provided by contact of the contact surface 84 with the positioning part 107 in the up-down direction. With such a simple structure of the second embodiment as well, stable positioning of the ink cartridge 330 with respect to the cartridge attaching part 110 can be achieved.

Further, as in the ink cartridge 30 of the depicted embodiment, in the attached state of the ink cartridge 330, the pushing-back pressure of the coil spring 78 is stably received by the lock surface 151 that is in contact with the lock shaft 145, thereby preventing the ink cartridge 330 from moving further in the backward direction 52 and providing positioning of the ink cartridge 330 in the front-rear direction with respect to the cartridge attaching part 110. Therefore, the contact pressure between the electrode 65 of the IC board 64 and the contact 106 can be stably maintained.

Further, with this structure of the second modification, the same technical and operational advantages as those of the embodiment can be obtained.

3. Third modification

In the depicted embodiment, the case 31 is constructed of two different members, i.e., an upper cover 31U and a lower cover 31L attached to each other. However, the case 31 may be formed as a single member without including the upper cover and the lower cover.

Fig. 23A and 23B illustrate an ink cartridge 43 according to a third modification to the embodiment. The ink cartridge 430 includes a box body 431 in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The box 431 includes a front wall 440, a rear wall 441, an upper wall 439, a bottom wall 442, and side walls 437 and 438. These

walls

440, 441, 439, 442, 437, and 438 each constitute a housing of the ink cartridge 430. In other words, the case 431 is not constructed of the cover and the case. Thus, the upper surface of the upper wall 439 constitutes the upper surface of the case 431. The front surface of the front wall 440 constitutes the front surface of the case body 431. Unlike the front surface (40, 49, 95) of the ink cartridge 30 of the embodiment, the front surface of the front wall 440 (the front surface of the case body 431) is a flat surface. The rear surface of the rear wall 441 constitutes the rear surface of the case 431. The rear surface of the rear wall 441 (the rear surface of the case body 431) is a flat surface, but the rear surface 41 of the ink cartridge 30 of the embodiment is configured by two parts (an upper part 41U and a lower part 41L).

An ink chamber 432 is defined inside the cartridge body 431. More specifically, the ink chamber 432 is defined by the inner surfaces of the front wall 440, the rear wall 441, the upper wall 439, the bottom wall 442, and the side walls 437 and 438. An upper end area in the ink chamber 432 (an area above the ink surface of the ink stored in the ink chamber 432) communicates with the ambient air through an air communication port 496 formed in the upper wall 439. Note that the air communication port 496 may not necessarily be formed in the upper wall 439, but may be formed in one of the other walls constituting the case 431. For example, the air communication port 496 may be formed in one of the side walls 437 and 438.

The ink supply portion 434 is provided at the front wall 440. In this modification, the ink supply portion 434 is a through hole formed in the lower end portion of the front wall 440 to pass therethrough in the front-rear direction. The ink supply portion 434 defines an ink supply port 471 that opens forward on the front surface of the front wall 440.

On the upper surface 439, as in the depicted embodiment, the light-blocking plate 467, the IC board 464, the contact surface 484, and the first protrusion 443 having the locking surface 451 are arranged in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the light-blocking plate 467, the IC board 464, the contact surface 484, and the locking surface 451 are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction in this order from the front toward the rear. The light-blocking panel 467 is positioned forward and downward with respect to the IC board 64. The front surface of the light-blocking plate 467 serves as an interference surface 467 b. The light-blocking plate 467 has a side surface including the detection surface D. The light-blocking plate 467 shown in fig. 23A and 23B is not formed with a cutout (i.e., the ink cartridge 430 shown in fig. 23A and 23B is of type B). The contact surface 484 is arranged between the IC board 464 and the lock surface 451 in the front-rear direction. The contact surface 484 is positioned upwardly relative to the IC board 464 but downwardly relative to the upper edge of the locking surface 451 (shown as point P1). Of all the parts provided at the upper surface 439 between the light-blocking plate 467 and the locking surface 451 in the front-rear direction, the upper edge (point P1) of the locking surface 451 is highest (farthest from the upper surface 439). That is, the upper edge (point P1) of the locking surface 451 constitutes the uppermost edge of the ink cartridge 430 between the light-blocking plate 467 and the locking surface 451. The point P2 is located at the uppermost and foremost part of the light-blocking panel 467, i.e., the point P2 is located forward with respect to the detection surface D. The locking surface 451 is located closer to the rear wall 441 than to the IC board 464 in the front-rear direction.

With this structure, since the detection surface D (light-blocking surface) of the light-blocking plate 467 is positioned forward and downward with respect to the contact surface 484, the positioning portion 107 of the printer 10 configured to contact the contact surface 484 is less likely to interfere with the light-blocking plate 467 (i.e., the interference surface 467b and the detection surface D) during insertion of the ink cartridge 430 into the cartridge attaching portion 110. Further, during the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attaching portion 110, the lock shaft 145 of the cartridge attaching portion 110 configured to engage the lock surface 451 is less likely to interfere with the contact surface 484, the detection surface D (the interference surface 467b), and the IC board 64.

With this structure of the third modification, the same technical and operational advantages as those of the embodiment can be obtained.

4. Fourth modification

In the above-depicted embodiment, the light-blocking panel 67 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left or right side. Alternatively, the light-blocking panel may have various shapes as in the fourth modification.

Further, fig. 24 depicts an ink cartridge 530 according to a fourth modification to the embodiment. The ink cartridge 530 includes a light barrier 567. The light-blocking panel 567 has a side surface 567a, a front surface 567b, and an upper surface 567 c.

In the fourth modification, the ink cartridge 530 has a light-blocking plate 567 having a polygonal shape when viewed from the left or right side. The front surface 567b has a dimension in the up-down direction smaller than the height of the upper surface 567c from the upper surface 39. That is, the light-blocking plate 567 has a plurality of stepped portions, and the uppermost surface of the light-blocking plate 567 is an upper surface 567 c.

Is the front edge defining point P2 of the upper surface 567c of the uppermost portion (i.e., the uppermost portion) of the light barrier 567. The imaginary plane X1 passes through the point P1 and the point P2. The front end of the light-blocking panel 567 is located below the imaginary plane X1.

In the fourth modification, the IC board 64 is positioned downward with respect to the imaginary plane X1 and thus the IC board 64 is prevented from contacting the ground plane when the ink cartridge 530 falls onto the ground. Since P2 is closer to the raised portion 39A than the front end portion of the light-blocking panel 567 to the raised portion 39A, the light-blocking panel 567 is effectively reinforced by the raised portion 39A, so that the light-blocking panel 567 can withstand an impact of the ground level. As compared with a configuration in which the midpoint P2 is located at the front end portion of the light-blocking panel 567, the light-blocking panel 567 is durable against an impact caused when contacting the ground.

5. Fifth modification

Fig. 25 illustrates an ink cartridge 630 as a fifth modification to the embodiment. The ink cartridge 630 includes a light barrier 667. The light barrier 667 has a side surface 667a, a front surface 667b, and an upper surface 667 c. The upper surface 667c has a front portion and a rear portion positioned rearward from the front portion. The front portion of the upper surface 667c is inclined toward the upper surface in the forward direction. That is, the front portion of the upper surface 667c is inclined downward with respect to the front-rear direction in the upright posture to form an inclined surface defining the point P2, and the point P2 can be positioned forward with respect to the detection surface D. The imaginary plane X1 passes through the point P1, the point P2 and the front of the upper surface 667 c. In the fifth modification, the IC board 64 is positioned downward with respect to the imaginary plane X1 and thus the IC board 64 is prevented from contacting the ground plane when the ink cartridge 630 is dropped onto the ground.

According to the above configuration, the upper surface 667c has a surface capable of contacting a ground plane. When the upper surface 667c is struck by a ground plane, the impact can be dispersed along the front of the upper surface 667 c. Therefore, the light-blocking plate 667 is durable against impact caused when contacting the ground, as compared with a configuration in which only the points P1 and P2 can contact the ground plane. The ink cartridge 630 of the fifth embodiment effectively protects the IC board 64.

6. Sixth modification

In an embodiment, the light barrier 67 contacts the upper surface 67. Alternatively, the light barrier 67 does not necessarily contact the upper surface 39.

Fig. 26 illustrates an ink cartridge 730 as a sixth modification to the embodiment. The ink cartridge 730 includes a light barrier 767. The light barrier 767 has a side surface 767a, a front surface 767b, and an upper surface 767 c. 767 extend forward from the front surface of the rise 39A. The light-blocking plate 767 is separated upward from the upper surface 39, and the bottom of the light-blocking plate 767 does not contact the upper surface 39. The front end of the upper surface 767c and the uppermost and foremost portions of the front surface 767b define a point P2 through which the imaginary plane X1 passes. That is, the point P2 is located forward with respect to the detection surface D.

In the sixth modification, the IC board 64 is positioned downward with respect to the imaginary plane X1 and thus the IC board 64 is prevented from contacting the ground plane when the ink cartridge 730 falls onto the ground.

7. Seventh modification

In an embodiment, the light barrier 67 contacts the upper surface 67. Alternatively, the light-blocking panel 67 does not necessarily contact the rise 39A.

Fig. 27 illustrates an ink cartridge 830 as a seventh modification to the embodiment. The ink cartridge 830 includes a light barrier 867. The light barrier 867 has a side surface 867a, a front surface 867b, and an upper surface 867 c. The light-blocking panel 867 has a square shape when viewed from the left or right side, and the lower end portion of the light-blocking panel 867 contacts the upper surface 39. The light-blocking panel 867 is separated forward from the rise portion 39A, and the bottom of the light-blocking panel 867 contacts the upper surface 39. The front end of the upper surface 767c and the uppermost and foremost portions of the front surface 767b define a point P2 through which the imaginary plane X1 passes. That is, the point P2 is located forward with respect to the detection surface D.

Ink cartridge 830 further includes an operating portion 890 having an operating surface 892. The operating portion 890 or the operating surface 892 has a point P1 at a front upper end thereof. Specifically, the operating portion 890 protrudes higher than the first projection 43 to thereby define a point P1. The point P1 is the uppermost and foremost part of the operation part 890. An imaginary plane X1 extending in the width direction passes through the points P1 and P2, and the IC board 64 is located below the imaginary plane X1.

As depicted above, point P1 is not necessarily located at first protrusion 43. Since the imaginary plane X1 coincides with the ground plane, a point rearward from the IC board 64 defining the highest imaginary plane X1 can be the point P1. In other words, if the operating portion 890 is positioned lower than the first protrusion 43 in the attachment posture, the first protrusion 43 may define the point P1 as depicted in the embodiment and the above-described modifications.

In the seventh modification, the IC board 64 is positioned downward with respect to the imaginary plane X1 and thereby the IC board 64 is prevented from contacting the ground plane when the ink cartridge 830 falls onto the ground.

8. Eighth modification

In this embodiment, the light barrier 67 has a point P2. Alternatively, the other member may have point P2.

Fig. 28 shows an ink cartridge 930 as an eighth modification to the embodiment. The ink cartridge 930 includes a protrusion 968 positioned forward from the light-blocking panel 67. The projection 968 and the light-blocking panel 67 overlap each other when viewed from the front, and the projection 968 has a width equal to or smaller than the width of the light-blocking panel 67. The projection 968 projects upward from the upper surface 39 in the upright posture. The top of protrusion 968 is higher than the upper portion of 67 and defines point P2 through which imaginary plane X1 passes. That is, the uppermost and foremost portions of the protrusion 968 define a point P2, i.e., a point P2, located forward relative to the detection surface D. The imaginary plane X1 also passes through a point P1 located at the first protrusion 43.

In the eighth modification, the IC board 64 is positioned downward with respect to the imaginary plane X1 and thus the IC board 64 is prevented from contacting the ground plane when the ink cartridge 930 is dropped onto the ground. Further, because the protrusion 968 can contact the ground plane when the ink cartridge 930 falls onto the ground, the light-blocking plate 67 is prevented from being broken.

9. Other variants

In the above-described embodiment, the light-blocking panel 67 is formed with the cutout 66, and the cutout 66 is not necessarily provided at the light-blocking panel 67. The light barrier 67 may be configured without a cut-out.

In the above-described embodiment, the controller 117 is configured to determine the type of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 based on the presence or absence of the cutout 66 in the light-blocking plate 67 during insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment portion 110 and upon completion of attachment of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment portion 110. Alternatively, assuming that the cutout 66 is not formed in each light-blocking panel 67, the controller 117 may be configured to determine whether the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment section 110 based on the presence or absence of the light-blocking panel 67.

Specifically, referring to the flowchart of fig. 29, the controller 117 first determines whether the cover 114 is closed in S101. Specifically, when the signal output from the cover sensor 115 changes to the low level, the controller 117 determines that the cover 114 is in the closed position (S101: yes) and proceeds to step S102. The controller 117 repeats step S101 as long as the signal from the lid sensor 115 remains at the high level without changing to the low level (S101: no).

After the cover 114 is determined to be in the closed position in S101, the controller 117 determines in S102 whether the IC board 64 can be accessed through the contacts 106. For example, the controller 117 may be based on: whether a particular voltage can be applied to IC board 64 (i.e., based on the presence or absence of IC board 64); or whether the controller 117 can access the memory of the IC board 64 to determine whether the IC board 64 can be accessed.

In the case where the controller 117 cannot access the IC board 64 (S102: no), the controller 117 determines in S106 that the ink cartridge 30 is not attached to the cartridge attachment section 110. In this case, the controller 117 may issue a warning to the user to notify him that the ink cartridge 30 is not attached to the cartridge attachment section 110, for example, by a message such as "no cartridge" on the display.

In the case where the controller 117 can access the IC board 64 (S102: yes), the controller 117 determines in S103 whether the signal output from the optical sensor 113 is at a high level or a low level. In the case where the signal from the optical sensor 113 is a high-level signal (S103: high), the controller 117 determines in S104 that an abnormal ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110. The optical sensor 113 is configured to output a high-level signal in a case where the light-blocking plate 67 is not provided at the attached ink cartridge 30. Therefore, the controller 117 determines that the attached ink cartridge 30 is abnormal. In the case where the controller 117 determines that the attached ink cartridge 30 is abnormal, the controller 117 may issue a warning to the user to notify him of this, for example, by a message on the display such as "abnormal cartridge is attached".

In the case where the signal output from the optical sensor 113 is a low-level signal (S103: low), the controller 117 determines in S105 that the ink cartridge 30 is properly attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. Here, since the light-blocking plate 67 of the attached ink cartridge 30 blocks the light emitted from the optical sensor 113, the optical sensor 113 is configured to output a low-level signal. In other words, the controller 117 is configured to determine whether the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment section 110 by detecting the presence or absence of the light-blocking panel 67. According to this variant, the IC board 64 can be accessed at the controller 117; and the light-blocking plate 67 blocks or attenuates light from the optical sensor 113, it is determined that the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110.

With regard to the determination performed by the controller 117, another variation can be envisaged.

In the depicted embodiment, controller 117 may determine whether ink cartridge 30 is attached to cartridge attachment portion 110 based on whether IC board 64 is accessible; and the controller 117 is configured to determine the type of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 based on the presence or absence of the cutout 66 in the light-blocking panel 67.

However, the controller 117 may determine whether the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 based on the presence or absence of the light-blocking panel 67: and the controller 117 may further determine whether the attached ink cartridge 30 is abnormal based on whether the IC board 64 is accessible. Also in this case it is assumed that the cut 66 is not formed in each light barrier 67.

More specifically, referring to the flowchart of fig. 30, the controller 117 first determines whether the cover 114 is closed in S201. Specifically, when the signal output from the lid sensor 115 changes to the low level, the controller 117 determines that the lid 114 is in the closed position (S201: yes) and proceeds to step S202. As long as the signal from the lid sensor 115 remains at the high level without changing to the low level (S201: no), the controller 117 repeats step S201.

After the cover 114 is determined to be in the closed position in S201, the controller 117 determines whether the signal output from the optical sensor 113 is a high level or a low level in S202. The optical sensor 113 is configured to output a high-level signal in a case where the light-blocking plate 67 is not provided at the attached ink cartridge 30 and thus light from the optical sensor 113 is not blocked or attenuated by the light-blocking plate 67. In the case where the signal from the optical sensor 113 is a high-level signal (S202: high), the controller 117 determines in S206 that the ink cartridge 30 is not attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. In the case where the controller 117 determines in S206 that the ink cartridge 30 is not attached, the controller 117 may issue a warning to the user to notify him of this, for example, by a message such as "no cartridge" on the display.

In the case where the signal from the optical sensor 113 is a low-level signal (S202: low), the controller 117 then determines whether the access IC board 64 is realizable in S203. For example, the controller 117 may be based on: whether a particular voltage can be applied to IC board 64 (i.e., based on the presence or absence of IC board 64); or whether the controller 117 can access the memory of the IC board 64 to determine whether the IC board 64 can be accessed.

In the case where the controller 117 cannot access the IC board 64 (S203: no), the controller 117 determines in S204 that the attached ink cartridge 30 is abnormal. In the case where the controller 117 determines that the attached ink cartridge 30 is abnormal, the controller 117 may issue a warning to the user to notify him of this, for example, by a message on the display such as "abnormal cartridge is attached".

In the case where the controller 117 can access the IC board 64 (S203: yes), the controller 117 determines in S205 that the ink cartridge 30 is properly attached to the cartridge attachment section 110.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is pivotable about the center C of the ink supply port 71 to move between the first posture and the second posture. Alternatively, the pivot center may be at a position other than the ink supply port 71. For example, the pivot center may be a prescribed position on a designated portion of the outer surface of the barrel 75 that contacts the guide 105. Alternatively, in the case where a member may be provided at the cartridge attaching portion 110 so as to be brought into contact with the secondary lower wall 48 of the attached ink cartridge 30, the pivot center may be set to a position where the member and the secondary lower wall 48 are in contact with each other. In this embodiment, since the center C of the ink supply port 71 is defined as the pivot center, the ink needle 102 inserted in the ink supply port 71 is less likely to come off the packing 76 during the pivotal movement of the ink cartridge 30 between the first posture and the second posture, thereby suppressing ink leakage.

Still alternatively, the ink cartridge 30 may be configured to slide in the up-down direction to move between the first posture and the second posture.

Further, instead of the case 31 configured by the upper cover 31U and the lower cover 31L, the case may have a structure composed of two separate members: an inner shell and a housing construction for receiving the inner shell therein. In this case, the inner case defines the ink chamber therein, and the housing constitutes an outer case of the cartridge body 31.

Further, in the depicted embodiment, the light-blocking panel 67 is connected to the raised portion 39A constituting the upper surface 39 of the ink cartridge 30. However, the upper surface 39 does not necessarily include the raised portion 39A, but may be a flat plane as in the third modification shown in fig. 23A and 23B. Further, even if the upper surface 39 includes the rear portion 39A (i.e., the upper surface 39 has a stepped structure as in the embodiment), the light-blocking plate 67 is not necessarily connected to the rear portion 39A.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the four kinds of

ink cartridges

30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K adapted to be inserted into the assigned

insertion spaces

111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K, respectively, are arranged in one set. However, more than four ink cartridges 30 may be provided as a set of printing fluid cartridges.

Note that the rearmost point P5 of the ink cartridge 30 may not be defined on the rear surface 41 of the cartridge body 31. In the case where the operating portion 90 has a portion that protrudes further rearward with respect to the rear surface 41 of the cartridge body 31 constituting the ink cartridge 30, the rearmost point P5 may be defined on the operating portion 90.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the coil spring 78 of the ink supply portion 34 is functionally used to push the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 rearward. However, a structure other than the depicted configuration may be employed to push the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 rearward.

For example, a spring for biasing the ink cartridge 30 rearward may be provided at a position other than the ink supply portion 34. A spring may be provided at the front surface 40 of the cartridge body 31 to extend forward from the front surface 40 to urge the ink cartridge 30 rearward. Alternatively, a spring may be provided at an end wall of the casing 101 to extend rearward from the end wall so as to urge the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 in the rearward direction 52.

In the depicted embodiment, a coil spring 98 is disposed within the air valve chamber 36 to move the valve 97 to open and close the air communication port 96. In the depicted embodiment, this coil spring 98 also serves to urge the ink cartridge 30 rearwardly. However, a coil spring other than the coil spring 98 may be provided only for urging the ink cartridge 30 in the rearward direction 52. For example, assuming that the air communication port 96 is formed in the connection wall 95 or in the outer wall other than the front wall 40, a coil spring may be provided at the connection wall 95 or somewhere in the internal space defined in the upper cover 31U, so that the coil spring is not used to open the first ink chamber 32 to the atmosphere.

Further, although in the depicted embodiment, ink is used as one example of a printing fluid, the printing fluid of the present disclosure is not limited to ink. For example, pretreatment liquid that is ejected onto the sheet prior to ink during a printing operation may be stored in a printing-fluid cartridge. Alternatively, cleaning water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the printing fluid cartridge. Further, a powdery material having fluidity such as toner may be used as the printing fluid.

< Note >

The first ink chamber 32, the second ink chamber 33, and the ink chamber 432 are examples of storage chambers. The

ink supply

34, 434 is an example of a supply. The front surfaces 40, 340, 440 and the connecting wall 49 are examples of front surfaces. The

IC board

64, 464 and the

electrode

65, 465 are examples of electrical interfaces. The

light barrier

67, 267, 467, 567, 667, 767, 867 and the

protrusions

285, 968 are an example of one protrusion. The

light blocking surfaces

67a, 267a, 567a, 667a, 767a, 867a are examples of detection surfaces. The first protrusion 43 and the operating

portions

90, 890 are another example of the protrusion. Point P1 is an example of another particular section. Point P2 is an example of a particular section. The horizontal surface 154 is an example of an abutment surface. The

upper surfaces

67c, 567c, 667c, 767c, 867c are examples of top surfaces. The

ink supply ports

71, 471 are examples of supply holes. The coil springs 98, 298 are examples of urging members. The imaginary plane X1 is an example of a particular imaginary plane. The controller 117 is an example of the determiner.

List of reference numerals

10: printer with a movable platen

30. 30C, 30M, 30Y, 30K, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630M: ink box

31. 431: box body

32: first ink chamber

34. 434: ink supply part

39. 339, 439: upper surface of

40. 340, 440: front surface

41. 341, 441: rear surface

42. 342, 442: bottom surface

43. 443: first protrusion

64: IC board

65: electrode for electrochemical cell

67. 267, 467, 567, 667, 767, 867: light barrier

67a, 267a, 567a, 667a, 767a, 867 a: light-blocking surface

71. 471: ink supply port

90. 890: operation part

106: contact terminal

110: cartridge attachment part

113: optical sensor

145: lock shaft

151. 451: locking surface

285: protrusion

432: ink chamber

968: protrusion

X1: imaginary plane

Claims

1. A printing fluid cartridge configured to be inserted into a printing fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction that intersects a direction of gravity in an attached attitude, the printing fluid cartridge comprising:

a storage chamber configured to store printing fluid;

a supply configured to supply the printing fluid from the storage chamber;

a front surface at which the supply portion is provided;

a rear surface spaced from the front surface in a rearward direction opposite the insertion direction, the storage compartment being located between the front surface and the rear surface;

an upper surface disposed upward relative to the storage chamber in the attachment attitude and facing upward opposite the direction of gravity;

an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface and configured to contact a contact portion disposed in the printing fluid consuming apparatus;

a locking surface disposed upward relative to the storage chamber in the attachment attitude and configured to engage with the printing fluid consuming apparatus;

one protrusion provided at the upper surface, the one protrusion being disposed forward in the insertion direction with respect to the electrical interface, and the one protrusion having one specific portion;

a detection surface disposed upward relative to the storage chamber in the attachment attitude and configured to receive a detection signal from the printing fluid consuming apparatus; and

a further protrusion disposed at the upper surface and disposed rearward with respect to the electrical interface, the other projection has another specific portion, the one projection and the other projection define a plurality of imaginary planes, each of the plurality of imaginary planes passes through the one protrusion and the other protrusion, each of the plurality of imaginary planes extends in a width direction perpendicular to the gravity direction and the insertion direction in the attachment posture, the plurality of imaginary planes include a specific imaginary plane defined by the one specific portion and the another specific portion, the particular imaginary plane is positioned higher than any other imaginary plane between the one projection and the other projection, the electrical interface is positioned downward in the direction of gravity relative to the particular imaginary plane in the attachment attitude;

wherein the detection surface, the electrical interface and the locking surface are arranged in the recited order above the upper surface in the rearward direction.

2. A printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the further projection is arranged upwardly with respect to the electrical interface; and is

Wherein the electrical interface is arranged upwardly with respect to the one protrusion in the attachment posture.

3. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 1, wherein the detection surface is disposed downward relative to the particular imaginary plane between the other protrusion and the one protrusion.

4. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 1, wherein the locking surface is disposed at the other protrusion.

5. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 4, wherein a dimension of the other protrusion in the width direction is greater than a dimension of the one protrusion in the width direction, and

wherein the other protrusion is disposed upward in the gravitational direction relative to the one protrusion in the attachment posture.

6. The printing-fluid cartridge of claim 5, further having a center of gravity;

wherein the one protrusion is positioned forward relative to the center of gravity; and is

Wherein the locking surface is positioned rearwardly relative to the center of gravity.

7. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 4, wherein the other protrusion comprises an abutment surface disposed forward and facing upward relative to the locking surface in the attachment attitude, the abutment surface comprising the other specific portion.

8. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 1, wherein the other protrusion comprises an operating portion disposed rearward at the upper surface relative to the locking surface.

9. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a support portion disposed at the upper surface, the support portion supporting the electrical interface and being continuously connected to the one protrusion.

10. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 1, wherein the one protrusion comprises a top surface having a width in the width direction that is less than a length of the top surface in the insertion direction.

11. The printing fluid cartridge of any of claims 1-10, wherein the particular imaginary plane passes through an uppermost portion of the one protrusion.

12. The printing fluid cartridge of any of claims 1-10, wherein the particular imaginary plane passes through a forwardmost portion of the one protrusion.

13. A printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the particular imaginary plane passes through an uppermost portion of the further projection.

14. The printing fluid cartridge of any of claims 1-10, wherein the particular imaginary plane passes through a forwardmost portion of the other protrusion.

15. The printing fluid cartridge of any of claims 1-10, wherein the detection surface is disposed at the one protrusion.

16. The printing fluid cartridge of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the one specific portion is disposed downward relative to the other specific portion in the attachment posture in which the locking surface is positioned rearward relative to the other specific portion.

17. The printing fluid cartridge of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the detection surface is disposed rearward relative to the one particular portion in the insertion direction in the attachment attitude, and the one particular portion is disposed downward relative to the other particular portion in the attachment attitude.

18. An ink jet recording system comprising:

a printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1; and

the printing fluid consuming apparatus comprising the contact and further comprising:

a sensor configured to emit the detection signal and detect at least one of the detection surface during insertion of the printing fluid cartridge and the detection surface in the attachment attitude of the printing fluid cartridge;

a lock configured to engage the locking surface;

a printing fluid consuming part; and

a supply tube in which the printing fluid flows from the printing fluid cartridge to be supplied to the printing fluid consuming part.

19. The inkjet recording system of claim 18, further comprising a determiner configured to determine, based on the detection of the detection surface by the sensor, at least one of:

whether the printing fluid cartridge is attached to the printing fluid consuming apparatus; and

a type of the printing-fluid cartridge.

20. A printing-fluid cartridge comprising:

a storage chamber configured to store printing fluid;

a supply portion including a supply hole through which the printing fluid is configured to flow out of the storage chamber in a forward direction intersecting a direction of gravity in an upright posture;

a front surface at which the supply portion is provided;

a rear surface that leaves the front surface in a rearward direction opposite the forward direction in the upright posture, the storage compartment being located between the front surface and the rear surface;

an upper surface disposed upwardly relative to the storage chamber in the upright position and facing upwardly opposite the direction of gravity;

a locking surface disposed at the upper surface and facing rearward;

one protrusion located at the upper surface and having a detection surface extending in the forward direction; and

an electrical interface provided at the upper surface, the locking surface, the electrical interface, and the one protrusion being arranged in the recited order in the forward direction in the upright posture, the one protrusion, the electrical interface, and the locking surface being arranged in the recited order upward in the upright posture.

21. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 20, wherein the one protrusion has one specific portion; and is

The printing fluid cartridge further includes another protrusion located at the upper surface and disposed rearward with respect to the electrical interface, the another protrusion having another specific portion, the one protrusion and the another protrusion defining a plurality of imaginary planes, each of the plurality of imaginary planes passing through the one protrusion and the another protrusion, each of the plurality of imaginary planes extending in a width direction perpendicular to the gravity direction and the forward direction in the upright posture, the plurality of imaginary planes including a specific imaginary plane defined by the one specific portion and the another specific portion, the specific imaginary plane being positioned higher than any other imaginary plane between the one protrusion and the another protrusion, the electrical interface being positioned downward with respect to the specific imaginary plane in the gravity direction in the upright posture.

22. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 21, wherein the locking surface has a width in the width direction that is longer than a width of the one protrusion in the width direction.

23. The printing-fluid cartridge of claim 20, further having a center of gravity;

wherein the one protrusion is closer to the front surface than the center of gravity is to the front surface in the forward direction; and is

Wherein the locking surface is closer to the rear surface in the rearward direction than the center of gravity is to the rear surface.

24. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 20, further comprising an abutment surface disposed between the locking surface and the one protrusion, the abutment surface facing upward.

25. A printing fluid cartridge according to claim 20, further comprising a support portion provided at the upper surface, the support portion supporting the electrical interface and being continuously connected to the one protrusion.

26. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 20, wherein the one protrusion is configured to receive a detection signal from a printing fluid consuming device.

27. The printing fluid cartridge of claim 20, further comprising:

a bottom surface disposed downwardly below the upright position and opposite the upper surface relative to the storage chamber; and

a supply portion disposed at the front surface, the supply portion including:

the supply hole;

a valve configured to open and close the supply hole, and

the supply portion includes an urging member that urges the valve toward the supply hole.

28. A printing fluid cartridge according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the particular imaginary plane passes through an uppermost portion of the one projection.

29. The printing-fluid cartridge of claim 21 or 22, wherein the particular imaginary plane passes through a forwardmost portion of the one protrusion.

30. A printing fluid cartridge according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the particular imaginary plane passes through an uppermost portion of the other projection.

31. The printing-fluid cartridge of claim 21 or 22, wherein the particular imaginary plane passes through a forwardmost portion of the other protrusion.