CN117584625A - Box (B) - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a cartridge which reduces the possibility of being unable to be mounted on a printing device. The cartridge is mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus, the cartridge mounting portion having a liquid introduction portion that receives liquid and a restriction mechanism that restricts movement of a non-matching cartridge for mounting by interfering with the non-matching cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a liquid storage unit that stores liquid; a liquid supply unit connected to the liquid introduction unit for supplying liquid; and an avoidance portion that forms a space for avoiding interference with the restriction mechanism.

Description

Box (B)

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a cartridge.

Background

Conventionally, there is a liquid ejecting apparatus in which a cartridge is detachably attached (for example, patent document 1). In this liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid supply port of the cartridge is connected to the liquid introduction portion of the liquid ejecting apparatus by inserting the cartridge into the liquid ejecting apparatus. In addition, in this liquid ejecting apparatus, in the case where a non-matching cartridge is inserted, the apparatus-side identification member provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus and the non-matching cartridge interfere with each other, so that further insertion of the cartridge can be restricted. On the other hand, when the matched cartridge is inserted, the apparatus-side identification member is fitted with the cartridge-side identification member provided on the cartridge, so that the cartridge is mounted without interfering with the apparatus-side identification member.

However, in the above-described cartridge, when the cartridge-side identification member is deformed due to, for example, an impact caused by dropping, there is a possibility that the cartridge-side identification member cannot be attached to the liquid ejecting apparatus. Such a problem is not limited to the case where the movement for mounting is restricted for the unmatched cartridge by the apparatus-side recognition means is implemented. The problem is not limited to the cartridge to be mounted by insertion, but the same applies to the cartridge to be mounted by further moving the cartridge after insertion.

Patent document 1: international publication No. 2019/098287

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus. The cartridge mounting portion has a liquid introduction portion that receives a liquid and a restriction mechanism that restricts movement of the unmatched cartridge for mounting by interfering with the unmatched cartridge. The cartridge is provided with: a liquid storage unit that stores the liquid; a liquid supply unit connected to the liquid introduction unit to supply the liquid; and an avoidance unit that forms a space for avoiding interference with the restriction mechanism.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing system.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge and the cartridge mounting portion in the mounted state.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mounting process of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cartridge mounting portion.

Fig. 5 is a partial enlarged view showing a cartridge mounting portion in the vicinity of the device-side terminal portion.

Fig. 6 is a first perspective view of a first cartridge.

Fig. 7 is a second perspective view of the first cartridge.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion in the mounted state.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the heterogeneous cartridge and the cartridge mounting portion in the mounted state.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a change in the position of the rotation restricting portion.

Detailed Description

A. Embodiments are described below:

a-1. Structure of printing system:

fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In fig. 1, XYZ axes are depicted as three spatial axes orthogonal to each other. The directions pointed by the arrow marks of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis represent the positive directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively. Positive directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are respectively +x-direction, +y-direction, and +z-direction. The directions opposite to the directions pointed by the arrow marks of the X axis, the Y axis and the Z axis are the negative directions along the X axis, the Y axis and the Z axis respectively. Negative directions along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are respectively defined as-X direction, -Y direction and-Z direction. The directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, whether positive or negative, are referred to as the X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction, respectively. The +y direction is also referred to as the near side, and the-Y direction is referred to as the deep side. The same applies to the drawings and the description shown later.

The printing system 1 includes a printing apparatus 10 as a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a cartridge 4 that supplies ink as a liquid to the printing apparatus 10.

The printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is an inkjet printer that ejects ink from an ejection head 22. The printing apparatus 10 is a large-sized printer that performs printing on large-sized sheets (A2 to A0, etc.) such as posters. The printing apparatus 10 includes a cartridge mounting portion 6, a carriage 20, an ejection head 22, a driving mechanism 30, and a control portion 31.

The plurality of cartridges 4 are each detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6. In the present embodiment, four kinds of cartridges 4 are mounted one for each of four colors of inks of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, that is, four cartridges 4 in total are mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6. The cartridge 4 storing black ink is referred to as a cartridge 4K, the cartridge 4 storing yellow ink is referred to as a cartridge 4Y, the cartridge 4 storing magenta ink is referred to as a cartridge 4M, and the cartridge 4 storing cyan ink is referred to as a cartridge 4C. In the present embodiment, the cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y have the same outer shape as each other. The cartridge 4K is configured to be able to store more liquid than the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y. Therefore, the cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y are also referred to as first cartridge 4A, and the cartridge 4K is also referred to as second cartridge 4B.

The printing apparatus 10 has a replacement cover 13 on the front surface on the +y direction side. When the replacement cover 13 is put down in the +z direction side, that is, in the front side, the insertion/removal opening 674 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 appears, and the cartridge 4 can be attached and detached. When the cartridge 4 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, ink can be supplied to the discharge head 22 provided on the carriage 20 via the tube 24 as a liquid flow tube. In the present embodiment, ink is supplied from the cartridge 4 to the discharge head 22 by using a water level difference. Specifically, the ink is supplied to the discharge head 22 by a water level difference between the liquid surface of the ink in the liquid storage portion 699 and the discharge head 22. In other embodiments, the ink in the cartridge 4 may be sucked by a pump mechanism, not shown, of the printing apparatus 10, and the ink may be supplied to the discharge head 22. The tube 24 is provided for each type of ink. The state in which the cartridge 4 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 and ink as a liquid can be supplied to the printing apparatus 10 is referred to as a "mounted state".

The ejection head 22 is provided with nozzles for each type of ink. The ejection head 22 ejects ink from the nozzles toward the printing paper 2, thereby printing data such as characters and images. In the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 is a printer called "non-carriage loading" in which the cartridge mounting portion 6 is not linked to the movement of the carriage 20. The present disclosure can also be applied to a printer called a so-called "carriage loading type" in which the cartridge mounting portion 6 is provided on the carriage 20 and the cartridge mounting portion 6 moves together with the carriage 20.

The control unit 31 controls each unit of the printing apparatus 10 and transmits and receives signals to and from the cartridge 4. The carriage 20 relatively moves the ejection head 22 with respect to the printing paper 2.

The driving mechanism 30 reciprocates the carriage based on a control signal from the control unit 31. The drive mechanism 30 includes a timing belt 32 and a drive motor 34. The power of the drive motor 34 is transmitted to the carriage 20 via the timing belt 32, whereby the carriage 20 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction, which is the direction along the X direction. The printing apparatus 10 further includes a conveying mechanism for moving the printing paper 2 in the sub-scanning direction, which is the +y direction. At the time of printing, the printing paper 2 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by the conveying mechanism, and the printed printing paper 2 is output to the front cover 11.

In the present embodiment, in the use state of the printing system 1, the axis in the sub-scanning direction of the transported printing sheet 2 is referred to as the Y axis, the axis along the gravity direction is referred to as the Z axis, and the axis along the moving direction of the carriage 20 is referred to as the X axis. Here, the "use state of the printing system 1" refers to a state in which the printing system 1 is provided on a horizontal plane. In the present embodiment, the sub-scanning direction is set to the +y direction, the opposite direction is set to the-Y direction, the gravitational direction is set to the-Z direction, and the antigravity direction is set to the +z direction. The X-direction and the Y-direction are directions along the horizontal direction. When the printing system 1 is viewed from the front surface side, the direction from the right side to the left side is set to the +x direction, and the opposite direction is set to the-X direction. In the present embodiment, the insertion direction in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6 for mounting is the-Y direction, and the direction in which the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 6 is the +y direction. Therefore, the-Y direction side of the cartridge mounting section 6 is also referred to as the deep side, and the +y direction side is also referred to as the near side. In the present embodiment, the arrangement direction of the plurality of cartridges 4 is the X direction.

A-2, a cartridge mounting portion and a cartridge in a mounted state:

fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 4 and the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the mounted state, the YZ plane passing through the central axis CA1 of the liquid introducing portion 642 being a cut plane. As shown in fig. 2, in the mounted state, the cartridge 4 is housed in the housing chamber 61 together with the separate container 7, and the housing chamber 61 is disposed above the cartridge mounting portion 6.

The cartridge mounting portion 6 includes a liquid storage portion 699 and a liquid introduction portion 642 disposed below the storage chamber 61. The housing chamber 61 has a support member 610 forming a housing chamber bottom wall. The main wall 613 forms the bottom of the support member 610. The main wall 613 is parallel to the Y direction. The support member 610 is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum 698 provided near the second device wall 62 of the cartridge mounting section 6.

The liquid storage portion 699 communicates with the ejection head 22 via the pipe 24 shown in fig. 1, and communicates with the liquid introduction portion 642. An air inlet, not shown, for sucking in the air is formed in the liquid storage portion 699. The liquid introduction portion 642 is a cylindrical member, and has an introduction portion flow path 682 for allowing liquid to flow therein.

In the mounted state in which the cartridge 4 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, the liquid supply portion 442 of the cartridge 4 and the liquid introduction portion 642 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 are connected. Thereby, the ink stored in the liquid storage portion 450 of the cartridge 4 is supplied to the liquid introducing portion 642 via the liquid supplying portion 442. In the present embodiment, the ink is supplied from the liquid supply portion 442 to the liquid introduction portion 642, while the air stored in the liquid storage portion 699 is circulated through the liquid introduction portion 642 and the liquid supply portion 442 as bubbles to the liquid storage portion 450. Thereby, the gas-liquid exchange of the liquid housing portion 450 is performed. In other embodiments, the cartridge 4 may have an atmosphere communication passage for communicating the liquid storage portion 450 with the outside, and may perform gas-liquid exchange through the atmosphere communication passage. In this case, the atmosphere communication passage is disposed at a position different from the liquid supply portion 442, for example, formed on a wall forming the liquid storage portion 450.

The central axis CA1 of the liquid introducing portion 642 is parallel to the central axis CA2 of the liquid supplying portion 442 in the mounted state, and is inclined with respect to the Z direction. The central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion 442 is a direction along the direction in which the liquid supply portion 442 extends.

Near the end of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the-Y direction, a device-side terminal portion 70 for communicating with the cartridge 4 is provided. In the mounted state of the cartridge 4, the circuit board 50 of the cartridge 4 and the device-side terminal portion 70 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 are electrically connected by contact. Thereby, the control unit 31 can transmit and receive signals to and from the cartridge 4.

A-3 summary of the cartridge mounting method:

fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mounting process of the cartridge 4 to the cartridge mounting section 6. As shown in fig. 3, when the cartridge 4 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, first, the cartridge 4 is inserted into the storage chamber 61 from the insertion/removal opening portion 674 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the-Y direction which is the insertion direction D1. Thereby, the front wall 42 of the cartridge 4 is positioned.

After the insertion of the front wall 42 of the cartridge 4 is completed, the cartridge 4 is moved in the rotational mounting direction CD2 indicated by the arrow mark substantially centering on the rotation fulcrum 698 so that the rear wall 47 moves downward. Thereby, the liquid supply portion 442 of the cartridge 4 is connected to the liquid introduction portion 642 of the cartridge mounting portion 6.

Next, the container 7 shown in fig. 2 is inserted into the space region UPS, which is the space left above the cartridge mounting portion 6, in the insertion direction D1. As a result, as will be described in detail later, upward movement of the cartridge 4 by the biasing force of the device-side biasing member 683 and the cartridge-side biasing member 487, which will be described later, can be restricted, and the connection between the liquid supply portion 442 and the liquid introduction portion 642 can be stabilized.

When the cartridge 4 is detached from the cartridge mounting portion 6, the above-described procedure is reversed. That is, after the container 7 is pulled out from the cartridge mounting portion 6, the cartridge 4 is rotated in the rotation direction CD3 indicated by the arrow mark approximately with the rotation fulcrum 698 as a fulcrum. Then, the cartridge 4 is pulled out of the housing chamber 61. As in the state shown in fig. 2, the state in which the liquid supply portion 442 of the cartridge 4 is connected to the liquid introduction portion 642 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is also referred to as a mounted state. In contrast, a state in which the liquid supply portion 442 of the cartridge 4 and the liquid introduction portion 642 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 are not connected is also referred to as a non-mounted state.

A-4. Detailed structure of the cartridge mounting portion:

fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cartridge mounting portion 6. Fig. 5 is a partial enlarged view showing the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the vicinity of the device-side terminal portion 70. In fig. 4 and 5, a part of the structure of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is omitted for easy understanding. The cartridge mounting portion 6 is also referred to as the X direction as the width direction, the Y direction as the depth direction, and the Z direction as the height direction. Hereinafter, each element will be described on the premise of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the initial arrangement state in which the cartridge 4 is not mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, unless a specific description of the state is made.

As shown in fig. 4, the cartridge mounting portion 6 forms a housing chamber 61 in which the cartridge 4 is housed. The housing chamber 61 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The slots 61C, 61M, 61Y, 61K, which are portions of the housing chamber 61 that house the respective cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y, 4K, substantially correspond to the external shapes of the respective cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y, 4K. In the present embodiment, the cartridge 4K has a larger size in the X direction than the other cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y in order to increase the amount of liquid stored therein. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the width of the slot 61K is larger than the widths of the other slots 61C, 61M, 61Y.

As shown in fig. 4, the cartridge mounting section 6 has five device walls 62, 63, 65, 66, 67 and four support members 610 that form the housing chamber 61. The term "wall" in the present disclosure means a concept including a wall composed of a plurality of walls in addition to a single wall. The second device wall 62 forms a wall on the-Y direction side of the housing chamber 61. The second device wall 62 is a substantially vertical wall in the use state of the printing device 10.

The first device wall 67 is opposed to the second device wall 62 in the Y direction. The first device wall 67 forms a insertion/removal opening 674 through which the cartridge 4 passes when inserted into or removed from the housing chamber 61. The device upper wall 63 forms a wall on the +z direction side of the housing chamber 61. The first device side wall 65 forms a wall of the storage chamber 61 on the +x direction side. The second device side wall 66 faces the first device side wall 65 in the X direction, and forms a wall of the storage chamber 61 on the-X direction side. The first device side wall 65 and the second device side wall 66 intersect the second device wall 62, the first device wall 67 and the device upper wall 63.

The supporting member 610 is provided with four according to the number of cartridges 4 to be mounted. The support member 610 is opposed to the device upper wall 63 in the Z direction. The four support members 610 are aligned in the X direction. The support member 610 is a member extending along the Y direction. The support member 610 has a main wall 613 as a bottom wall of the mounting portion, a first support side wall 611, a second support side wall 612, and the device-side terminal portion 70. The main wall 613 faces the device upper wall 63 in the Z direction, and forms a wall on the-Z direction side of the housing chamber 61. The device upper wall 63 and the main wall 613 intersect the second device wall 62 and the first device wall 67. In the present disclosure, "intersecting" or "crossing" refers to any one of (i) a state in which two elements intersect each other and actually intersect, (ii) a state in which one element intersects the other element when the other element is extended, and (iii) a state in which the elements intersect each other when the elements are extended, respectively.

An opening 614 is formed in the main wall 613 at an end portion close to the first device wall 67. The opening 614 penetrates the main wall 613 in the thickness direction of the main wall 613. The first support side wall 611 stands from the +x direction side end portion of the main wall 613 toward the +z direction, which is the antigravity direction. The second support side wall 612 stands in the +z direction from the-X axis direction side end portion of the main wall 613. The first support sidewall 611 is opposite to the second support sidewall 612 in the X direction.

As shown in fig. 4, the device-side terminal portion 70 is disposed in the vicinity of the second device wall 62. As shown in fig. 5, the device-side terminal portion 70 has a plurality of device-side terminals 721. The device-side terminal 721 is a metal plate member having conductivity. The device-side terminal 721 is electrically connected to the control unit 31. As shown in fig. 4, a device-side identification member 630 is disposed in the vicinity of the device-side terminal portion 70. The device-side identification member 630 is located closer to the insertion/extraction opening portion 674, which is the +y direction side, than the device-side terminal portion 70.

As shown in fig. 3, the cartridge mounting portion 6 has a restricting mechanism 660. The restricting mechanism 660 is located on the front side in the insertion direction D1 than the device-side positioning portion 644. The restricting mechanism 660 is constituted by a rotation restricting portion 661 and a device abutting portion 662. The rotation restriction portions 661 are provided in four corresponding to the four support members 610. Each rotation restriction portion 661 is mounted on each support member 610. The rotation restriction portion 661 is disposed at the front side of the liquid introducing portion 642. The device abutting portion 662 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6. The device abutment portions 662 are provided in four according to the number of mounted cartridges 4. As shown in fig. 3, a rotation restricting portion 661 is disposed in the vicinity of the device contact portion 662. As described later, the rotation restriction portion 661 interferes with the unmatched cartridge, thereby restricting the movement of the unmatched cartridge for mounting.

As shown in fig. 3, the cartridge mounting portion 6 has four device-side positioning portions 644 in addition to the above-described configuration. The device-side positioning portions 644 are provided at the end of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the +y direction in correspondence with the number of mounted cartridges 4.

The device-side positioning portion 644 is disposed on the front side of the liquid introducing portion 642. The device-side positioning portion 644 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. By allowing the device-side positioning portion 644 as a protrusion provided in the cartridge mounting portion 6 to enter the hollow portion of the hollow cartridge-side positioning portion 448 provided in the cartridge 4, the movement of the liquid supply portion 442 intersecting the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion 442 can be restricted. Thereby, the liquid supply portion 442 in the direction intersecting the central axis CA1, which is the axial direction of the liquid introduction portion 642, can be positioned with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642.

A-5. Detailed structure of the cassette:

fig. 6 is a first perspective view of the first cartridge 4A. Fig. 7 is a second perspective view of the first cartridge 4A. The cartridge 4 has a depth direction in the y direction, a height direction in the Z direction, and a width direction in the X direction. The cartridge 4 is a cartridge that accommodates a large volume of liquid and has a large outer shape. Regarding the outer shape of the cartridge 4, the dimension in the Y direction is largest, followed by the dimension in the Z direction, and the dimension in the X direction is smallest. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are based on the state of the cartridge 4 after the insertion into the cartridge mounting section 6 with respect to the drawing showing the cartridge 4.

As shown in fig. 6, the first cartridge 4A has an outer shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The first cartridge 4A includes the liquid storage body 401 and the avoidance portion 490 in addition to the circuit board 50 and the cartridge-side positioning portion 448. The liquid container 401 has a front wall 42, a rear wall 47, an upper wall 43, a bottom wall 44, a first side wall 45, a second side wall 46, and a corner 89. The respective walls 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 are also referred to as the respective faces 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47. The front wall 42 and the rear wall 47 are opposed in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. The length of the rear wall 47 in the Z direction is shorter than the length of the front wall 42 in the Z direction. The upper wall 43 is opposed to the bottom wall 44 in the Z direction. The Z direction is parallel to the central axis CA2 along the direction in which the liquid supply portion 442 extends. The first side wall 45 is opposed to the second side wall 46 in the X direction.

The upper wall 43 includes a main surface 43a, an upper surface inclined surface 43b, and a connecting surface 43c. The main surface 43a is the largest surface among the three surfaces 43a, 43b, 43c. The main surface 43a extends from the front wall 42 in the opposite direction to the insertion direction D1. The main surface 43a is parallel to the insertion direction D1. The upper surface inclined surface 43b extends from the main surface 43a in the opposite direction to the insertion direction D1. The upper surface inclined surface 43b is inclined with respect to the insertion direction D1 such that the second end 433t in the direction opposite to the insertion direction D1 is located closer to the bottom wall 44 than the first end 433p on the insertion direction D1 side. The connection surface 43c connects the upper surface inclined surface 43b with the rear wall 47. The connection surface 43c functions as a near-front portion that is pressed by the user in the gravitational direction in order to rotationally move the cartridge 4 in the rotational mounting direction CD 2.

In the mounted state, the front wall 42 is located on the insertion direction D1 side in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6. The rear wall 47 is located on the opposite side of the insertion direction D1. The upper wall 43 is located on the +z direction side and intersects the front wall 42 and the rear wall 47. The bottom wall 44 is located on the-Z direction side as the gravitational direction side in the mounted state, and forms a connection top end face in the rotational mounting direction CD 2. That is, the bottom wall 44 is located on the side of the rotational mounting direction CD 2. Bottom wall 44 intersects front wall 42 and rear wall 47. The first side wall 45 is located on the +x direction side, and the second side wall 46 is located on the-X direction side. The first side wall 45 and the second side wall 46 intersect the front wall 42, the rear wall 47, the upper wall 43, and the bottom wall 44, respectively. Corner portion 89 is provided at a corner portion where front wall 42 intersects bottom wall 44. The corner portion 89 has a concave shape recessed inward.

As shown in fig. 7, the internal space of the liquid storage body 401 is a liquid storage portion 450. The liquid storage 450 stores ink as a liquid. The liquid supply portion 442 is a cylindrical member protruding from the bottom wall 44. The liquid supply portion 442 communicates with the liquid housing 401.

The upper wall 43 faces the bottom wall 44 through the liquid containing portion 450. As shown in fig. 2, the upper wall 43 is opposed to the device upper wall 63 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 after insertion.

As shown in fig. 6, a connection portion 410 for connecting to the container 7 is provided on the upper surface inclined surface 43 b. The connection portion 410 has a connection hole 411 into which the injection portion 72 of the container 7 described later is inserted. The connection hole 411 communicates with the liquid containing portion 450. In the connection hole 411, a plug member 412 for maintaining airtight inside the liquid containing portion 450 is disposed. The plug member 412 is, for example, an elastic member, and has a crack, not shown. In other embodiments, the connecting portion 410 may be formed on the rear wall 47, or may be formed on both the rear wall 47 and the upper surface inclined surface 43 b.

As shown in fig. 7, the circuit substrate 50 is arranged at the corner portion 89. The circuit board 50 has a plurality of cartridge-side terminals 521 and a storage device, not shown, disposed on the back surface of the circuit board 50. The plurality of cartridge-side terminals 521 are electrically connected to the memory device via wires. In the storage means, information about the cartridge 4, such as the date of manufacture, the remaining amount of liquid, is stored. In the mounted state, the plurality of cartridge-side terminals 521 are electrically connected by contact with the corresponding apparatus-side terminals 721. Thus, the control unit 31 of the printing apparatus 10 is electrically connected to the storage device, and can perform data communication.

The cartridge-side positioning portion 448 is disposed on the bottom wall 44. The cartridge-side positioning portion 448 is disposed at the center of the bottom wall 44 in the X direction, i.e., the width direction. The cartridge-side positioning portion 448 is fitted to the device-side positioning portion 644, and positions the liquid supply portion 442 with respect to the liquid introducing portion 642. The cartridge-side positioning portion 448 is a hollow member having a quadrangular prism shape. The cartridge-side positioning portion 448 protrudes from the bottom wall 44. Thus, the user can easily align the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 with the device-side positioning portion 644 by visual confirmation.

The avoidance unit 490 forms a space AS for avoiding interference with the restricting mechanism 660. The space AS of the avoidance unit 490 is located on the front side of the cartridge-side positioning unit 448, that is, on the +y-direction side, and is located on the rotational mounting direction CD2 side of the bottom wall 44 AS shown in fig. 2.

A-6. Structure of the container:

in the present embodiment, the separate container 7 shown in fig. 2 has a function of replenishing the cartridge 4 with liquid. The container 7 as a barrier is inserted into a space region UPS, which is a space region defined by the device upper wall 63 and the upper wall 43 of the cartridge 4, formed by the cartridge 4 moving in the rotational mounting direction CD2 after the insertion is completed. The container 7 restricts movement of the inserted cartridge 4 in the rotation direction CD3, which is the opposite direction to the rotation mounting direction CD 2. This stabilizes the connection between the liquid introduction portion 642 and the liquid supply portion 442.

The container 7 includes a container liquid storage portion 750 serving as a barrier liquid storage portion for storing liquid, and a tubular injection portion 72 communicating with the container liquid storage portion 750. The periphery of the injection portion 72 is a surface having an inclination corresponding to the upper surface inclined surface 43 b. The injection portion 72 is inserted into the connection hole 411 of the cartridge 4, thereby connecting the cartridge 4 with the container 7. Thereby, the crack of the plug member 412 expands, and the tip opening of the injection portion 72 is disposed in the liquid containing portion 450. The liquid in the container liquid storage portion 750 is supplied to the liquid storage portion 450 via the injection portion 72.

Details of the liquid supply section and the liquid introduction section:

fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the liquid supply portion 442 and the liquid introduction portion 642 in the mounted state. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a YZ plane passing through the central axes CA1 and CA2 as a cut surface.

As shown in fig. 8, the liquid supply portion 442 includes a supply portion flow passage 482 that communicates with the liquid storage portion 450. The liquid supply portion 442 is inserted into the inflow opening portion 432, and the inflow opening portion 432 is formed on the bottom wall of the liquid housing portion 450, that is, the housing bottom wall 431.

The liquid supply portion 442 includes a cartridge-side valve mechanism 484 in a cylindrical housing 480. The cartridge-side valve mechanism 484 opens and closes the supply flow path 482. Cartridge-side valve mechanism 484 includes a cartridge-side valve seat 485, a cartridge-side valve body 486, and a cartridge-side biasing member 487.

The cartridge-side valve seat 485 is an annular member. The cartridge-side valve seat 485 is formed of an elastic member such as an elastomer or an elastomer, for example. The outer peripheral surface of the cartridge-side valve seat 485 is air-tightly attached to the inner peripheral surface of the housing 480. The cartridge-side valve seat 485 has a valve seat insertion port 485a formed therethrough in a direction along the central axis CA 2. At the time of installation, the liquid introduction portion 642 is inserted into the valve seat insertion port 485a.

The cartridge-side valve body 486 is mounted to the liquid supply portion 442 so as to be slidable in an axial direction along the central axis CA 2. The cartridge-side valve element 486 is a rod-like member extending in a direction along the central axis CA 2. The cartridge-side valve body 486 is located upstream of the cartridge-side valve seat 485 in the flow direction of the liquid in the supply portion flow channel 482 when the liquid is supplied. The cartridge-side valve body 486 contacts the valve seat insertion port 485a when not mounted, and closes the valve seat insertion port 485a. Thereby, the cartridge-side valve element 486 is in the closed state.

The cartridge-side biasing member 487 biases the cartridge-side valve body 486 in a direction toward the cartridge-side valve seat 485. The cartridge-side urging member 487 is, for example, a compression coil spring. In the cartridge-side biasing member 487, one end abuts against the cartridge-side valve body 486, and the other end abuts against the housing 480.

The liquid introduction portion 642 is connected to the liquid supply portion 442 in the mounted state of the cartridge 4, thereby receiving the liquid from the liquid supply portion 442. The liquid introduction portion 642 includes an introduction portion flow path 682 through which the liquid supplied from the liquid supply portion 442 flows. The inlet flow passage 682 communicates with the liquid reserving portion 699.

The liquid introduction portion 642 includes a hollow introduction portion main body 680 and a device-side valve mechanism 681 disposed in the introduction portion flow path 682. The leading end portion of the leading portion main body 680 is cylindrical. The liquid introduction portion 642 includes an introduction portion main body 680 and a device-side valve mechanism 681. The introduction portion main body 680 is hollow, and a tip portion thereof has a cylindrical shape. An inlet flow passage 682 is formed in the inlet body 680.

The device-side valve mechanism 681 is disposed in the inlet flow passage 682 and opens and closes the inlet flow passage 682. The device-side valve mechanism 681 includes a device-side valve seat 687 formed by the introduction portion main body 680, a device-side valve body 685, and a device-side biasing member 683. The device-side valve seat 687 is a portion of the introduction portion main body 680 extending in a direction orthogonal to the central axis CA 1. The device-side valve seat 687 has a device-side valve hole 689 as a part of the inlet flow passage 682.

The device-side valve body 685 is a rod-shaped member extending in a direction along the central axis CA 1. The device-side valve body 685 is positioned in the inlet flow passage 682 and opens and closes the inlet flow passage 682. The device-side valve body 685 is formed with an arrangement portion 686. The arrangement portion 686 is a portion of the main body of the device-side valve body 685 having a larger size than the other portion in the direction orthogonal to the central axis CA 1. The arrangement portion 686 faces the device-side valve seat 687. A sealing member 688, which is an annular elastic member, is attached to the arrangement portion 686. The seal member 688 is formed of an elastomer or rubber. In a state where the liquid introduction portion 642 and the liquid supply portion 442 are not connected, the sealing member 688 is in airtight contact with the device-side valve seat 687, and the device-side valve hole 689 of the device-side valve seat 687 is closed by the device-side valve body 685. Thereby, the device-side valve body 685 is in a valve-closed state.

The device-side biasing member 683 biases the device-side valve body 685 in a direction toward the device-side valve seat 687. The device-side biasing member 683 is, for example, a compression coil spring. In the device-side biasing member 683, one end abuts against the arrangement portion 686, and the other end abuts against the base 684. The base 684 is mounted on the lead-in body 680. The base 684 has a plurality of slits extending along the central axis CA1 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The liquid in the inlet flow passage 682 flows into the liquid storage portion 699 through the slit.

When the cartridge 4 is mounted, the cartridge-side valve mechanism 484 is pressed by the liquid introduction portion 642 to separate the cartridge-side valve body 486 from the cartridge-side valve seat 485, thereby opening the valve. On the other hand, when the cartridge 4 is mounted, the device-side valve body 685 is separated from the device-side valve seat 687 of the introduction unit body 680, and is in the valve-opened state. The supply portion flow path 482 is connected to the introduction portion flow path 682. In the mounted state, the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion 450 flows into the supply portion flow path 482, flows from the supply portion flow path 482 into the introduction portion flow path 682, and is supplied to the liquid storage portion 699. The cartridge 4 in the mounted state is forced in the opposite direction to the rotational mounting direction CD2 by the urging force of the cartridge-side urging member 487 and the urging force of the apparatus-side urging member 683.

Details of the cartridge mounting process:

as described above, when the cartridge 4 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, the user first inserts the cartridge 4 into the housing chamber 61 from the insertion/removal opening portion 674 of the cartridge mounting portion 6, and completes the insertion. After the insertion, the user rotates the cartridge 4 in the rotation mounting direction CD2 with the rear side in the insertion direction D1 as a rotation fulcrum. Specifically, the vicinity of the rear wall 47, which is the front portion of the insertion direction D1 in the cartridge 4, is moved in the rotational mounting direction CD2 having a gravitational direction component, substantially with the rotational fulcrum 698 as a fulcrum. Here, the user moves the cartridge 4 in the rotational mounting direction CD2 at a position where the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 is fitted to the apparatus-side positioning portion 644. Since the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 protrudes from the bottom wall 44, the user can easily align it by visual confirmation. In the mounted state of the cartridge 4, the cartridge-side terminal 521 of the circuit board 50 contacts the device-side terminal 721 of the device-side terminal portion 70, and the liquid supply portion 442 is connected to the liquid introduction portion 642.

As shown in fig. 2, the cartridge 4 has an avoidance portion 490 that avoids interference with the restricting mechanism 660. Thus, the cartridge 4 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 without making the restriction of the movement for mounting of the unmatched cartridge by the restriction mechanism 660 act. The limiting function of the limiting mechanism 660 will be described later.

Thereafter, the container 7 is inserted into the space region UPS. The container 7 is connected to the cartridge 4 by inserting the injection portion 72 into the connection hole 411. Thereby, the movement of the cartridge in the opposite direction to the rotational mounting direction CD2 is restricted. As described above, the cartridge 4 is forced in the opposite direction of the rotational mounting direction CD2 in the mounted state by the urging force of the cartridge-side urging member 487 of the liquid supply portion 442 and the urging force of the device-side urging member 683 of the liquid introduction portion 642. Therefore, by inserting the container 7, the movement of the cartridge 4 in the opposite direction to the rotational mounting direction CD2 can be restricted, and the connection between the liquid supply portion 442 and the liquid introduction portion 642 can be maintained well.

A-9 details of the limiting mechanism:

fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 6 and the heterogeneous cartridge 1400 in which the YZ plane passing through the central axis CA1 of the liquid introducing portion 642 is a cut plane in the mounted state. Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a change in position of the rotation restricting portion 661. The function of the restricting mechanism 660 will be described using a heterogeneous cartridge 1400 of a different type from the cartridge 4. Heterogeneous cartridge 1400 differs from cartridge 4 in that it includes adapter section 402. In the heterogeneous cartridge 1400, the same configuration as that of the cartridge 4 is denoted by the same reference numeral, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

The heterogeneous cartridge 1400 shown in fig. 9 is mounted on the cartridge mounting section 6 in the same order as the cartridge 4. That is, the heterogeneous cartridge 1400 is inserted from the insertion/removal opening 674 of the cartridge mounting section 6 into the storage chamber 61 in the-Y direction, which is the insertion direction D1, to a predetermined insertion completion position. Next, heterogeneous cartridge 1400 moves in the rotational mounting direction CD2 indicated by the arrow mark so that rear wall 47 moves downward around rotation fulcrum 698. The process from the insertion to the insertion completion position is also referred to as an insertion process. The process of moving in the rotational mounting direction CD2 is also referred to as a rotation process.

The adaptor portion 402 of the cartridge 1400 is fitted to the bottom wall 44 of the liquid container 401, and is attached to the liquid container 401. The adapter section 402 is provided with a release section 503 for releasing the restriction by the restriction mechanism 660. The release portion 503 protrudes in the-Z direction from the bottom surface of the adapter portion 402 in the-Z direction.

AS can be seen from a comparison of fig. 3 and 9, the adapter portion 402 of the heterogeneous cartridge 1400 occupies a space corresponding to the space AS formed by the avoidance portion 490 of the cartridge 4.

As can be seen from a comparison of fig. 3 and 9, the relative position of the rotation restriction portion 661 with respect to the device contact portion 662 is different between before and after the mounting of the heterogeneous cartridge 1400. The rotation restricting portion 661 is rotated in the rotation mounting direction CD2 in conjunction with the rotation movement of the isomerism cartridge 1400 in the rotation mounting direction CD 2.

The rotation restricting portion 661 and the device abutting portion 662 are provided for restricting the rotational movement of the cartridge 1400 in the rotational mounting direction CD2 when the insertion process is not completed. Specifically, in a state where the cartridge 1400 is not inserted to the insertion completion position, the rotation restriction portion 661 abuts against the device abutment portion 662, and restricts the rotational movement of the cartridge 1400 in the rotational mounting direction CD 2. In contrast, in a state where the heterogeneous cartridge 1400 is inserted to the insertion completion position, the rotation restriction portion 661 is pressed by the release portion 503 of the heterogeneous cartridge 1400 and moves to a position where it does not contact the device contact portion 662. Thereby, heterogeneous cartridge 1400 can perform rotational movement in rotational mounting direction CD 2. The unmatched cartridge is a heterogeneous cartridge 1400 that has not yet been inserted to the insertion completion position and is unmatched to the cartridge mounting unit 6.

As shown in fig. 10, the rotation restricting portion 661 is a flat plate member having the X direction as the thickness direction. The rotation restriction portion 661 has a first rotation restriction portion 651 and a second rotation restriction portion 652. The first rotation restricting portion 651 is a portion extending substantially in the Z direction when viewed from the X direction. The second rotation restricting portion 652 is a portion protruding in the-Y direction from the first rotation restricting portion 651. A rotation pin 653 is inserted through the vicinity of the center of the first rotation restricting portion 651 in the Z direction in the thickness direction. The rotation restricting portion 661 is rotatable about the rotation pin 653 as a fulcrum. Further, by rotating, the rotation restriction portion 661 can be moved to the restriction position PO1 indicated by the solid line and the release position PO2 indicated by the two-dot chain line. The rotation restriction portion 661 is biased by a biasing member, not shown, and is held at the restriction position PO1 in a state not pressed by the release portion 503.

The device contact portion 662 is disposed on a path through which the tip of the second rotation restriction portion 652 at the restriction position PO1 passes during the rotational movement of the heterogeneous cartridge 1400 in the rotational mounting direction CD 2. Therefore, in a state where the rotation restriction portion 661 is located at the restriction position PO1, the tip of the second rotation restriction portion 652 of the rotation restriction portion 661 interferes with the device contact portion 662, and therefore, the rotational movement of the cartridge 1400 in the rotational mounting direction CD2 is restricted. In contrast, in a state where the heterogeneous cartridge 1400 is inserted to the insertion completion position, the distal end in the +z direction of the first rotation restriction portion 651 is pressed by the release portion 503 of the heterogeneous cartridge 1400, and the rotation restriction portion 661 moves to the release position PO2 against the urging force of the urging member. In a state where the rotation restriction portion 661 is located at the release position PO2, the tip of the second rotation restriction portion 652 of the rotation restriction portion 661 does not interfere with the device contact portion 662, and therefore the cartridge 1400 can be rotated in the rotation mounting direction CD2 with the rotation restriction portion 661. Specifically, after heterogeneous cartridge 1400 is inserted, the bottom surface of adapter 402 is rotated in rotational mounting direction CD2 while pressing main wall 613 of support member 610. Since the rotation restricting portion 661 is attached to the support member 610, the isomerism cartridge 1400 is rotated in the rotation attaching direction CD2 by the rotation restricting portion 661.

AS can be seen from a comparison of fig. 2 and 9, in the mounted state of the cartridge 4, the rotation restriction portion 661 of the restriction mechanism 660 is located in the space AS formed by the avoidance portion 490. That is, unlike the mounted state of the heterogeneous cartridge 1400, the rotation restriction portion 661 is always located at the restriction position PO1 even in the mounted state of the cartridge 4. In order to mount the heterogeneous cartridge 1400, as described above, it is necessary to move the rotation restriction portion 661 to the release position PO2 after the insertion is completed. In contrast, since the cartridge 4 has the avoidance portion 490, the cartridge 4 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 without making the restriction of the movement for mounting of the unmatched cartridge by the restriction mechanism 660 act. The heterogeneous cartridge 1400 may not be mounted on the cartridge mounting section 6 when the releasing section 503 is deformed. In this regard, since the cartridge 4 has the avoidance portion 490, the possibility that the cartridge cannot be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 can be reduced. Further, since the cartridge 4 does not have a member that interferes with the device-side identification member 630, it is possible to mount the cartridge without interfering with the device-side identification member 630.

As shown in fig. 2, in the mounted state, the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 faces the regulating mechanism 660 in the insertion direction D1, and the bottom wall 44 faces the regulating mechanism 660 in the rotation direction CD 3. That is, in the insertion direction D1, the bottom wall 44 extends to the front side in the insertion direction D1 than the restriction mechanism 660. Therefore, the capacity of the liquid storage portion 450 can be appropriately ensured.

According to the embodiment described above, the cartridge 4 includes the liquid storage portion 450, the liquid supply portion 442, and the avoidance portion 490. By providing the avoidance portion 490, the cartridge 4 can avoid interference with the restricting mechanism 660. Therefore, the cartridge 4 can be mounted without making the restriction by the restriction mechanism 660 function.

The cartridge 4 further includes a cartridge-side positioning portion 448 fitted in the device-side positioning portion 644, and a bottom wall 44 having the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 and the liquid supply portion 442. By fitting the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 to the device-side positioning portion 644, the liquid introduction portion 642 and the liquid supply portion 442 can be connected at standard positions.

Further, a cartridge-side positioning portion 448 protrudes from the bottom wall 44. Thus, the user can visually confirm the alignment of the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 and the device-side positioning portion 644. Thus, the user can easily align the cartridges 4.

Further, the cartridge 4 has the circuit substrate 50 in contact with the device-side terminals 721 in the mounted state. This allows the cartridge 4 to transmit and receive information to and from the printing apparatus 10.

The space AS formed by the avoidance portion 490 is located on the front side in the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 and on the side of the bottom wall 44 in the rotational mounting direction CD 2. This allows the avoidance unit 490 to be appropriately matched with the cartridge mounting unit 6.

The cartridge 4 further includes a connection portion 410 for connecting to the container 7, and the container 7 is inserted into a space region UPS formed by the movement of the cartridge 4 in the rotational mounting direction CD 2. Since the movement of the cartridge 4 in the opposite direction to the rotational mounting direction CD2 is restricted by being inserted into the container 7, the connection between the liquid introduction portion 642 and the liquid supply portion 442 can be maintained well.

Further, the container 7 has a container liquid storage portion 750 and an injection portion 72, and the connection portion 410 has a connection hole 411 into which the injection portion 72 is inserted. Thereby, the cartridge 4 can be replenished with liquid by the container 7. The connection portion 410 is formed on the upper surface inclined surface 43 b. This makes it possible to easily connect the injection portion 72 to the connection portion 410 during insertion of the container 7 into the space region UPS.

In the mounted state, the cartridge-side positioning portion 448 faces the regulating mechanism 660 in the insertion direction D1, and the bottom wall 44 faces the regulating mechanism 660 in the rotational mounting direction CD 2. Thus, the cartridge 4 can be mounted without making the restriction by the restriction mechanism 660 function while securing the capacity of the liquid storage portion 450 of the cartridge 4.

B. Other embodiments:

b-1. Other embodiment 1:

In the above embodiment, the container 7 as the barrier has the container liquid storage portion 750. In another embodiment, the barrier may not have a container liquid storage portion and may not have a function of supplying liquid. By inserting the blocking member into the space region UPS, the position of the cassette 4 can be stabilized.

B-2 other embodiment 2:

in the above embodiment, the connection portion 410 has the connection hole 411, and the injection portion 72 of the container 7 is inserted into the connection hole 411 to be connected. As another embodiment of the connecting portion, it may be realized not to have a hole shape but to have another shape such as a concave portion or a convex portion. The connecting portion has a shape to be engaged with the blocking member, so that the connecting portion can be connected to the blocking member.

B-3. Other embodiment 3:

the present disclosure is not limited to the inkjet printer and the ink cartridge thereof, and can be applied to any printing apparatus that ejects liquid other than ink and the cartridge thereof. For example, the present invention can be applied to various printing apparatuses and cartridges thereof as follows.

(1) Image recording device such as facsimile machine

(2) Printing device for ejecting color material used in manufacturing optical filter for image display device such as liquid crystal display

(3) Printing apparatus for ejecting electrode material used for electrode formation of organic EL (Electro Luminescence: electroluminescent) display, field emission display (Field Emission Display, FED) and the like

(4) Printing device for ejecting liquid including biological organic matter used in biochip manufacturing

(5) Sample printing device as precision pipettor

(6) Printing device for lubricating oil

(7) Printing device for resin liquid

(8) Printing device for spraying lubricant to precision machinery such as clock and camera by using needle

(9) Printing apparatus for forming micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication devices and the like by spraying transparent resin liquid such as ultraviolet curable resin on a substrate

(10) Printing apparatus for spraying acidic or alkaline etching liquid for etching substrate

(11) Printing device having liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid droplets of any other minute quantity

The term "liquid droplet" refers to a liquid discharged from a printing apparatus, and includes a state in which a tail is pulled out in a granular, tear-like or thread-like form. The "liquid" here may be any material that can be ejected by the printing device. For example, the "liquid" may be a material in a state where the substance is in a liquid phase, and a material in a liquid state where the viscosity is high or low, such as sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and liquid metals (metal melts), may be included in the "liquid". In addition, not only a liquid as one state of a substance is contained in the "liquid", but also a substance in which particles of a functional material composed of solid substances such as pigments or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent is contained in the "liquid". As a representative example of the liquid, ink, liquid crystal, or the like as described in the above embodiment can be given. The ink includes various liquid compositions such as general aqueous ink, oily ink, gel ink, and hot melt ink.

C. Other modes:

the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented by various configurations within a range not departing from the gist thereof. For example, in order to solve part or all of the above-described problems, or in order to achieve part or all of the above-described effects, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features of the embodiments described below may be appropriately replaced or combined. Note that, if this technical feature is not described as a necessary technical feature in the present specification, it can be deleted appropriately.

(1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus. The cartridge mounting portion has a liquid introduction portion that receives a liquid and a restriction mechanism that restricts movement of the unmatched cartridge for mounting by interfering with the unmatched cartridge. The cartridge is provided with: a liquid storage unit that stores the liquid; a liquid supply unit connected to the liquid introduction unit to supply the liquid; and an avoidance unit that forms a space for avoiding interference with the restriction mechanism. According to this aspect, since interference with the restricting mechanism can be avoided, the mounting can be performed without making the restriction by the restricting mechanism function.

(2) In the above aspect, the cartridge mounting portion may further include a device-side positioning portion for positioning in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the liquid introduction portion, and the cartridge may further include: a cartridge-side positioning portion that is fitted to the apparatus-side positioning portion; and a bottom wall having the cartridge-side positioning portion and the liquid supply portion. According to this aspect, the liquid introducing portion and the liquid supplying portion are connected at a standard position by fitting the apparatus-side positioning portion to the cartridge-side positioning portion.

(3) In the above aspect, the cartridge-side positioning portion may protrude from the bottom wall. According to this aspect, the positioning of the apparatus-side positioning portion and the cartridge-side positioning portion can be easily performed by visual confirmation of the cartridge-side positioning portion.

(4) In the above aspect, the printing apparatus may further include a circuit board that contacts the apparatus-side terminal of the printing apparatus in a mounted state in which the circuit board is mounted on the printing apparatus. According to this aspect, the cartridge can transmit and receive information to and from the printing apparatus.

(5) In the above aspect, the cartridge may be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion by moving a proximal portion of the cartridge in the insertion direction in a rotational mounting direction having a gravitational direction component with a depth side of the insertion direction as a rotational fulcrum after the insertion into the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction as a horizontal direction is completed, the restriction mechanism may be located further toward the proximal side of the insertion direction than the device-side positioning portion, and the space of the avoidance portion may be located at the proximal side of the cartridge-side positioning portion and at the rotational mounting direction side of the bottom wall. According to this aspect, the cartridge mounting portion can be appropriately matched with the aspect of the cartridge mounting portion.

(6) In the above aspect, the method may further include: an upper wall facing the bottom wall through the liquid storage portion and facing the device upper wall of the cartridge mounting portion after the insertion is completed; and a connecting portion for connecting to a blocking member which is inserted into a space region defined by the upper wall of the device and the upper wall and which is formed by the movement of the cartridge in the rotational mounting direction, and which restricts the movement of the cartridge in a direction opposite to the rotational mounting direction after the insertion is completed. According to this aspect, since the movement of the cartridge in the direction opposite to the rotational mounting direction is restricted by the spacer, the connection between the liquid introduction portion and the liquid supply portion can be maintained well.

(7) In the above aspect, the separator may have a separator liquid storage portion capable of storing the liquid, and an injection portion communicating with the separator liquid storage portion, and the connection portion may have a connection hole into which the injection portion is inserted. According to this way, the cartridge can be replenished with liquid using the barrier.

(8) In the above aspect, the upper wall may include an upper surface inclined surface, a second end portion of the upper surface inclined surface in a direction opposite to the insertion direction may be positioned closer to the bottom wall than the first end portion on the insertion direction side, and the connection portion may be formed on the upper surface inclined surface. According to this aspect, the injection portion and the connection portion can be easily connected during insertion of the blocking member into the space region.

(9) In the above aspect, in the mounted state of the printing apparatus, the cartridge-side positioning portion may face the regulating mechanism in the insertion direction, and the bottom wall may face the regulating mechanism in the rotational mounting direction. According to this aspect, the cartridge can be mounted without making the restriction by the restriction mechanism function while securing the capacity of the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.

The present disclosure can be realized by a method of manufacturing a cartridge, a printing system, or the like, in addition to the above-described modes.

Symbol description

1 … printing system; 2 … printed paper; 4. 4C, 4K, 4M, 4Y … cassette; 4a … first cassette; 4B … second cassette; 6 … cartridge mount; 7 … container; 10 … printing device; 13 … replacement cover; 20 … carriage; 22 … ejection head; 24 … tube; 30 … drive mechanism; 31 … control part; 32 … synchronous belt; 34 … drive motor; 42 … front wall; 42 … front face; 43 … upper wall; 43a … major face; 43b … upper surface inclined surfaces; 43c … connection surfaces; 44 … bottom wall; 45 … first side wall; 46 … second side wall; 47 … rear wall; 50 … circuit substrate; 61 … storage compartments; 61C, 61K, 61M, 61Y … slots; 62 … second device wall; 63 … device upper wall; 65 … first device side walls; 66 … second device side wall; 67 … first device wall; 70 … device-side terminal portions; 72 … injection part; 89 … corner portions; 401 … liquid receptacle; 402 … adapter portions; 410 … connection; 411 … connection holes; 412 … bolt members; 431 and … container bottom wall; 432 … into the opening; 433p … first end; 433t … second end; 442 … liquid supply portions; 448 … cartridge side positioning portion; 450 … liquid receptacle; 480 … casing; 482 and … feeder flow paths; 484 … cartridge side valve mechanism; 485 … box side valve seat; 485a … valve seat insert port; 486 … cartridge side valve body; 487 … cartridge-side biasing members; 490 … avoidance; 503 and … release portions; 521 … box side terminals; 610 … support member; 611 … first support side walls; 612 … second support sidewall; 613 … main wall; 614 and … openings; 630 … device-side identification means; 642 … liquid introduction portion; 644 … device-side positioning portions; 651 … first rotation limiting portions; 652 … second rotation limiter; 653 … swivel pin; 660 … restraining mechanism; 661 … rotation restriction portions; 662 … device abutment; 674 … plug-in opening part; 680 … lead-in body; 681 … device side valve mechanism; 682 … lead-in flow path; 683 … device-side biasing members; 684 … base; 685 … device side valve body; 686 … arrangement part; 687 … device side valve seat; 688 … seal member; 689 … device side valve orifice; 698 … pivot points; 699 … liquid storage portions; 721 … device side terminals; 750 … container liquid receptacle; 1400 … heterogeneous cassettes; AS … space; CA1, CA2 … central axes; CD2 … rotational mounting orientation; CD3 … direction of rotation; d1 … insertion direction; PO1 … limit position; PO2 … release position; UPS … spatial area.

Claims (9)

1. A cartridge which is mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus, wherein,

the cartridge mounting portion has a liquid introduction portion that receives a liquid and a restriction mechanism that restricts movement of the unmatched cartridge for mounting by interfering with the unmatched cartridge,

the cartridge is provided with:

a liquid storage unit that stores the liquid;

a liquid supply unit connected to the liquid introduction unit to supply the liquid;

and an avoidance unit that forms a space for avoiding interference with the restriction mechanism.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein,

the cartridge mounting portion further has a device-side positioning portion for positioning in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the liquid introducing portion,

the cartridge further comprises:

a cartridge-side positioning portion that is fitted to the apparatus-side positioning portion;

and a bottom wall having the cartridge-side positioning portion and the liquid supply portion.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein,

the cartridge-side positioning portion protrudes from the bottom wall.

4. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein,

the printed circuit board is in contact with a device-side terminal of the printing device in a mounted state in which the printed circuit board is mounted in the printing device.

5. The cartridge according to any one of claim 2 to 4, wherein,

the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion by moving a front side portion of the cartridge in the insertion direction in a rotational mounting direction having a gravitational component with a depth side of the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum after insertion into the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction as a horizontal direction is completed,

the restriction mechanism is located further toward the front side in the insertion direction than the device-side positioning portion,

the space of the avoidance portion is at the near front side of the cartridge-side positioning portion and at the rotational mounting direction side of the bottom wall.

6. The cartridge according to claim 5, further comprising:

an upper wall facing the bottom wall through the liquid storage portion and facing the device upper wall of the cartridge mounting portion after the insertion is completed;

and a connecting portion for connecting to a blocking member which is inserted into a space region defined by the upper wall of the device and the upper wall and which is formed by the movement of the cartridge in the rotational mounting direction, and which restricts the movement of the cartridge in a direction opposite to the rotational mounting direction after the insertion is completed.

7. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein,

the barrier has a barrier liquid containing portion capable of containing the liquid and an injection portion communicating with the barrier liquid containing portion,

the connection part has a connection hole into which the injection part is inserted.

8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein,

the upper wall includes an upper surface inclined surface, a second end portion of the upper surface inclined surface in a direction opposite to the insertion direction is located on a side closer to the bottom wall than a first end portion on the insertion direction side,

the connection portion is formed on the upper surface inclined surface.

9. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein,

in the mounted state already mounted on the printing device,

the cartridge-side positioning portion faces the regulating mechanism in the insertion direction,

the bottom wall faces the restricting mechanism in the rotational mounting direction.