CN114103466A

CN114103466A - Liquid box

Info

Publication number: CN114103466A
Application number: CN202010893735.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石部阳雅
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2020-08-31
Filing date: 2020-08-31
Publication date: 2022-03-01

Abstract

The liquid cartridge includes: a housing; a circuit board including an electrode; and a liquid supply portion extending in a depth direction from the housing. The housing includes a top wall and first and second protrusions protruding upward from the top wall. The first protrusion is located rearward and the second protrusion is located forward with respect to the circuit board. The first protrusion is higher than an upper edge of a front end of the second protrusion. In a region between a first point on the first projection and a second point on the second projection in the depth direction, i.e., an upper edge of a front end of the second projection, no portion of the liquid cartridge is positioned higher than the imaginary plane in the height direction. The imaginary plane passes through the first and second points and extends perpendicular to the depth direction. When the dropped liquid cartridge collides with a flat surface or a floor, the posture of the housing is changed less compared to the configuration without the second protrusion. Therefore, splashing of ink through the opening of the liquid supply portion is less likely to occur.

Description

Liquid box

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a liquid cartridge including: a housing having a liquid chamber therein; and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to an outside of the liquid chamber.

Background

A printer including a recording head for ejecting ink supplied from an ink cartridge through nozzles is known (see, for example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2019-64046). In such a printer, once the ink in the liquid cartridge is used up, a new ink cartridge is mounted. The ink cartridge includes a housing having an ink chamber therein, and a light-blocking plate. The light blocking panel is disposed at a top surface of the housing, and is configured to block or attenuate light emitted in a left-right direction.

In the case where the ink tank drops onto and collides with a flat surface (such as a floor), the attitude of the ink tank may change while portions of the ink tank collide with the flat surface successively. Such a change in the posture of the ink cartridge may cause the ink adhering to the ink supply portion to scatter, and may cause contamination of the floor.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the foregoing, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid cartridge that is less likely to change its posture when colliding with a flat surface.

(1) According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a liquid cartridge including a casing, a circuit board, and a liquid supply portion. The housing defines a liquid storage chamber therein. The circuit board includes electrodes. The liquid supply portion extends from the housing in a depth direction intersecting with a direction of gravity, and has an opening facing forward in the depth direction. The liquid supply portion defines a liquid passage therein that connects the liquid storage chamber to the opening, and the liquid passage is configured to allow liquid in the liquid storage chamber to flow out of the housing through the opening. The housing includes: a top wall at which the circuit board is disposed; a first protrusion protruding upward from the top wall; and a second protrusion protruding upward from the top wall. In the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, the top wall faces upward and is located above the liquid supply portion. The first protrusion is located behind the circuit board in the depth direction. The second protrusion is located in front of the circuit board in the depth direction, and the second protrusion extends in the depth direction, and the second protrusion has a front end facing forward in the depth direction. In the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, the first protrusion is positioned higher than an upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion. The front end of the second protrusion is located forward of the opening of the liquid supply portion in the depth direction. In the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, no portion of the liquid cartridge is positioned higher than an imaginary plane in a height direction opposite to the gravity direction in an area between a first point on the first protrusion and a second point on the second protrusion in the depth direction, the second point being the upper edge of the leading end of the second protrusion, the imaginary plane passing through each of the first point and the second point, and the imaginary plane extending in a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the gravity direction. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are located below the imaginary plane.

With this structure, any outer surface of the liquid cartridge is located below the imaginary plane in the region between the first point and the second point (the upper edge of the leading end of the second protrusion) on the first protrusion in the depth direction. Therefore, when the liquid cartridge is dropped onto a flat surface such as a floor, the first protrusion first hits the flat surface, and the upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion then hits the flat surface or the floor. When the dropped liquid cartridge collides with a flat surface or a floor, the posture of the housing is changed less compared to the configuration without the second protrusion. Therefore, splashing of ink through the opening of the liquid supply portion is less likely to occur.

(2) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to aspect (1), the top wall has a front end facing forward in the depth direction, the front end being located below the imaginary plane in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge.

With this structure, since the front end of the top wall is located below the imaginary plane, the front end of the top wall is less likely to be damaged when the liquid cartridge is dropped onto a flat surface or a floor.

(3) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to the aspect (1) or (2), the first protrusion has an upper surface including the first point; and the housing defines a center point of the housing in the depth direction; the upper surface of the first protrusion is located rearward with respect to the center point of the housing in the depth direction; and the upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion is located forward with respect to the center point of the housing in the depth direction.

(4) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (3), the top wall directly or indirectly supports the circuit board.

(5) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (4), the first protrusion includes a first protruding portion, a second protruding portion, and a third protruding portion. The first protrusion extends in the depth direction, and has a rear end facing rearward in the depth direction. The second protrusion extends in the depth direction, and is positioned spaced apart from the first protrusion in the width direction, the second protrusion having a rear end facing rearward in the depth direction. The third protrusion extends in the width direction, and connects the rear end of the first protrusion to the rear end of the second protrusion. Preferably, a dimension of the second protrusion in the depth direction is larger than a dimension of the second protrusion in the gravity direction and a dimension of the second protrusion in the width direction.

With this structure, since the dimension of the second protrusion in the depth direction is larger than the dimension of the second protrusion in the gravity direction and the width direction, the second protrusion is hardly damaged even when the second protrusion comes into contact with a flat surface such as a floor due to the liquid cartridge falling onto the floor. Further, since the first protrusion is constituted by the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion connected to each other by the third protruding portion, the first protrusion has higher impact resistance than that of the second protrusion.

(6) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to the aspect (6), the third projection has an engagement surface facing rearward in the depth direction for engaging with a part of the cartridge case in a state where the liquid cartridge is attached to the cartridge case.

With this structure, the rearward-facing surface of the first projection can be used to position the liquid cartridge in the cartridge case without providing a separate engagement member on the liquid cartridge.

(7) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (6), the top wall of the housing has: a first portion extending in the depth direction; and a second portion inclined with respect to the depth direction to extend downward and forward from the first portion in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge. The first portion and the second portion define a boundary between the first portion and the second portion. The front end of the second protrusion is located on the second portion. The second protrusion extends across the boundary between the first portion and the second portion.

With this structure, the inclined second portion is located forward of the first portion in the depth direction. Therefore, even when the liquid cartridge is dropped onto a flat surface such as a floor, the inclined second portion is less likely to collide with the floor. Furthermore, since the second protrusion is positioned to extend across the boundary between the first portion and the second portion, the boundary can be reinforced by the second protrusion.

(8) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to the aspect (8), the boundary is located below the imaginary plane in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge.

With this structure, even when the liquid cartridge is dropped onto a flat surface such as a floor, collision of the boundary of the top wall with the floor can be avoided. Therefore, deformation of the ceiling wall near the boundary can be suppressed.

(9) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (8), in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, the entire circuit board is located below the imaginary plane.

With this structure, since the circuit board as a whole is located below the imaginary plane, the circuit board is less likely to be damaged when the liquid cartridge is dropped onto a flat surface or a floor.

(10) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (9), the housing includes a base and a cover. The base defines therein the liquid storage chamber, and has an upper end portion that is opened upward in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge. The cover is engaged with the base to cover the upper end of the base. The cover includes the top wall, and the cover directly or indirectly supports the circuit board.

(11) Preferably, in the above-mentioned liquid cartridge according to the aspect (10), the base includes a plurality of engaging claws for engaging with the lid; the cover further includes a peripheral wall extending downward from a periphery of the top wall, the peripheral wall being formed with a plurality of engagement holes each of which receives a corresponding one of the engagement claws; and the front end of the second protrusion is positioned further forward in the depth direction than any one of the engagement holes with which the corresponding engagement claw is engaged.

With this structure, the front end of the second protrusion, to which the external force tends to be applied, is positioned further forward in the depth direction than any one of the engagement claws. Therefore, the external force applied to the second protrusion is less likely to be transmitted to the engaging claw.

(12) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to aspect (11), the second projection has a rear end opposite to the front end in the depth direction; and the rear end of the second protrusion is positioned further rearward than one of the engaging holes that is positioned most forward in the depth direction.

With this structure, since the second protrusion extends in the depth direction to have a length long enough to span the entire size of the engagement hole at the forefront in the depth direction, the cover is further reinforced.

(13) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (9), the housing further includes a peripheral wall extending downward from a periphery of the top wall. The peripheral wall includes: a front wall facing forward in the depth direction; a first side wall extending from the front wall in the depth direction; and a second side wall extending from the front wall in the depth direction and spaced apart from the first side wall in the width direction. Preferably, the front end of the second protrusion is positioned to be spaced apart from the front wall in the depth direction and spaced apart from each of the first and second side walls in the width direction.

With this structure, since the front end of the second protrusion is spaced apart from each of the front wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall, an external impact applied to the front wall and the first and second side walls is less likely to be transmitted to the second protrusion. Therefore, the possibility of the second protrusion being deformed by the impact is reduced.

(14) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (13), the first protrusion includes: an inclined surface inclined with respect to the depth direction; and a horizontal surface connected to the inclined surface, and located rearward of the inclined surface in the depth direction. In the upright position, the horizontal surface extends in the depth direction. The first point is on a boundary between the inclined surface and the horizontal surface.

(15) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (14), the second protrusion is plate-shaped, and the second protrusion has a front surface, a main upper surface, and a sub upper surface. The front surface extends from the top wall, and the front surface faces forward in the depth direction. The front end of the second protrusion has the front surface. The main upper surface extends in the depth direction, and faces upward in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge. The sub upper surface extends from the main upper surface, and the sub upper surface is inclined with respect to the depth direction such that the sub upper surface is inclined downward and forward in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge. The upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion is defined by the front surface and the secondary upper surface.

With this structure, since the second protrusion is plate-shaped (for example, in the form of a wall) elongated in the depth direction, it is difficult for the second protrusion to interfere with a component of the cartridge case during attachment of the liquid cartridge into the cartridge case.

(16) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of aspects (1) to (15), the electrode has a front edge facing forward in the depth direction; and the front edge is located rearward with respect to a center point of the region in the depth direction.

With this structure, since the front edge of the electrode is positioned further rearward than the center point of the area in the depth direction, even when the liquid cartridge is dropped onto a flat surface such as a floor, a gap (clearance) can be reliably ensured vertically between the imaginary plane and the circuit board (electrical contact). Therefore, in the event that the dropped liquid cartridge collides with the flat surface, the impact hardly causes any loss of function of the circuit board.

(17) Preferably, in the above-described liquid cartridge according to any one of the aspects (1) to (16), the casing has a support portion that supports the circuit board, and the support portion is detachably attached to the casing.

(18) According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a cartridge set constituted by a plurality of liquid cartridges according to any one of aspects (1) to (17). The plurality of liquid cartridges are configured to be accommodated in spaces different from each other in a cartridge case, and the second protrusions of the plurality of liquid cartridges are at positions different from each other in the width direction.

With this structure, the position of the second protrusion in the width direction can be changed according to the type of the liquid cartridge (e.g., the type and initial amount of ink stored in the liquid cartridge). Accordingly, the user can visually confirm the position of the second protrusion to identify the type of the liquid cartridge.

(19) According to yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a liquid cartridge including a casing, a circuit board, and a liquid supply portion. The housing defines a liquid storage chamber therein. The housing includes a plurality of walls that define an outline of the liquid cartridge when viewed in a width direction intersecting with a direction of gravity. The plurality of walls includes: a pair of side walls; a front wall and a rear wall; and a top wall and a bottom wall. The pair of side walls are spaced apart from each other in the width direction. The front wall and the rear wall are spaced apart from each other in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction. The top wall and the bottom wall are spaced apart from each other in a height direction perpendicular to the width direction and the depth direction. The circuit board includes electrodes. The liquid supply portion is provided at the housing and has a liquid passage extending in a depth direction from the liquid storage chamber. The housing further includes: a first protrusion protruding upward from the top wall and located rearward of the circuit board in a depth direction; and a second protrusion protruding upward from the top wall and located in front of the circuit board in the depth direction. The second protrusion extends in the depth direction and has a front end facing forward in the depth direction. The first protrusion is positioned higher than an upper edge of a front end of the second protrusion. The front end of the second protrusion is located forward of the opening of the liquid supply portion in the depth direction. The contour of the liquid cartridge is positioned lower than an imaginary line in the height direction, which passes through each of the first point of the first protrusion and the second point of the second protrusion, in an entire region between the first point on the first protrusion and the second point on the second protrusion in the depth direction, when viewed in the width direction. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are located below the imaginary line.

With this structure, the same technical and operational advantages as the liquid cartridge according to the aspect (1) can be obtained.

The features of the above-described aspects (2) to (17) may be appropriately combined with the liquid cartridge according to the aspect (19). As a result of the combination, the resulting liquid cartridge is able to obtain the same technical and operational advantages as with the liquid cartridge according to aspect (1) in combination with the features of aspects (2) to (17) described above.

Drawings

The particular features and advantages of the embodiments, as well as other objects, will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing the internal configuration of a printer 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the cartridge attaching part 110 of the printer 10 according to the embodiment;

fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110;

fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the ink cartridge 30;

fig. 5 is a side view of the ink cartridge 30;

fig. 6 is a side view showing the ink cartridge 30 turned upside down in a state where the horizontal surface 154 of the projection 43 collides with the floor 160;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the ink cartridge 30 upside down in a state where the boundary 156 of the projection 43 and the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67 collide with the floor 160;

fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of the ink cartridge 30, the ink cartridge 30 having the ribs 67 at different left and right positions; and is

Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view showing a structure for supporting the IC substrate 64 according to a variation of the embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure, and that modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

In the following description, the forward direction 51 is defined as a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attaching portion 110. The rearward direction 52 is defined as a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is drawn out from the cartridge attaching part 110.

In the following example, the ink cartridge 30 is horizontally inserted and extracted with respect to the cartridge attaching portion 110. Therefore, description will be made assuming that the forward direction 51 and the backward direction 52 are horizontal, but the forward direction 51 and the backward direction 52 may not be horizontal. Further, the downward direction 53 is defined as a direction perpendicular to the forward direction 51 or the backward direction 52. The upward direction 54 is defined as a direction opposite to the downward direction 53. Further, the rightward direction 55 is defined as a direction perpendicular to the forward direction 51 and the downward direction 53. The leftward direction 56 is defined as a direction opposite to the rightward direction 55. Therefore, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110 and used together with the cartridge attaching portion 110, the downward direction 53 coincides with the direction of gravity, and the upward direction 54 is opposite to the direction of gravity. That is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110 and used together with the cartridge attaching portion 110, the outer surface of the main bottom wall 42 of the casing 130 faces downward in 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 attaching portion 110 and used together with the cartridge attaching portion 110, 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 and used together with the cartridge attaching portion 110 means a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been completely inserted into the attached position in the cartridge attaching portion 110. At the attachment position of the ink cartridge 30, the ink supply tube 102 of the cartridge attachment portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 and connected to the ink supply portion 34. Further, hereinafter, the posture of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 and thus used will be referred to as "operable posture".

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 the following description, "forward facing" includes facing a direction including a forward component, and "rearward facing" includes facing a direction including a rearward component. Further, "facing downward" includes facing a direction including a downward component, and "facing upward" includes facing a direction including an upward component. For example, "the front surface faces forward" means that the front surface may face in a forward direction, or the front surface may face in a direction inclined with respect to the forward direction.

[ overview of the Printer 10]

As shown in fig. 1, the printer 10 is an image recording apparatus configured to record an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a sheet based on an inkjet recording system. The printer 10 is, for example, an inkjet printer. The printer 10 includes a recording head 21, an ink supply device 100, and an ink tube 20, the ink tube 20 connecting the recording head 21 to the ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge attaching portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 can be attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110. The cartridge attaching portion 110 has a surface formed with an opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted forward into the cartridge attaching part 110 through the opening 112, and the ink cartridge 30 is drawn out rearward from the cartridge attaching part 110 through the opening 112.

The ink cartridge 30 stores ink in the ink cartridge 30. For example, the ink cartridge 30 stores ink that the printer 10 can use to print. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely attached to the cartridge attaching part 110, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected to each other through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 includes a damper chamber 28, and the damper chamber 28 is used to temporarily store ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 is configured to eject ink supplied from the damping chamber 28 through a plurality of nozzles 29. More specifically, a head control board provided in the recording head 21 is configured to selectively apply a driving voltage to the piezoelectric elements provided corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 29. Therefore, the ink can be selectively ejected through the nozzles 29. That is, the recording head 21 is configured to consume the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110.

The printer 10 includes a sheet tray 15, a sheet feeding roller 23, a conveying roller pair 25, a platen 26, a discharge roller pair 27, and a sheet discharge tray 16. The sheet feeding roller 23 is configured to convey the sheet in the sheet tray 15 toward a conveying path 24. The sheet conveyed onto the conveying path 24 reaches the conveying roller pair 25. The conveying roller pair 25 is configured to convey the arriving sheet onto a platen 26. The recording head 21 is configured to selectively eject ink onto a sheet moving on a platen 26, thereby recording an image on the sheet. The sheet having passed through the platen 26 then reaches the discharge roller pair 27. The discharge roller pair 27 is configured to discharge the arriving sheet onto a sheet discharge tray 16 provided at a downstream end of the conveying path 24.

[ ink supply device 100]

As shown in fig. 1, the printer 10 includes an ink supply apparatus 100. The ink supply device 100 is configured to supply ink to the recording head 21. As described above, the ink supply apparatus 100 includes the cartridge attachment portion 110, and the ink cartridge 30 can be attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. Incidentally, fig. 1 depicts a state in which the attachment of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attaching portion 110 is completed. In other words, in fig. 1, the ink cartridge 30 is in an attached state. The posture of the ink cartridge 30 in this state is an operable posture.

[ case attachment part 110]

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge case 101 and an ink supply tube 102. In the cartridge attaching portion 110, four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to respective colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black can be accommodated. Further, four of the ink supply tubes 102 are provided so as to correspond to the four ink cartridges 30.

[ case 101]

As depicted in fig. 2, the cartridge case 101 constitutes a housing of the cartridge attachment portion 110. The cartridge case 101 has a box shape, and has a top surface 57, a bottom surface, a right side surface 107, a left side surface 108, an end surface 59, and an opening 112. The top surface 57 defines a top plate which is the upper end of the interior space of the cassette case 101. The bottom surface defines a bottom which is a lower end of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The right side surface 107 defines the right edge of the interior space of the cartridge case 101. The left side surface 108 defines the left edge of the interior space of the cartridge case 101. The end wall 59 is connected to the top surface 57, the bottom surface, the right side surface 107, and the left side surface 108. The opening 112 is formed in the cartridge case 101 so as to be opposed to the end surface 59 in the front-rear direction. The opening 112 can be exposed to a user interface surface, which is the surface that a user can face when using the printer 10.

The ink cartridge 30 can be inserted into the cartridge case 101 through the opening 112, and can be removed from the cartridge case 101 through the opening 112. In the bottom of the cartridge case 101, a guide groove 109 is formed. By inserting the lower end of the ink cartridge 30 into the guide groove 109, the ink cartridge 30 is guided by the guide groove 109 in the front-rear direction (the direction orthogonal to the sheet surface of fig. 2). The cassette case 101 further includes three plates 104, and the three plates 104 partition the internal space into four different spaces elongated in the up-down direction. In each of the four spaces partitioned by the plate 104, one ink cartridge 30 is accommodated.

[ ink supply tube 102]

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the ink supply tube 102 is a hollow cylindrical shape, and is provided at a lower end portion of the end surface 59 of the cartridge case 101. The ink supply tube 102 is provided at a position corresponding to the ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. The ink supply tube 102 projects rearward from the end surface 59 of the cartridge case 101, and has a tip opening rearward (opening 116).

In the inner space of the ink supply tube 102, a tube valve 114 and a coil spring 115 are accommodated. In the inner space of the ink supply tube 102, the tube valve 114 is movable in the forward direction 51 and the backward direction 52 between an open position for opening the opening 116 and a closed position for closing the opening 116. The coil spring 115 urges the tube valve 114 in a direction for moving the tube valve 114 toward the closed position (i.e., in the rearward direction 52). In the closed position, the tip (rear end) of the tube valve 114 protrudes further in the rearward direction 52 than the opening 116.

[ locking shaft 145]

As shown in fig. 3, the locking shaft 145 is provided at the cassette case 101 at a position near the top surface 57 and the opening 112 to extend in the left-right direction. The lock shaft 145 is a rod-shaped member extending in the left-right direction. The lock shaft 145 is, for example, a cylindrical metal. The lock shaft 145 has both ends in the left-right direction fixed to respective walls defining the left and right ends in the left-right direction of the cassette case 101. Thus, the lock shaft 145 does not make any movement, such as pivoting, with respect to the cassette case 101. The locking shaft 145 extends across four spaces in which four of the ink cartridges 30 can be accommodated, respectively. In each of the four spaces for accommodating one ink cartridge 30, a space is provided around the lock shaft 145. Therefore, the lock shaft 145 can be accessed by, for example, the rear surface 43BF of the ink cartridge 30 moving upward or rearward.

The lock shaft 145 is used to hold the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attaching part 110 at the attachment position. By inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment portion 110 and pivoting it to the operable posture, the lock shaft 145 engages with the rear surface 43BF of the rear protrusion 43B (see fig. 4). Further, the locking shaft 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 inside the cartridge attaching part 110 against the pressing force of the coil spring 78 that pushes the ink cartridge 30 rearward.

As shown in fig. 2, at the top surface 57 of the cassette case 101, openings 111 are formed, one opening 111 for each of the four spaces divided by the plate 104. The door 113 is exposed through a corresponding one of the openings 111. Each door 113 has a slit 117, and the slit 117 opens downward and extends in the front-rear direction. The left and right positions of the respective slits 117 of the door 113 are different from each other depending on the partition position of the plate 104. The position of each slit 117 in each space coincides with the type of ink cartridge 30 to be mounted in the space in the cartridge case 101. Therefore, the rib 67 (see fig. 4) of the ink cartridge 30 inserted into the correct space where the ink cartridge 30 is to be attached in the cartridge case 101 can pass through the slit 117 of the door 113 in the correct space. On the other hand, the rib 67 of the ink cartridge 30 inserted into the wrong space where the ink cartridge is not attached in the cartridge case 101 cannot pass through the slit 117 of the door 113 in the wrong space.

[ general Structure of ink Cartridge 30 ]

The ink cartridge 30 is a container for storing ink as liquid. In the present embodiment, four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to respective colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black can be attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110. In these four ink cartridges 30, the configurations of the three ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, and yellow are the same as each other except for the positions of the ribs 67 in the left-right direction, as shown in fig. 4 and 8. On the other hand, the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to black has a different structure from those of the other three ink cartridges 30 because the ink cartridge 30 for black has a larger left-right width than those of the three ink cartridges 30. Except for this, the configuration of the ink cartridge 30 for black is substantially the same as the configuration of the other three ink cartridges 30 except for the left and right positions of the rib 67.

Hereinafter, the structure of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to one of cyan, magenta, and yellow will be described.

The posture of the ink cartridge 30 depicted in fig. 4 and 5 is a posture in which the ink cartridge 30 can be used, i.e., an operable posture. Hereinafter, the posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 4 to 5 will also be referred to as an upright posture, and unless otherwise specified, description will be made on the assumption that the ink cartridge 30 is in its upright posture. That is, the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30 coincides with the operable posture of the ink cartridge 30 in which the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110.

The ink cartridge 30 includes a lower base 130B and an outer cover 134. The outer cover 134 is assembled to the lower base 130B to constitute the housing 130.

The housing 130 includes a front wall (front walls 40 and 82), a rear wall (rear walls 41 and 83), a top wall 39 and a bottom wall (bottom walls 42 and 48), and a pair of side walls (

side walls

37, 84 and 38, 85).

The front wall of the casing 130 is a wall that faces forward in the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30. The rear wall of the casing 130 is a wall facing rearward under the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30. The top wall 39 of the housing 130 is upward below the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30. The top wall 39 has a front end connected to the upper end of the front wall 82 and a rear end connected to the upper end of the rear wall 83.

In the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30, the bottom wall of the casing 130 faces downward. The bottom wall has a front end connected to the lower end of the front wall 40 and a rear end connected to the lower end of the rear wall 41. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall of the housing 130 includes a stepped wall 49. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall includes a major bottom wall 42 and a minor bottom wall 48. Of the bottom walls, the main bottom wall 42 is a wall that connects the lower end of the rear wall 41 to the lower end of the step wall 49. Among the bottom walls, a sub-bottom wall 48 is a wall that connects the lower end of the front wall 40 to the upper end of the step wall 49.

In the upright posture (operable posture) of the ink cartridge 30, a direction from the rear wall toward the front wall of the casing 130 coincides with the forward direction 51, and a direction from the front wall toward the rear wall of the casing 130 coincides with the rearward direction 52. Further, in the upright posture (operable posture) of the ink cartridge 30, the direction from the top wall 39 toward the bottom wall of the housing 130 coincides with the downward direction 53 (gravitational direction), and the direction from the bottom wall to the top wall 39 of the housing 130 coincides with the upward direction 54. Further, in the upright posture (operable posture) of the ink cartridge 30, the direction from the

side walls

38, 85 of the casing 130 toward the

side walls

37, 84 coincides with the rightward direction 55, and the direction from the

side walls

37, 84 of the casing 130 to the

side walls

38, 85 coincides with the leftward direction 56. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching part 110, the outer surface of the front wall of the casing 130 faces forward; the outer surface of the rear wall of the housing 130 faces rearward; the outer surface of the bottom wall of the housing 130 faces downward; and the outer surface of the top wall 39 of the housing 130 faces upward.

As shown in fig. 4, the ink cartridge 30 has a flat shape as a whole whose dimensions in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction are larger than those in the left-right direction, respectively.

[ lower base 130B ]

As described above, the housing 130 includes the lower base 130B and the outer cover 134.

As shown in fig. 3, the lower base 130B has a box-like shape that opens upward. In other words, the lower base 130B has an upper end portion formed with an opening. In the present embodiment, the lower base 130B is a container made of resin. Inside the lower base 130B, a first storage chamber 32 and a second storage chamber 33 are formed.

The lower base 130B includes a front wall 40, a rear wall 41, side walls 37, side walls 38, a main bottom wall 42, and a sub bottom wall 48 as outer walls. The distance between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 is greater than the distance between the

side walls

37 and 38. The front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side walls 37, the side walls 38, the main bottom wall 42, and the sub-bottom wall 48 define the first storage chamber 32.

In the upright posture of the ink cartridge 30, the front-facing surface of the lower base 130B is the front wall 40, and the rear-facing surface of the lower base 130B is the rear wall 41. The

side walls

37 and 38 extend to intersect the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41, respectively.

Side walls

37 and 38 connect front wall 40, rear wall 41, major bottom wall 42 and minor bottom wall 48, respectively. In the upright position, side wall 37 faces to the right and side wall 38 faces to the left.

As shown in fig. 4, the main bottom wall 42 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction such that the rear end thereof is positioned higher than the front end thereof. The front end of the main bottom wall 42 is located in front of a rear surface 43BF described later. The rear end of the main bottom wall 42 is connected to the lower end of the rear wall 41. That is, the main bottom wall 42 extends forward from the lower end of the rear wall 41. The sub-bottom wall 48 is positioned higher than the main bottom wall 42 and forward of the main bottom wall 42.

As shown in fig. 3, an inner lid 131 is also provided to close the opening in the upper end portion of the lower base 130B. In the present embodiment, two kinds of

inner lids

131 and 132 close the opening in the upper end portion of the lower base 130B. The space between the

inner covers

131 and 132 serves as the air flow path 72, and the air flow path 72 serves to allow the first storage chamber 32 to be open to the atmosphere. Of the two

inner lids

131 and 132, the inner lid 131 is located below the inner lid 132 and defines a ceiling of the first storage chamber 32. The inner cover 131 is formed with a through hole 146. The first storage chamber 32 and a space (i.e., the air flow path 72) between the two

inner covers

131 and 132 are allowed to communicate with each other through the through hole 146. Incidentally, the through hole 146 can be opened and closed by a valve mechanism 147 provided at the inner lid 132.

As shown in fig. 3, the outer lid 134 has a box-like shape that opens downward. The outer cover 134 is coupled to the upper end of the lower base 130B such that the outer cover 134 covers the inner covers 131 and 132.

[ internal Structure of lower base 130B ]

As shown in fig. 3, the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, the ink valve chamber 35, and the air flow path 72 are formed inside the casing 130 (lower base 130B) of the ink cartridge 30.

The lower base 130B of the housing 130 further includes a lower wall 45. The lower wall 45 is a wall extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The lower wall 45 and the inner lid 131 face each other in the vertical direction. The first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 are separated by a lower wall 45.

In the upright posture, the second storage chamber 33 is located below the first storage chamber 32 in the internal space of the housing 130, and serves to store ink in this second storage chamber 33. The capacity of the second storage chamber 33 for containing ink therein is smaller than the capacity of the first storage chamber 32 for containing ink therein.

The second reservoir chamber 33 communicates with the first reservoir chamber 32 through a communication port 47 formed in the lower wall 45. Communication ports 47 are formed in the rear and right end portions of the lower wall 45. Further, the second storage chamber 33 communicates with the ink valve chamber 35 through a through hole 99 formed in the partition wall 50 (see fig. 3).

[ gas flow path 72]

As shown in fig. 3, the air flow path 72 is a space that allows the first storage chamber 32 to communicate with the atmosphere. The space between the two

inner lids

131 and 132 is communicated with the atmosphere through a through hole (not shown) formed in the upper inner lid 132 and another through hole formed in the outer lid 134. The airflow path 72 can be opened and closed by the valve mechanism 147. The valve mechanism 147 is configured to abut on a rib 118 (see fig. 3) of the cartridge case 101 during attachment of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge case 101, the rib 118 protruding downward from the top surface 57 of the cartridge case 101. Due to abutment against the rib 118, the valve mechanism 147 is pressed downward to open the air flow path 72.

[ ink supply portion 34]

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the ink supply portion 34 extends forward from the housing 130, more specifically, from the stepped wall 49 of the lower base 130B. As shown in fig. 3, the ink supply portion 34 includes a hollow cylinder 75, a seal 76, a valve 77, a coil spring 78, and a cap 79.

The barrel 75 projects in the forward direction 51 from the step wall 49. The barrel 75 has a cylindrical profile. The barrel 75 has a front end formed with an opening. The cartridge 75 defines therein an internal space serving as the ink valve chamber 35. The ink valve chamber 35 extends in the front-rear direction. The barrel 75 has a forward facing distal end. Distal portions of the barrel 75 are located below and rearward of the front wall 40.

The seal 76 is a generally disc-shaped member. The seal 76 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or an elastomer. A seal 76 is provided at the forward end of the barrel 75 to cover the opening in the forward end. The seal 76 has a central portion formed with a through hole that penetrates the seal 76 in the front-rear direction. The tubular inner peripheral surface defining the through-hole provides the through-hole 73 in the seal 76. The diameter of the through-hole 73 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink supply tube 102.

A valve 77 and a coil spring 78 are accommodated in the ink valve chamber 35. The valve 77 is movable in the forward direction 51 and the rearward direction 52 to be able to contact the seal 76 and to be separated from the seal 76. The coil spring 78 urges the valve 77 forward. Therefore, the valve 77 closes the through hole 73 of the sealing member 76 without applying an external force.

As shown in fig. 4, the cap 79 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The cap 79 is hollow. Incidentally, the cap 79 may have a shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped as long as the cap 79 is a hollow member whose front and rear ends are open. As shown in fig. 3, the cap 79 has a front surface formed with the ink supply port 71. In a state where the cap 79 covers the cartridge 75 and the seal 76, the ink valve chamber 35 communicates with the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the through hole 73 of the seal 76 and the ink supply port 71 of the cap 79.

As shown in fig. 3, in a state where the cap 79 covers the barrel 75 and the seal 76, the seal 76 is fixed while being sandwiched between the cap 79 and the barrel 75. Further, the gap between the seal 76 and the barrel 75 and the gap between the seal 76 and the cap 79 are liquid-tightly sealed.

[ outer cover 134]

As shown in fig. 3-5, the outer lid 134 is positioned on top of the lower base 130B. In other words, the outer cap 134 is positioned higher than the ink supply portion 34. The outer lid 134 has a box-like shape that opens downward. Outer lid 134 includes top wall 39, front wall 82, rear wall 83, side walls 84 and side walls 85. The front wall 82 is connected to the front end of the top wall 39 and extends downward from the front end of the top wall 39. The rear wall 83 is connected to the rear end of the top wall 39 and extends downward from the rear end of the top wall 39. A side wall 84 extends downwardly from the right end of the top wall 39 to connect the front wall 82 and the rear wall 83. A side wall 85 extends downward from the left end of the top wall 39 to connect the front wall 82 and the rear wall 83.

As shown in fig. 4, the side wall 85 is formed with three engaging holes 86. Although not shown in the drawings, the side wall 84 is also formed with three engagement holes 86. In each of the

side walls

84 and 85, three engagement holes 86 are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The three engaging holes 86 formed in the side walls 84 and the three engaging holes 86 formed in the side walls 85 are respectively at the same front-rear positions overlapping each other when viewed in the left-right direction.

The engagement claws 88 of the lower base 130B engage with each of the engagement holes 86. The outer cover 134 is thus coupled to the lower base 130B from above to cover the lower base 130B. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the engagement hole 86 is formed in the outer cover 134, and the engagement claw 88 is formed at the lower base 130B. Alternatively, the engagement claw 88 may be formed at the outer cover 134, and the engagement hole 86 may be formed in the lower base 130B. In a state where the outer cover 134 is assembled to the lower base 130B, the

front walls

82 and 40 constitute the front-facing outer surface of the ink cartridge 30. Further,

rear walls

83 and 41 constitute the rear-facing outer surface of ink cartridge 30. Further, the

side walls

84 and 37 and the

side walls

85 and 38 constitute the laterally facing outer surfaces of the ink cartridge 30, respectively.

The top wall 39 includes a first main top wall 61, a second main top wall 62, and a sub top wall 63. The first main ceiling wall 61 is located rearward in the front-rear direction. The second main top wall 62 extends from the first main top wall 61 and is located forward of the first main top wall 61. The sub ceiling wall 63 extends from the second main ceiling wall 62, and is located forward of the second main ceiling wall 62. The first main ceiling wall 61 has an upper surface that is a flat surface extending in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. The second main ceiling wall 62 has an upper surface that is a flat surface extending in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, and is positioned lower than the upper surface of the first main ceiling wall 61. The sub ceiling wall 63 has an upper surface which is an inclined flat surface extending in the left-right direction and inclined forward and downward. Therefore, the upper surface of the sub ceiling wall 63 is positioned lower than the upper surface of the second main ceiling wall 62.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the first main top wall 61 is formed with a slot 44 extending in the front-rear direction. The slot 44 is located above the through hole 146 of the inner lid 131.

On the first main top wall 61, a protrusion 43 is formed to protrude upward. The projection 43 is immovable in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction with respect to the top wall 39. The projection 43 includes a right projection 43R, a left projection 43L, and a rear projection 43B. The right and left protruding

portions

43R and 43L are positioned to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The right and left protruding

portions

43R and 43L extend in the front-rear direction, respectively. The rear protrusion 43B extends in the left-right direction to connect the rear ends of the right protrusion 43R and the left protrusion 43L. The right tab 43R, left tab 43L, and rear tab 43B define a right edge, left edge, and rear edge, respectively, of the slot 44. The rear projection 43B has a rear surface 43BF through which the lock shaft 145 can be accessed.

The rear surface 43BF is a rearward facing surface of the projection 43. The rear surface 43BF is positioned higher than the top wall 39. The rear surface 43BF extends in the up-down direction. The rear surface 43BF is a surface that can face rearward and contact the lock shaft 145 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 can be held in the cartridge attaching portion 110 against the urging force of the coil spring 78 by the rear surface 43BF facing rearward and in contact with the locking shaft 145.

In the projection 43, a right projection 43R and a left projection 43L are formed in front of the rear surface 43BF with a slot 44 interposed therebetween. Each of the right and left protruding

portions

43R and 43L has an upper surface constituted by a horizontal surface 154 and an inclined surface 155. The horizontal surface 154 is connected to the rear surface 43 BF. The inclined surface 155 is located forward of the horizontal surface 154. The inclined surface 155 is connected to the horizontal surface 154. The inclined surface 155 faces upward and forward. The inclined surface 155 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction such that the front end thereof is positioned lower than the rear end thereof. The rear surface 43BF and the inclined surface 155 are connected to each other via the horizontal surface 154. Therefore, the boundary edge between the rear surface 43BF and the inclined surface 155 does not form a ridge shape. During the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment portion 110, the locking shaft 145 can be smoothly guided to the rear surface 43BF by the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 while being in contact with the rear surface 43 BF.

On the first main ceiling wall 61, the operation portion 90 is also provided at a position rearward of the rear surface 43 BF. The operation portion 90 is adapted to be accessed and operated by a user. The operation portion 90 is formed integrally with the outer cover 134.

Incidentally, each of the outer surfaces of the

front walls

40 and 82, the

rear walls

41 and 83, the top wall 39, the main bottom wall 42, the sub bottom wall 48, the

side walls

37 and 84, and the

side walls

38 and 85 need not be a single flat surface. That is, the outer surfaces of the

front walls

40 and 82 are surfaces that can be observed when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the front toward the rear of the ink cartridge 30 in the upright posture, and the outer surfaces of the

front walls

40 and 82 are positioned forward of the front-rear center of the ink cartridge 30 in the upright posture. The outer surfaces of the

rear walls

41 and 83 are surfaces that can be observed when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the rear toward the front of the ink cartridge 30 in the upright posture, and the outer surfaces of the

rear walls

41 and 83 are positioned rearward of the front-rear center of the ink cartridge 30 in the upright posture. The outer surfaces of the top wall 39 (i.e., the outer surfaces of the first main top wall 61, the second main top wall 62, and the sub top wall 63) are surfaces that can be viewed when the ink cartridge 30 in the upright posture is viewed from above, and the outer surface of the top wall 39 is located above the center of the ink cartridge 30 in the upright posture with respect to the up-down direction. The outer surfaces of the main bottom wall 42 and the sub bottom wall 48 are surfaces that can be observed when the ink cartridge 30 in the upright posture is observed from below, and the outer surfaces of the main bottom wall 42 and the sub bottom wall 48 are positioned lower than the center of the ink cartridge 30 in the upright posture with respect to the up-down direction. The same may be applied to the outer surfaces of

sidewalls

37, 38, 84 and 85, respectively.

Incidentally, the casing 130 of the ink cartridge 30 does not necessarily include the lower base 130B and the outer cover 134. Further, the chamber for storing ink does not have to be divided into the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33. That is, the ink cartridge 30 may include a casing having a storage chamber therein defined by a top wall 39, a front wall 40, a rear wall 41, side walls 37, side walls 38, a main bottom wall 42, and a sub-bottom wall 48.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, ribs 67 are formed on the upper surfaces of the second main top wall 62 and the sub top wall 63 so as to protrude upward. The rib 67 is immovable in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction with respect to the top wall 39. The rib 67 extends in the front-rear direction to cross the upper surfaces of the second main ceiling wall 62 and the sub ceiling wall 63. The rib 67 is located forward of the projection 43. The rib 67 is located in front of the IC board 64 described later. The rib 67 has a flat plate-like shape whose front-rear dimension is larger than its left-right and up-down dimensions. The rib 67 has a front surface (front end 67F), a main upper surface 68, and a sub upper surface 69. The main upper surface 68 is a flat surface extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The secondary upper surface 69 is connected to the primary upper surface 68 and is located forward of the primary upper surface 68. The sub upper surface 69 is an inclined flat surface inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to incline downward toward the front. The front-to-rear dimension of major upper surface 68 is greater than the front-to-rear dimension of minor upper surface 69. The sub upper surface 69 is positioned higher than the sub top wall 63.

As shown in fig. 4 and 8, the left-right position of the rib 67 on the second main ceiling wall 62 varies depending on the type of the ink cartridge 30 (such as the type and initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30). When inserted into the correct position in the cartridge attachment portion 110, the rib 67 can pass through the slit 117 of the door 113. However, when inserted into a position (the other door 113) where the ink cartridge 30 should not be attached, the rib 67 cannot pass through the slit 117 of the other door 113. Further, the user can visually confirm the left and right positions of the rib 67 to identify the type of the ink cartridge 30.

[ IC board 64]

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the IC board 64 is provided at the upper surface of the first main ceiling wall 61 at a position between the rib 67 and the protrusion 43 in the front-rear direction. In other words, the IC board 64 is supported directly on the top wall 39 of the outer lid 134. More specifically, a support portion 66 is formed on an upper surface of the first main top wall 61 to protrude upward therefrom, and the IC board 64 is fixed to the outer cover 134 by being coupled to the support portion 66. The IC board 64 is electrically connected to the three contacts 106 (see fig. 3) during the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attaching portion 110, and the IC board 64 is also electrically connected to the contacts 106 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attaching portion 110.

The IC board 64 includes a substrate, an IC (not shown in the figure), and three electrodes 65. The substrate supports the IC. Three electrodes 65 are formed on the substrate. The three electrodes 65 and the IC are electrically connected to each other. The three electrodes 65 extend in the front-rear direction, respectively, and are arranged in the left-right direction. Three electrodes 65 are arranged on the upper surface of the substrate such that the electrodes 65 are exposed to allow electrical access thereto. With this configuration, the three contacts 106 of the cartridge case 101 can be in direct contact with the upper surfaces of the three electrodes 65, respectively. The IC is an integrated circuit, and readably stores data indicating information related to the ink cartridge 30, such as a lot number, a manufacturing date, and a color of ink. Incidentally, the substrate may be a so-called rigid substrate, or may be a flexible substrate having flexibility. Further, the number of the electrodes 65 is not limited, and may be, for example, four.

[ position of each element in the ink cartridge 30 ]

Hereinafter, referring to the posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 5, the positions of the respective elements in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the left-right direction will be described.

The horizontal surface 154 as the upper surface of the projection 43 is positioned higher than the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67. The front end 67F of the rib 67 is defined as a front surface extending upward from the sub top wall 63 and facing forward. The upper edge 67FU is a boundary between the sub-upper surface 69 and a front surface (front end 67F) extending upward and facing forward from the sub-ceiling wall 63. The horizontal surface 154 of the projection 43 is located rearward of the center point C1 in the front-rear direction of the housing 130. The projection 43 is located on the upper surface of the first main top wall 61. The upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67 is located forward of the center point C1. The front end 67F of the rib 67 is located in front of the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34. The front end 67F of the rib 67 is located at the sub ceiling wall 63. More specifically, the front end 67F of the rib 67 is positioned to be spaced apart from the front wall 82 in the front-rear direction and spaced apart from each of the

side walls

84 and 85 in the left-right direction. That is, the front ends 67F of the ribs 67 are positioned away from the periphery of the top wall 39 in terms of the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

The front ends 67F of the ribs 67 are positioned further forward than any one of the engagement holes 86. The rear ends 67R of the ribs 67 (i.e., the ends opposite to the front ends 67F in the front-rear direction) are further rearward than the one of the engaging holes 86 that is most forward in the front-rear direction. The rib 67 extends across more than half of the front-rear dimension D1, which is the sum of the front-rear dimensions of the upper surfaces of the second main top wall 62 and the sub top wall 63, D1. With this structure, since the upper wall 39 of the outer lid 134 is reinforced by the rib 67, the upper wall 39 is difficult to deform even when an external force is applied to the upper wall 39. Therefore, the peripheral walls (the side walls 84 and 85) of the outer cover 134 are suppressed from being deformed in such a manner that the gap distance between the

side walls

84 and 85 in the left-right direction increases, and therefore, the engagement between the engagement claws 88 and the engagement holes 86 is less likely to be released.

In fig. 5, an imaginary plane 150 is indicated by a dashed line. The imaginary plane 150 passes through each of the first and second points. Here, the first point is a point on the upper surface of the protrusion 43. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the first point on the upper surface of the protrusion 43 is on the boundary 156 between the horizontal surface 154 and the inclined surface 155. In other words, in the present embodiment, the first point is the highest point on the upper surface of the protrusion 43. The second point in this embodiment is defined as an upper edge 67FU of the leading end 67F of the rib 67. The imaginary plane 150 also extends in the left-right direction. Note that the projection 43 and the rib 67 are located below the imaginary plane 150, which means that the imaginary plane 150 is assumed not to intersect the projection 43 and the rib 67. Thus, in the side view of the ink cartridge 30 depicted in FIG. 5, the imaginary plane 150 contacts the projection 43 at the boundary 156, and the imaginary plane 150 contacts the rib 67 at the upper edge 67 FU.

In the region between the first point (the boundary 156 of the protrusion 43) and the second point (the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67) in the front-rear direction, the entire outer surface (contour) of the ink cartridge 30 is located below the imaginary plane 150. In other words, no portion of the ink cartridge 30 is positioned higher than the imaginary plane 150 in the region between the first point (the boundary 156) and the second point (the upper edge 67FU) in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the boundary 70 between the upper surface of the second main ceiling wall 62 and the upper surface of the sub ceiling wall 63 is located below the imaginary plane 150. Further, the entire IC board 64 is located below the imaginary plane 150. Further, the front end of the top wall 39 (i.e., the front end 63F of the sub top wall 63) is located below the imaginary plane 150.

Here, the term "portion" of the ink cartridge 30 may be: any portion integrally formed with the housing 130; removably attached to any portion of the housing 130; or any portion of the body to be attached to the housing 130 when the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the printer 10 and used in the printer 10.

Further, the front edge 65F of each electrode 65 in the IC board 64 is located behind the center point C2 in the front-rear direction of the region between the first point (the boundary 156 of the protrusion 43) and the second point (the upper edge 67F of the front end 67F of the rib 67) through each of which the imaginary plane 150 passes. That is, the distance in the front-rear direction between the center point C2 and the first point is equal to the distance in the front-rear direction between the center point C2 and the second point.

The distance L1 in the front-rear direction from the front edge 65F of the electrode 65 in the IC board 64 to the boundary 156 (the first point, i.e., the contact point between the projection 43 and the imaginary plane 150) is shorter than the distance L2 in the front-rear direction from the front edge 65F of the electrode 65 on the IC board 64 to the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67 (the second point, i.e., the contact point between the rib 67 and the imaginary plane 150). That is, the formula L1< L2 is satisfied.

Further, referring to fig. 5, in a side view of the ink cartridge 30 in the left-right direction, the imaginary plane 150 may also be defined as an imaginary line including at least the following two points: a first point (the boundary 156 of the protrusion 43); and a second point (the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67). At this time, the outline of the ink cartridge 30 is located below the imaginary plane 150 (the broken line in fig. 5) in the entire region in the front-rear direction from the front wall 40 (the foremost edge of the case 130) to the rear wall 41 (the rearmost edge of the case 130).

The distance L1 in the front-rear direction from the front edge 65F of the electrode 65 in the IC board 64 to the boundary 156 of the protrusion 43 included in the imaginary line (imaginary plane 150) is smaller than the distance L2 in the front-rear direction from the front edge 65F of the electrode 65 in the IC board 64 to the upper edge 67FU of the rib 67 included in the imaginary line (imaginary plane 150).

Further, the horizontal surface 154 as the upper surface of the projection 43 is positioned closer to the rearmost edge of the housing 130 than to the foremost edge of the housing 130 in the front-rear direction. The sub upper surface 69 of the rib 67 is positioned closer to the foremost edge of the housing 130 than to the rearmost edge of the housing 130 in the front-rear direction.

[ technical advantages of embodiments ]

According to the ink cartridge 30 of the embodiment, no portion of the ink cartridge 30 is positioned higher than the imaginary plane 150 in the region between the first point (the boundary 156 of the protrusion 43) and the second point (the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67) in the front-rear direction. That is, in the region between the first point (the boundary 156 of the projection 43) and the second point (the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67) in the front-rear direction, the outer surface of any portion of the ink cartridge 30 (the outline of the liquid cartridge 30) is located below the imaginary plane 150. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 falls onto the floor 160 upside down, especially the horizontal surface 154 of the projection 43 first hits the floor 160, as depicted in fig. 6. Thereafter, the ink cartridge 30 pivots clockwise in FIG. 6 due to gravity or acceleration thereof, and then the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67 collides with the floor 160, as shown in FIG. 7. With this structure, the change in the posture (angular rotation) of the housing 130 when the dropped ink cartridge 30 hits the floor 160 is small as compared with a configuration in which the ink cartridge 30 does not have the rib 67. Therefore, splashing of ink through the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34 is less likely to occur. Incidentally, the state depicted in fig. 7 is a state in which the protrusion 43 and the rib 67 of the ink cartridge 30 are in contact with the same plane (i.e., the floor 160 or the imaginary plane 150). In this state, a gap is vertically formed between the imaginary plane 150 and the IC board 64.

Further, in the ink cartridge 30 of the present embodiment, the front end 67F of the rib 67 is located forward of the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34 in the forward direction 51. That is, the front-rear dimension of the rib 67 can be made longer as compared with a conventional cartridge whose ink supply portion is located forward of the front end 67F of the rib 67.

In an attempt to increase the volume of the storage chamber, as in the conventional cartridge described above, the ink supply portion tends to be disposed to a further forward position, i.e., in a direction away from the projection 43. As described above, when the conventional cartridge is dropped onto the floor 160, the protrusion 43 first comes into contact with the floor 160, and then, the rib 67 comes into contact with the floor 160. When the projection 43 and the rib 67 sequentially collide with the floor 160, the ink tank may pivot about the projection 43. During pivoting of the ink cartridge, a rotational movement is applied to the ink supply portion 34 located forward of the front end 67F of the rib 67. As a result, ink leakage through the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34 may occur.

In contrast, in the ink cartridge 30 according to the present embodiment, the front end 67F of the rib 67 is located in front of the ink supply portion 34 provided at the housing 130 (the lower base 130B) in which the first reservoir chamber 32 and the second reservoir chamber 33 are defined. With such a structure of the embodiment, the amount of pivoting (angular rotation amount) of the ink cartridge 30 can be made smaller when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped onto the floor 160 as compared to the above-described conventional cartridge. Therefore, it is also possible to make the rotational moment exerted on the ink supply portion 34 at the time of collision with the floor 160 small, thereby reducing the risk of ink leakage through the ink supply port 71. The ink cartridge 30 according to the present embodiment can therefore suppress the occurrence of ink leakage through the ink supply portion 34 when dropped onto the floor 160 without reducing the volume of the storage chamber in the case 130.

Further, the longer front-rear dimension of the rib 67 of the present embodiment can also serve to mitigate the impact transmitted to the top wall 39 when the rib 67 collides with a flat plane such as the floor 160, and can provide enhanced strength to the top wall 39 of the housing 130.

Still additionally, in the present embodiment, the projection 43 and the rib 67 protrude upward from the top wall 39, and are immovable in the up-down direction with respect to the top wall 39. The IC board 64 is located between the projection 43 and the rib 67 in the front-rear direction and lower than the imaginary plane 150, the imaginary plane 150 passes each of the first point (the boundary 156 on the upper surface of the projection 43) and the second point (the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67), and the imaginary plane 150 extends in the left-right direction. With this structure, when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped onto a flat plane such as the floor panel 160, a gap (clearance) can be reliably formed between the flat plane (the floor panel 160) and the IC board 64. Therefore, the IC board 64 can be reliably protected from the impact when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped onto the floor 160.

Further, the front end 63F of the sub ceiling wall 63 is located below the imaginary plane 150. Therefore, the front end 63F of the sub top wall 63 is less likely to be damaged when dropped on the floor 160.

Further, since the rib 67 is in the form of a wall elongated in the front-rear direction, the rib 67 hardly interferes with the components of the cartridge case 101 during attachment of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge case 101. Further, since the front-rear dimension of the rib 67 is larger than the vertical dimension thereof, the rib 67 is difficult to be damaged even when the rib 67 comes into contact with the floor 160 as the ink cartridge 30 drops onto the floor 160. Further, the projection 43 is constituted by a right projection 43R and a left projection 43L connected to each other by a rear projection 43B. Therefore, the protrusion 43 has higher impact resistance than that of the rib 67.

Further, the front edge 65F of the electrode 65 is positioned further rearward than the center point C2. Therefore, a gap (clearance) can be reliably ensured in the vertical direction between the virtual plane 150 and the IC board 64 (electrode 65). With this structure, in the case where the ink cartridge 30 is dropped and collides against a flat surface, for example, the IC board 64 abuts on the floor panel 160, such an impact hardly causes any loss of the function of the IC board 64.

Further, the outer cover 134 includes a front wall 82 and

side walls

84 and 85 as peripheral walls extending downward from the periphery of the top wall 39. The front end 67F of the rib 67 is positioned to be spaced apart from the front wall 82 in the front-rear direction and spaced apart from each of the

side walls

84 and 85 in the left-right direction. With this structure, since the front end 67F of the rib 67 is spaced apart from each of the front wall 82 and the

side walls

84 and 85, an external impact applied to the front wall 82 and the

side walls

84 and 85 is less likely to be transmitted to the rib 67. Therefore, deformation of the rib 67 due to impact can be suppressed.

[ modification ]

In the depicted embodiment, the support portion 66 is provided on the first main top wall 61 of the outer cover 134, and the first main top wall 61 directly supports the IC board 64. However, instead of the support portions 66, a separate support member may be assembled to the first main top wall 61 for supporting the IC board 64. That is, the first main top wall 61 may indirectly support the IC board 64 instead of directly supporting the IC board 64. Incidentally, the support member for supporting the IC board 64, which is detachably attached to the top wall 39, may constitute a "portion" of the ink cartridge 30 located below the imaginary plane 150 in the region between the first point and the second point in the front-rear direction (see the 18 th stage from this stage onward). Therefore, providing such a detachable "portion" for supporting the IC board 64 separately from the housing 130 after the projection 43 abuts on the floor 160 when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped onto the floor 160 can prevent the IC board 64 from directly colliding with a flat plane such as the floor 160.

Further, the IC board 64 supported by the support portion 66 as a whole may not necessarily be exposed to the outside. For example, as shown in fig. 9, only a portion where the electrode 65 on the IC board 64 is located may be exposed to the outside of the support 66, and the remaining portion of the IC board 64 may be accommodated in the inside of the support 66. Here, the support portion 66 need not be fixed to the top wall 39, but may be a separate member detachably attached to the top wall 39 for supporting the IC board 64.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the front edge 65F of each electrode 65 in the IC board 64 is positioned further rearward than the front-rear center point C2 in the region between the first point (the boundary 156 of the protrusion 43) and the second point (the upper edge 67FU of the front end 67F of the rib 67) in the front-rear direction, with which the imaginary plane 150 is in contact. Further preferably, the front edge of the IC board 64 may also be positioned further rearward than the center point C2.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the projection 43 and the rib 67 each protrude upward from the top wall 39. That is, the protrusion 43 and the rib 67 are formed integrally with the top wall 39. However, the projection 43 and the rib 67 (the first projection and the second projection of the present disclosure) are not necessarily integral with the top wall 39 of the outer lid 134, but may be configured as a member detachably connected to the top wall 39. That is, the first and second protrusions of the present disclosure may be provided separately from the top wall 39 and vertically pass through the top wall 39 (e.g., pass through holes in the top wall 39) such that the first and second protrusions protrude upward relative to the top wall 39.

Further, in the above-described ink cartridge 30, the rear surface 43BF of the projection 43 is engaged with the lock shaft 145 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 101. Alternatively, the ink cartridge 30 may be held in an attached state with respect to the cartridge case 101 by engaging or contacting a portion of the ink cartridge 30 other than the projection 43 with a component of the cartridge case 101.

Further, in the depicted embodiment, the valve mechanism 147 is located between the right and left

projections

43R, 43L of the projection 43. However, the valve mechanism 147 and the airflow path 72 may be provided at a position away from the projection 43. If this is the case, the right and left

projections

43R, 43L of the projection 43 may be used only to provide a space to receive the rib 118 of the cartridge case 101 during attachment of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge case 101.

In the depicted embodiment, ink is described as an example of liquid. However, instead of ink, a pretreatment liquid ejected onto a sheet before ink during a printing operation may be stored in a liquid cartridge. Alternatively, cleaning water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the liquid cartridge. That is, the ink cartridge 30 of the present disclosure need not be a cartridge for storing ink, but may be a cartridge for storing liquid to be consumed in the printer 10.

< remarks >

In the present disclosure, the ink cartridge 30 is an example of a liquid cartridge. The housing 130 is an example of a housing. The IC board 64 is an example of a circuit board. The electrode 65 is an example of an electrode. The ink supply portion 34 is an example of a liquid supply portion. The ink valve chamber 35 is an example of a liquid passage. The top wall 39 is an example of a top wall. The protrusion 43 is an example of a first protrusion. The rib 67 is an example of the second protrusion. The front end 67F is an example of the front end of the second protrusion. The upper edge 67FU is an example of an upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion. The horizontal surface 154 and the inclined surface 155 of the protrusion 43 are examples of the upper surface of the first protrusion. The imaginary plane 150 is an example of an imaginary line. The rear surface 43BF is an example of a bonding surface. The first main top wall 61 and the second main top wall 62 are examples of a first portion of the top wall. The sub top wall 63 is an example of a second portion of the top wall. The major upper surface 68 is an example of a major upper surface of the second protrusion. The rear end 67R is an example of a rear end of the second protrusion. The sub upper surface 69 is an example of a sub upper surface of the second protrusion. The center point C1 is an example of a center point of the housing in the depth direction. The lower base 130B is an example of a base. The outer lid 134 is an example of a lid. The engagement hole 86 is an example of an engagement hole. The engagement claw 88 is an example of an engagement claw. The forward direction is an example of the depth direction. The right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are examples of the width direction. The downward direction 53 is an example of a direction of gravity. The upward direction 54 is an example of a height direction.

Claims

1. A liquid cartridge comprising:

a housing defining a liquid storage chamber therein;

a circuit board comprising an electrode; and

a liquid supply portion that extends from the housing in a depth direction that intersects a direction of gravity, and that has an opening that faces forward in the depth direction, the liquid supply portion defining therein a liquid passage that connects the liquid storage chamber to the opening, and the liquid passage being configured to allow liquid in the liquid storage chamber to flow out of the housing through the opening,

wherein the housing includes:

a top wall at which the circuit board is provided, the top wall facing upward and being located above the liquid supply portion in an upright posture of the liquid cartridge;

a first protrusion protruding upward from the top wall, and located rearward of the circuit board in the depth direction; and

a second protrusion protruding upward from the top wall and located forward of the circuit board in the depth direction, the second protrusion extending in the depth direction and having a front end facing forward in the depth direction,

wherein in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, the first protrusion is positioned higher than an upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion;

wherein the front end of the second protrusion is located forward of the opening of the liquid supply portion in the depth direction, and

wherein, in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, no portion of the liquid cartridge is positioned higher than an imaginary plane defined as the upper edge of the leading end of the second protrusion in a height direction opposite to the gravity direction in an area between a first point on the first protrusion and a second point on the second protrusion in the depth direction, the imaginary plane passing through each of the first point and the second point, and the imaginary plane extending in a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the gravity direction, the first protrusion and the second protrusion being positioned below the imaginary plane.

2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the top wall has a front end facing forward in the depth direction, the front end being located below the imaginary plane in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge.

3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first protrusion has an upper surface including the first point,

wherein the housing defines a center point of the housing in the depth direction, and the upper surface of the first protrusion is located rearward with respect to the center point of the housing in the depth direction, and

wherein the upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion is located forward with respect to the center point of the housing in the depth direction.

4. A liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top wall directly or indirectly supports the circuit board.

5. The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first protrusion includes:

a first protrusion extending in the depth direction and having a rear end facing rearward in the depth direction;

a second protrusion extending in the depth direction and positioned spaced apart from the first protrusion in the width direction, the second protrusion having a rear end facing rearward in the depth direction; and

a third protrusion extending in the width direction and connecting the rear end of the first protrusion to the rear end of the second protrusion, and

wherein a dimension of the second protrusion in the depth direction is larger than a dimension of the second protrusion in the gravity direction and a dimension of the second protrusion in the width direction.

6. The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the third protrusion has an engagement surface facing rearward in the depth direction for engaging with a portion of a cartridge case in a state where the liquid cartridge is attached to the cartridge case.

7. The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the top wall of the housing includes:

a first portion extending in the depth direction; and

a second portion inclined with respect to the depth direction to extend downward and forward from the first portion in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, the first portion and the second portion defining a boundary between the first portion and the second portion,

wherein the front end of the second protrusion is located on the second portion and the second protrusion extends across the boundary between the first portion and the second portion.

8. The liquid cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the boundary is located below the imaginary plane in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge.

9. The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, the entire circuit board is located below the imaginary plane.

10. The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the housing includes:

a base defining the liquid storage chamber therein, the base having an upper end portion that is opened upward in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge; and

a cover engaged with the base to cover the upper end of the base, the cover including the top wall, and the cover directly or indirectly supporting the circuit board.

11. The liquid cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the base includes a plurality of engaging claws for engaging with the cover, and

wherein the cap further includes a peripheral wall extending downward from a periphery of the top wall, the peripheral wall being formed with a plurality of engaging holes each of which receives a corresponding one of the engaging claws, and

wherein the front end of the second protrusion is positioned further forward in the depth direction than any one of the engagement holes with which the corresponding engagement claw is engaged.

12. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the second protrusion has a rear end opposite to the front end in the depth direction, and the rear end of the second protrusion is positioned further rearward than one of the plurality of engagement holes that is positioned most forward in the depth direction.

13. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a peripheral wall extending downward from a periphery of the top wall, the peripheral wall including:

a front wall facing forward in the depth direction;

a first side wall extending from the front wall in the depth direction; and

a second side wall extending from the front wall in the depth direction and spaced apart from the first side wall in the width direction,

wherein the front end of the second protrusion is positioned spaced apart from the front wall in the depth direction and spaced apart from each of the first and second side walls in the width direction.

14. The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first protrusion includes:

an inclined surface inclined with respect to the depth direction; and

a horizontal surface connected to the inclined surface and located rearward of the inclined surface in the depth direction, the horizontal surface extending in the depth direction in the upright posture, and

wherein the first point is on a boundary between the inclined surface and the horizontal surface.

15. The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second protrusion is plate-shaped, and the second protrusion has:

a front surface extending from the top wall and facing forward in the depth direction, the front end of the second protrusion having the front surface;

a main upper surface extending in the depth direction, the main upper surface facing upward in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge; and

a sub upper surface that extends from the main upper surface and is inclined with respect to the depth direction, the sub upper surface being inclined downward and forward in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge, and

wherein the upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion is defined by the front surface and the secondary upper surface.

16. The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the electrode has a front edge facing forward in the depth direction, the front edge being located rearward with respect to a center point of the region in the depth direction.

17. A cartridge set comprising a plurality of liquid cartridges according to any one of claims 1 to 16,

wherein the plurality of liquid cartridges are configured to be accommodated in spaces different from each other in a cartridge case, and the second protrusions of the plurality of liquid cartridges are at positions different from each other in the width direction.