CN117621648A

CN117621648A - printing device

Info

Publication number: CN117621648A
Application number: CN202311093143.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 中田聪; 山田克己; 田中当成
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date: 2022-08-30
Filing date: 2023-08-28
Publication date: 2024-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2043-08-28
Also published as: JP2024033185A; CN117621648B

Abstract

The present invention provides a printing device that can suppress interference between the liquid container and the second restricting portion when the liquid container is detached from the mounting portion. The printing device includes: a printing unit; an attachment unit capable of detaching and attaching the liquid container; and a cover that switches the state of the attachment unit, and the liquid container includes: a first restricting unit that restricts detachment of the liquid container from the attachment unit; and an operation unit that accepts release. The operation is limited by the first limiting portion; and the inclined portion is inclined upward in the vertical direction as it approaches the cover, the mounting portion is provided with a first guide portion that guides the inclined portion, and the cover is provided with: a second limiting portion, on the mounting portion. When the liquid container is in the closed state, it protrudes toward the operating part to limit the movement of the liquid container. The liquid container can be displaced between the restriction position and the release position. When the liquid container is taken out from the installation part, the liquid container can be connected to the second The liquid container and the second restricting part are relatively moved in such a manner that the restricting part does not cause interference.

Description

Printing device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to printing devices.

Background

Research and development have been conducted on a printing apparatus that performs printing with ink supplied from an ink cartridge.

In this regard, liquid supply devices are known as follows: in the liquid supply device, the liquid cartridge is inserted into the first direction against a force applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the opening of the mounting portion, and the liquid cartridge includes: a liquid storage chamber; a front surface facing the first direction in a state where the liquid cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion; a rear surface configured to sandwich the liquid reservoir chamber between the front surface and the rear surface; a side extending between the front surface and the rear surface; a liquid supply portion disposed on the front surface; a locking surface disposed on the side surface; and a recessed portion that opens in a second direction, the mounting portion including: a liquid supply pipe inserted into the liquid supply part; a locking portion abutting against the locking surface; and a cover rotatable between an open position in which the opening is opened and a closed position in which the opening is closed, and having a projection, wherein the liquid supply tube is inserted into the liquid supply portion in the mounting portion, the liquid cartridge is rotatable between a first position in which the locking surface is opposed to the locking portion in the first direction and the second direction and is abutted against the locking portion, and a second position in which the locking surface is not opposed to the locking portion in the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the projection is abutted against the liquid cartridge in the course of rotation from the open position to the closed position in the mounting portion, and wherein the projection is abutted against the liquid cartridge in the state in which the locking surface is abutted against the locking portion in the second direction, and wherein the projection is accommodated in the recess to restrict the rotation of the liquid cartridge in the second position when the liquid cartridge is in the mounting portion (refer to patent document 1). Patent document 2 describes an example of the structure of the liquid cartridge described in patent document 1 (see patent document 2).

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication 2016-185660

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open No. 2018-161877

However, in the liquid supply device to which the liquid cartridge as described in patent documents 1 and 2 is attached, when the liquid cartridge is to be detached from the attachment portion in the second direction, there is a case where the liquid cartridge interferes with the protrusion of the cover. Such disturbance may vibrate the liquid cartridge, thereby causing liquid to leak out of the liquid cartridge due to the vibration, which is not preferable.

Disclosure of Invention

One aspect of the present disclosure for solving the above-described problems is a printing apparatus including: a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium; a liquid container having a liquid storage unit for storing the liquid supplied to the printing unit; a mounting unit to which the liquid container can be attached and detached; and a cover for switching the state of the mounting portion between an open state in which the mounting portion is opened and a closed state in which the mounting portion is closed, wherein the liquid container includes: a first restricting portion provided at an upper portion of the liquid container in a vertical direction, for restricting detachment of the liquid container from the mounting portion; an operation unit which is provided above the liquid container in the vertical direction, and which, when the liquid container is attached to the attachment unit, is located closer to the cover than the first restriction unit, and which receives an operation to release the restriction by the first restriction unit; and an inclined portion provided below the liquid container in the vertical direction and located below the operation portion, the inclined portion being inclined upward in the vertical direction as approaching the cover when the liquid container is attached to the attachment portion, the attachment portion including: a first guide portion for guiding the inclined portion, wherein the cover includes: and a second regulating portion that, when the mounting portion is in the closed state, protrudes toward the operation portion to regulate the operation of the liquid container, wherein the liquid container is displaceable between a regulating position, in which the operation of the mounting portion in a first direction toward the cover is regulated by the first regulating portion in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and a releasing position, in which the regulation of the first regulating portion is released and the inclined portion is brought into contact with the first guide portion, and wherein the liquid container and the second regulating portion are movable relative to each other so that the liquid container and the second regulating portion do not interfere with each other when the liquid container is removed from the mounting portion.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the external appearance of a printing apparatus 1.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the ink cartridge ICR in a state of being mounted on the mounting portion 12.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 2, taken along a plane parallel to the XZ plane in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a case where four ink cartridge ICs are mounted to the mounting portion 12.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the operating portion CL of the ink cartridge ICR in the four ink cartridge ICs shown in fig. 5 is pressed down from the top.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the external appearance of the printing apparatus 1 when the ink cartridge insertion space is closed by the cover 13 and the mounting portion 12 is in the closed state.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of the second regulating portion LM2 in the standing state.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the second restriction portion LM2 shown in fig. 8 when viewed from the other direction.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the second restriction portion LM2 in a lodging state.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing another configuration of the second limiting portion LM 2.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the second limiting portion LM 2.

Fig. 13 is a view showing still another example of the second limiting portion LM 2.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the case of the printing apparatus 1 in a state where the cover 13 is opened.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the cover 13 provided with the second guide portion GD 4.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the second guide unit GD4 in the guide posture.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the second guide portion GD4 in the storage posture.

Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the mounting portion 12 provided with the third guide portion GD 5.

Fig. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the ink cartridge ICR provided with the protrusion TH.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the ink cartridge ICR provided with the third guide portion GD 5.

Fig. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the mounting portion 12 provided with the protruding portion TH.

Fig. 22 shows an example of the case of the ink cartridge ICR when mounted on the mounting portion 12.

Fig. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the case of the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 22 after the operation part CL of the ink cartridge ICR is pressed down from the top.

Fig. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 23 is pulled out halfway in the removal direction by the user.

Fig. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 24 is further pulled out toward the removal direction by the user.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a printing device; 11: a printing section; 12: a mounting part; 13: a cover; 13A: a cover part; 121: a concave portion; CL: an operation unit; CN: a connection part; CN2: a connected portion; and GD: a guide groove; GD1: a first guide surface; GD2: a second guide surface; GD3: a first guide portion; GD4: a second guide portion; GD5: a third guide portion; HL: an insertion port; IC: an ink cartridge; ICB: an ink cartridge; ICG: an ink cartridge; ICK: an ink cartridge; ICR: an ink cartridge; LM1: a first restriction portion; LM2: a second restriction portion; LM3: a third restriction portion; LMM: a state switching unit; SP: an elastic member; SP2: a force application member; SP3: a force application member; TC: a three-dimensional coordinate system; TH: a protruding portion; TK: a liquid storage section; TP: an inclined portion.

Detailed Description

Description of the embodiments

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Outline of printing device

First, an outline of the printing device according to the embodiment will be described.

The printing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a printing unit, a mounting unit, and a cover. The printing unit prints on a printing medium. The mounting portion is a member that can be attached to or detached from a liquid container having a liquid storage portion for storing the liquid supplied to the printing portion. The cover switches the state of the mounting portion between an open state in which the mounting portion is opened and a closed state in which the mounting portion is closed. The liquid container further includes a first restricting portion, an operating portion, and an inclined portion. The first restricting portion is provided at an upper portion of the liquid container in the vertical direction, and restricts detachment of the liquid container from the mounting portion. The operation unit is provided at an upper portion of the liquid container in the vertical direction, and when the liquid container is attached to the attachment unit, the operation unit is located closer to the cover than the first restriction unit, and receives an operation to release the restriction by the first restriction unit. The inclined portion is provided below the liquid container in the vertical direction and below the operation portion, and is inclined upward in the vertical direction as approaching the cover when the liquid container is attached to the attachment portion. Here, the mounting portion includes a first guide portion that guides the inclined portion. Further, the cover is provided with a second restriction portion. When the mounting portion is in the closed state, the second restricting portion protrudes toward the operating portion to restrict the operation of the liquid container. The liquid container is displaceable between a restricting position, in which the movement of the mounting portion in the first direction of the cover in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction is restricted by the first restricting portion, and a releasing position, in which the restriction by the first restricting portion is released and the inclined portion is brought into contact with the first guide portion. In addition, when the liquid container is taken out from the mounting portion, the printing apparatus can relatively move the liquid container and the second regulating portion so that the liquid container and the second regulating portion do not interfere with each other. Thus, when the liquid container is detached from the mounting portion, the printing apparatus can suppress interference between the liquid container and the second regulating portion. As a result, the printing apparatus can suppress the liquid from leaking from the liquid container due to the vibration caused by the interference between the liquid container and the second regulating portion.

Next, the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

Printing device structure

Next, a configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment will be described by taking the printing apparatus 1 as an example.

Here, the three-dimensional coordinate system TC is a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system showing directions in each drawing on which the three-dimensional coordinate system TC is drawn. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the X axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be referred to as the X axis only. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the Y axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be referred to as the Y axis only. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the Z axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be referred to as the Z axis only.

In the following, a case where the negative direction of the Z axis coincides with the vertical direction will be described as an example. The vertical direction may also be referred to as the gravitational direction. In the following description, for convenience of description, the positive direction of the Z axis will be referred to as the upward direction or only the upward direction, and the negative direction of the Z axis will be referred to as the downward direction or only the downward direction. For convenience of explanation, the surface on the positive direction side of the Z axis among the surfaces of the printing apparatus 1 will be referred to as the upper surface, and the surface on the opposite side of the upper surface will be referred to as the lower surface. For convenience of explanation, the surface on the positive direction side of the X axis among the surfaces of the printing apparatus 1 will be referred to as the front surface, and the surface on the opposite side of the front surface will be referred to as the rear surface. For convenience of explanation, the surface on the positive side of the Y axis among the surfaces of the printing apparatus 1 will be referred to as the left surface, and the surface on the opposite side of the left surface will be referred to as the right surface.

The printing apparatus 1 is an inkjet printer that prints an image on a print medium with ink supplied from an ink cartridge IC. The printing apparatus 1 may be any kind of printer as long as it is an inkjet printer.

The printing apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 11, a mounting unit 12, and a cover 13.

The printing unit 11 includes an inkjet printhead, and prints an image on a print medium with ink supplied from the ink cartridge IC. In fig. 1, for simplification of the drawing, a printing portion 11 located inside a printing apparatus 1 is shown as a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped object.

The mounting portion 12 is a component to which one or more ink cartridge ICs are attached and detached. The mounting portion 12 includes a recess 121, and the recess 121 forms a space into which one or more ink cartridge ICs can be inserted from the outside. The recess 121 is formed in the housing of the printing apparatus 1 so as to form a space recessed from the front surface to the rear surface of the printing apparatus 1. Therefore, in the space surrounded by the inner wall of the recess 121, one or more ink cartridge ICs can be inserted from the outside from the front surface toward the rear surface of the printing apparatus 1. The space is a space that can be opened and closed by the cover 13. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, this space will be referred to as an ink cartridge insertion space.

Here, when each of the one or more ink cartridge ICs is mounted to the mounting portion 12, the one or more ink cartridge ICs are inserted into the ink cartridge insertion space in the negative direction of the X axis, respectively. On the other hand, when one or more ink cartridge ICs are detached from the mounting portion 12, the one or more ink cartridge ICs are pulled out from the ink cartridge insertion space in the positive direction of the X axis, respectively. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the positive direction of the X axis will be referred to as the removal direction, and the negative direction of the X axis will be referred to as the attachment direction.

Next, as an example, as shown in fig. 1, a case will be described in which four ink cartridges ICs can be mounted to the mounting portion 12. Therefore, in the example shown in fig. 1, the four ink cartridge ICs are inserted in the ink cartridge insertion space. The four ink cartridges IC are ink cartridges for inks of respective colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the ink cartridge IC for the cyan ink will be referred to as the ink cartridge ICR. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the ink cartridge IC for magenta ink will be referred to as an ink cartridge ICG. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the ink cartridge IC for yellow ink will be referred to as an ink cartridge ICB. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the ink cartridge IC for black ink will be referred to as ink cartridge ICK.

The four ink cartridges IC are each an example of the aforementioned liquid container. The ink contained in each of the four ink cartridges IC is an example of the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion of the liquid container. The four ink cartridges IC each have a liquid reservoir TK for storing ink therein. In fig. 1, the liquid storage TK of each of the four ink cartridges IC is omitted to simplify the drawing.

Here, the structure of the ink cartridge ICR will be described with reference to fig. 2 to 4. The respective configurations of the cartridge ICG, the cartridge ICB, and the cartridge ICK are the same as those of the cartridge ICR. Therefore, the respective configurations of the ink cartridges ICG, ICB, and ICK will not be described.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the ink cartridge ICR in a state of being mounted on the mounting portion 12. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 2 taken along a plane parallel to the XZ plane in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC. In fig. 2, the ink cartridge insertion space is closed by the cover 13.

The shape of the ink cartridge ICR is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The ink cartridge ICR includes a liquid reservoir TK, a connection portion CN, a guide groove GD, a first regulating portion LM1, an operating portion CL, and an inclined portion TP.

The liquid reservoir TK is a member for storing ink supplied to the printing unit 11. The ink stored in the liquid storage TK is supplied to the printing unit 11 via a connection CN described later. In fig. 2, the liquid reservoir TK of the ink cartridge ICR is shown as a quadrangular object for the sake of simplifying the drawing. In fig. 3, the liquid reservoir TK is omitted to simplify the drawing.

The connection portion CN is connected to a connected portion CN2 provided in the mounting portion 12, and ink is supplied to the printing apparatus 1 via the connected portion CN2. In this example, as described above, four ink cartridge ICs are mounted to the mounting portion 12. Accordingly, the mounting portion 12 is provided with a connected portion CN2 connected to the connection portion CN of each of the four ink cartridges IC. The connected portion CN2 provided in the mounting portion 12 has a needle inserted into the connecting portion CN. The ink of the ink cartridge IC mounted on the mounting portion 12 is supplied to the printing portion 11 through the needle. Therefore, the connection portion CN has an insertion port HL through which such a needle is inserted. The needle of the connected portion CN2 connected to the connecting portion CN of the ink cartridge ICR extends in a direction parallel to the X axis. Therefore, when the ink cartridge ICR is inserted into the ink cartridge insertion space in the mounting direction, the needle of the connected portion CN2 connected to the connecting portion CN is inserted into the insertion port HL of the connecting portion CN of the ink cartridge ICR.

Here, the connection portion CN is an elastomer composed of an elastomer (elastomer). The needle inserted into the insertion port HL of the connection portion CN is made of a soft material that is elastically deformable according to the operation of the ink cartridge ICR in the ink cartridge insertion space when inserted into the insertion port HL of the connection portion CN. This suppresses plastic deformation of the connection portion CN and the needle inserted into the connection portion CN during attachment of the ink cartridge ICR to the mounting portion 12 or detachment of the ink cartridge ICR from the mounting portion 12, respectively.

The connection portion CN further includes an elastic member SP. The elastic member SP biases the ink cartridge ICR mounted on the mounting portion 12 in the removal direction. The elastic member SP is, for example, a spring, but may be another elastic member that biases the ink cartridge ICR mounted on the mounting portion 12 in the removal direction instead. Such an elastic member SP can assist the user in removing the ink cartridge ICR from the mounting portion 12. In other words, the connection portion CN is provided with the elastic member SP, so that the user can easily detach the ink cartridge ICR from the mounting portion 12. In the example shown in fig. 4, the elastic member SP is provided in the connection portion CN so as to be located between the main body of the ink cartridge ICR and the connection portion CN. The elastic member SP may be provided on the cover 13, the mounting portion 12, and the like so as to be capable of biasing the ink cartridge ICR mounted on the mounting portion 12 in the removal direction, instead of being provided on the connection portion CN.

The guide groove GD is provided for easily inserting the needle into the insertion port HL of the connecting portion CN. The guide groove GD is provided on the outer surface of the connection portion CN of the ink cartridge ICR. In addition, during the mounting of the ink cartridge ICR to the mounting portion 12, the guide groove GD is guided by the projection of the mounting portion 12. That is, the mounting portion 12 is provided with a protrusion for guiding the guide groove GD of each of the four ink cartridges ICs. The configuration of the projection may be any configuration as long as it can guide the guide grooves GD of the four ink cartridges ICs. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the configuration of such a protrusion is not described based on the drawings. Since the connection portion CN includes such a guide groove GD, the printing apparatus 1 can easily connect the connection portion CN to the connected portion CN2 connected to the connection portion CN when the ink cartridge ICR is mounted on the mounting portion 12.

When the ink cartridge ICR is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the guide groove GD includes a first guide surface GD1, which is open at the front end in the mounting direction and extends in the direction parallel to the X axis, and a second guide surface GD2, which intersects the first guide surface GD 1. In the example shown in fig. 2, the first guide surface GD1 and the second guide surface GD2 are orthogonal to each other. Here, in fig. 2, the second guide surface GD2 is a surface parallel to the XZ plane in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC. The first guide surface GD1 is a surface orthogonal to the XZ plane. When the ink cartridge ICR is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the first guide surface GD1 is inclined upward in the removal direction by a predetermined first angle θ1.

The first regulating portion LM1 is provided at an upper portion of the ink cartridge ICR, and regulates removal of the ink cartridge ICR from the mounting portion 12. The first regulating portion LM1 is a projection-like member projecting upward from an upper portion of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped ink cartridge IC. The surface closest to the front surface of the printing apparatus 1 among the surfaces of the first regulating portion LM1 is a surface on which a wire (wire) provided in the ink cartridge insertion space is caught. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, this surface will be referred to as a first restriction surface. In the case where the ink cartridge ICR is inserted into the ink cartridge insertion space by the ink cartridge ICR so that the ink cartridge ICR is mounted to the mounting portion 12, the line hangs on the first restriction surface. Thus, the operation of the ink cartridge ICR in the positive direction of the X axis is restricted by the line.

The inclined portion TP is provided below the ink cartridge ICR and below the operation portion CL, and is inclined upward in the vertical direction as approaching the cover 13 when the ink cartridge ICR is mounted to the mounting portion 12. Accordingly, when the operation portion CL described later is pressed down from the top, the ink cartridge ICR can be rotated about the rear end TPE of the inclined portion TP located in the vicinity of the connection portion CN into which the needle is inserted, corresponding to the gap between the inclined portion TP and the lower surface of the ink cartridge insertion space. In other words, in this case, the ink cartridge ICR is displaceable about the rear end TPE of the inclined portion TP located in the vicinity of the connection portion CN into which the needle is inserted, corresponding to the gap between the inclined portion TP and the lower surface of the cartridge insertion space. Here, the rear end TPE of the inclined portion TP is the end closest to the rear surface of the printing apparatus 1, among the ends of the inclined portion TP. When such rotation occurs, the inclined portion TP contacts the lower surface of the ink cartridge insertion space. Therefore, when the ink cartridge ICR is detached from the mounting portion 12, the inclined portion TP is guided by the lower surface of the recess 121 forming the cartridge insertion space. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the lower surface of the concave portion 121 will be referred to as a first guide portion GD 3. The first guide portion GD3 has a surface substantially parallel to an XY plane in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC, and guides the inclined portion TP substantially parallel to the XY plane. In the present specification, a plane substantially parallel to the XY plane means that the plane is considered to be parallel to the XY plane even if the plane is inclined by about a few degrees with respect to the XY plane. In the present specification, the fact that a certain surface is substantially parallel to the XY plane means that the surface is considered to be parallel to the XY plane even if the surface has a slight roughness with respect to the XY plane.

Here, if the inclination angle of the inclined portion TP is made larger, the volume of the liquid reservoir TK of the ink cartridge ICR becomes smaller. This will reduce the storage amount of ink in the ink cartridge ICR and is therefore not preferable. On the other hand, in order to allow mounting errors when the ink cartridge ICR is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the inclination angle of the inclined portion TP is preferably large. However, if the first guide portion GD3 is provided after the guide groove GD of the ink cartridge ICR is guided by the projection of the mounting portion 12, the ink cartridge ICR can be stably guided to the mounting portion 12. Therefore, the inclined portion TP is inclined upward in the removal direction and more than the removal direction by a second angle θ2 equal to or smaller than the first angle θ1. This makes it possible to properly guide the ink cartridge ICR to the mounting portion 12 during the mounting process to the mounting portion 12 while suppressing a decrease in the storage amount of the ink in the ink cartridge ICR.

Since the inclined portion TP is provided, the ink cartridge ICR can be rotated between the restricting position and the releasing position when the operation portion CL described later is pressed down from the top as described above. In other words, in this case, the ink cartridge ICR can be displaced between the restricting position and the releasing position. Specifically, the ink cartridge ICR is rotatable about the rear end TPE of the inclined portion TP. More specifically, the ink cartridge ICR is rotatable between a restricting position and a releasing position. The restricting position is a position in which the movement in the removal direction, which is the direction from the mounting portion 12 toward the cover 13, is restricted by the first restricting portion LM1 in the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The release position is a position where the restriction by the first restriction portion LM1 is released and the inclined portion TP contacts the first guide portion GD 3.

The ink cartridge ICR may be configured to rotate around the connection position where the connection portion CN and the connected portion CN2 are connected, instead of the configuration to rotate around the rear end TPE.

The operation portion CL is provided above the ink cartridge ICR, and is located closer to the cover 13 than the first restriction portion LM1 when the ink cartridge ICR is mounted on the mounting portion 12, and receives an operation to release the restriction by the first restriction portion LM 1. When the user presses down the operation portion CL from the top, the ink cartridge ICR rotates from the restricting position to the releasing position around the rear end TPE of the inclined portion TP as described above. Thereby, the wire caught on the first restriction portion LM1 is disengaged from the first restriction portion LM 1. As a result, the ink cartridge ICR can move in the removal direction while being guided along the first guide portion GD 3. That is, the user can detach the ink cartridge ICR from the mounting portion 12.

Here, fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a case where four ink cartridge ICs are mounted to the mounting portion 12. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the case where the operation unit CL of the ink cartridge ICR in the four ink cartridge ICs shown in fig. 5 is pressed from the top down. As shown in fig. 6, when the user presses the operation portion CL from the top down, the ink cartridge ICR rotates from the restricting position to the releasing position around the rear end TPE of the inclined portion TP as described above. As a result, the inclined portion TP contacts the first guide portion GD 3. Fig. 6 shows a case where the inclined portion TP of the ink cartridge ICR is in contact with the first guide portion GD 3. When the inclined portion TP comes into contact with the first guide portion GD3, if the user pulls the ink cartridge ICR in the removal direction, the inclined portion TP is guided by the first guide portion GD 3. As a result, the needle of the connected portion CN2 connected to the connection portion CN of the ink cartridge ICR is pulled out from the insertion port HL of the connection portion CN of the ink cartridge ICR. Thereby, the ink cartridge ICR is detached from the mounting portion 12. Hereinafter, the four ink cartridge ICs will be referred to as ink cartridge ICs unless they are separately distinguished.

The cover 13 switches the state of the mounting portion 12 between an open state in which the mounting portion 12 is opened and a closed state in which the mounting portion 12 is closed. When the mounting portion 12 is in the closed state, as shown in fig. 7, the ink cartridge insertion space is closed by the cover 13 so as not to be visible from the outside of the printing apparatus 1. Here, fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the printing apparatus 1 when the ink cartridge insertion space is closed by the cover 13 and the mounting portion 12 is in the closed state. As shown in fig. 7, in the case where the cartridge insertion space is closed by the cover 13, the user cannot access each of the four cartridge ICs. Therefore, in this case, the user cannot attach and detach each of the four ink cartridges IC to and from the mounting portion 12. On the other hand, in the case where the state of the mounting portion 12 is an open state, the ink cartridge insertion space is opened by the cover 13 so as to be visible from the outside of the printing apparatus 1. Therefore, in this case, the user can attach and detach each of the four ink cartridges IC to and from the mounting portion 12.

The cover 13 further includes a second restriction portion LM2.

As shown in fig. 2, the second regulating portion LM2 is a member that protrudes toward the operating portion CL when the mounting portion 12 is in the closed state, so as to regulate the operation of each of the four ink cartridges IC. The second regulating portion LM2 may be any member as long as it can protrude toward the operating portion CL in the state of the mounting portion 12 to regulate the respective operations of the four ink cartridges IC. In the example shown in fig. 1 and 2, the second regulating portion LM2 is a rectangular flat plate-shaped member that regulates the operation of each of the four ink cartridge ICs.

Here, as shown in fig. 2, when the mounting portion 12 is in the closed state, the second restriction portion LM2 is located in a space between the frame of the ink cartridge ICR and the operating portion CL. Thus, the second regulating portion LM2 regulates the operation of the ink cartridge ICR so that the rotation of the ink cartridge ICR, which is generated when the operating portion CL is pressed down from the top, does not occur. As a result, the second regulating portion LM2 can suppress the ink cartridge ICR from rotating from the regulating position to the releasing position for some reason at the unexpected timing of the user.

Such a second restriction portion LM2 is a member that can switch between a standing state and a lodging state, for example. Here, fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the second regulating portion LM2 in the standing state. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the second restriction portion LM2 shown in fig. 8 when viewed from the other direction. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the second restriction portion LM2 in a collapsed state. Here, in the case where the second regulating portion LM2 cannot be switched from the standing state to the lodging state, for example, if the user is about to detach the ink cartridge ICR from the mounting portion 12, the ink cartridge ICR pulled out in the removal direction interferes with the second regulating portion LM2. Such disturbance may vibrate the ink cartridge ICR, and thus, cause the vibration to cause liquid to leak out of the ink cartridge ICR, which is not preferable. Such a case is not limited to the cartridge ICR, but the same is true for the other three cartridges IC. In the printing apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1 to 10, a member capable of switching between the raised state and the collapsed state is used as the second regulating portion LM2. Thus, when the ink cartridge IC is taken out from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can relatively move the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 so that the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 do not interfere with each other. In other words, in the printing apparatus 1, when the state of the mounting portion 12 is switched from the closed state to the open state by the cover 13, and when the ink cartridge IC is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the second restriction portion LM2 can be made not to overlap with the ink cartridge IC when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed in the mounting direction opposite to the removal direction. In other words, in the printing apparatus 1, when the cover 13 opens the mounting portion 12, and when the ink cartridge IC is mounted to the mounting portion 12, the second restriction portion LM2 can be made to not overlap with the ink cartridge IC when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed in the mounting direction opposite to the removal direction. As a result, the printing device 1 can suppress the occurrence of interference between the ink cartridge IC detached from the attachment portion 12 and the second regulating portion LM2, and can suppress leakage of ink from the ink cartridge IC due to vibration caused by the interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2. This helps to improve the convenience of the user of the printing apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the cover 13 opening the mounting portion 12 means that the mounting portion 12 is in an open state.

In the example shown in fig. 8 to 10, the second restriction portion LM2 is a member that can be switched from the standing state to the removal direction to the lodging state. Thus, even if the user forgets to switch the state of the second regulating portion LM2 from the standing state to the lodging state, the second regulating portion LM2 is pushed by the ink cartridge IC detached from the mounting portion 12 in the removal direction, and is switched from the standing state to the lodging state. In this case, the printing apparatus 1 can also suppress vibration caused by interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2, and can suppress leakage of ink from the ink cartridge IC.

In the example shown in fig. 8 to 10, the cover 13 is provided with a third restriction portion LM3 that restricts the second restriction portion LM2 from falling in the mounting direction so that the second restriction portion LM2 does not switch to a falling state in the mounting direction. The third restriction portion LM3 is, for example, a protrusion protruding upward from the cover 13 in a state where the ink cartridge insertion space is opened. The third regulating portion LM3 may be another member that can regulate the second regulating portion LM2 from falling in the mounting direction. In the example shown in fig. 8 and 10, the third limiting portion LM3 has a sharp distal end, but may have a rounded distal end instead. Further, the height of the cover 13 to the third restriction portion LM3 in the state of opening the ink cartridge insertion space is lower than the height of the cover 13 to the second restriction portion LM2 in the state of opening the ink cartridge insertion space, and is a height that does not overlap with the ink cartridge IC when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed in the mounting direction opposite to the removal direction.

The second restriction portion LM2 may fall in a direction from a standing state, or may be in another direction instead of the removal direction. The second restriction portion LM2 may be configured to switch between the standing state and the lodging state by its own weight without receiving an operation from the user. In this case, when the state of the mounting portion 12 is switched from the closed state to the open state by the cover 13, the second restriction portion LM2 is switched from the standing state to the lodging state by the vibration at the time of the switching. In this case, when the state of the mounting portion 12 is switched from the open state to the closed state by the cover 13, the second restriction portion LM2 is switched from the lodging state to the standing state by the vibration at the time of the switching. Thus, the printing apparatus 1 can switch the state of the second regulating portion LM2 in conjunction with opening and closing the cover 13 without causing the user to perform an additional operation of changing the state of the second regulating portion LM 2. Further, the printing apparatus 1 can simplify the structure of the cover 13 without having to provide a member for changing the state of the second regulating portion LM 2.

As shown in fig. 11, the second restriction portion LM2 may be a member having a plurality of joints that can be bent in a certain direction from the upright state to be switched to the lodging state, but cannot be bent in a direction other than the upright state to be switched to the lodging state. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing another configuration of the second limiting portion LM 2. In the example shown in fig. 11, the second restriction portion LM2 has a plurality of joints that can be bent in the removal direction from the standing state and cannot be bent in a direction other than the removal direction from the standing state when the state of the attachment portion 12 is in the on state. In this case, the printing apparatus 1 can also suppress vibration caused by interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2, and can suppress leakage of ink from the ink cartridge IC.

As shown in fig. 12, the second limiting portion LM2 may be configured to include a state switching portion LMM for switching the state of the second limiting portion LM 2. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the second limiting portion LM 2. When the state of the mounting portion 12 is switched from the closed state to the open state by the cover 13, the state switching portion LMM switches the second restriction portion LM2 from the upright state to the lodged state, and when the state of the mounting portion 12 is switched from the open state to the closed state by the cover 13, the state switching portion LMM switches the second restriction portion LM2 from the lodged state to the upright state. The state switching unit LMM may be any structure as long as it is configured to switch the second limiting unit LM2 from the standing state to the lodging state when the state of the mounting unit 12 is switched from the closed state to the open state by the cover 13, and to switch the second limiting unit LM2 from the lodging state to the standing state when the state of the mounting unit 12 is switched from the open state to the closed state by the cover 13. In the example shown in fig. 12, the state switching unit LMM has one rack and three gears, and switches the state of the second restriction unit LM2 between the standing state and the lodging state by rotation of the three gears relative to the rack. The state switching unit LMM is configured to switch the state of the second restriction unit LM2 in conjunction with the operation of the cover 13. The method for realizing such linkage may be either a known method or a method developed in the future. By providing such a state switching unit LMM, the printing apparatus 1 can switch the state of the second restriction unit LM2 without receiving an operation to switch the state of the second restriction unit LM2 from the user. As a result, the printing apparatus 1 can more reliably suppress interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 without increasing the trouble of the user. In fig. 12, three gears are shown as circular objects, respectively, for the sake of simplifying the drawing. Further, in fig. 12, for simplification of the drawing, the rack is shown as a fan-shaped object. The rack is provided to the mounting portion 12, for example. In fig. 12, the directions in which the three gears rotate are indicated by arrows in the form of a belt. In fig. 12, a square-shaped object drawn on the rear side of each of the three gears is a member that holds each of the three gears, such as a cover or the like. In fig. 12, for simplifying the drawing, a member for connecting the rack and the cover 13 is omitted. Therefore, in fig. 12, the rack is drawn to float from the cover 13, but not actually float.

As shown in fig. 13, the second restriction portion LM2 may be biased by the biasing member SP2, and may be kept in the raised state as long as no external force is applied. Fig. 13 is a view showing still another example of the second limiting portion LM2. Here, the urging member SP2 is, for example, a torsion spring, but may be any urging member if it is an urging member that can maintain the state of the second restriction portion LM2 in the standing state as long as no force is applied from the outside. Fig. 13 shows the second regulating portion LM2 that is raised by the biasing member SP2 in the mounting direction above the opened cover 13. In this case, the second restriction portion LM2 is switched to the lodging state by being applied with a force in the removal direction. In this case, the printing apparatus 1 can also suppress vibration caused by interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2, and as a result, leakage of ink from the ink cartridge IC can be suppressed more reliably.

As described above, the printing apparatus 1 includes: a printing unit 11 that prints on a print medium; a mounting unit 12 to which an ink cartridge IC is attachable and detachable, the ink cartridge IC having a liquid storage unit TK for storing ink supplied to the printing unit 11; and a cover 13 for switching the state of the mounting portion 12 between an open state in which the mounting portion 12 is open and a closed state in which the mounting portion 12 is closed, the ink cartridge IC including: a first restriction portion LM1 provided at an upper portion of the ink cartridge IC in the vertical direction, for restricting the removal of the ink cartridge IC from the mounting portion 12; a mounting portion 12 that is provided above the ink cartridge IC in the vertical direction, and that, when the ink cartridge IC is mounted on the mounting portion 12, is located closer to the cover 13 than the first regulating portion LM1, receives an operation to release the regulation by the first regulating portion LM 1; and an inclined portion TP provided below the mounting portion 12 and inclined upward in the vertical direction as approaching the cover 13 when the ink cartridge IC is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the mounting portion 12 including a first guide portion GD3 for guiding the inclined portion TP, the cover 13 including a second restriction portion LM2 protruding toward the mounting portion 12 in a closed state of the mounting portion 12 and restricting an operation of the ink cartridge IC, the ink cartridge IC being displaceable between a restriction position in which the operation of the ink cartridge IC in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction from the mounting portion 12 toward a removal direction of the cover 13 is restricted by the first restriction portion LM1 and a release position in which the restriction by the first restriction portion LM1 is released and the inclined portion TP comes into contact with the first guide portion GD3, and the ink cartridge IC and the second restriction portion LM2 being movable relative to each other so that the ink cartridge IC does not interfere with each other when the ink cartridge IC is removed from the mounting portion 12. Thus, the printing apparatus 1 can suppress interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 when the ink cartridge IC is detached from the mounting portion 12.

In the printing apparatus 1, when the state of the mounting portion 12 is switched from the closed state to the open state by the cover 13, and when the ink cartridge IC is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the second regulating portion LM2 does not overlap with the ink cartridge IC when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed from the mounting direction opposite to the removal direction.

Further, the second regulating portion LM2 in the printing apparatus 1 may be configured to be switchable between a raised state and a collapsed state.

In the printing apparatus 1, the second regulating portion LM2 may be configured to fall in the removal direction when switching from the standing state to the falling state.

In the printing apparatus 1, the second regulating portion LM2 may be configured to switch between the standing state and the lodging state by its own weight.

Further, the printing apparatus 1 may be configured as described below, and the printing apparatus 1 may include a state switching unit LMM that switches the state of the second restriction unit LM2, wherein the state switching unit LMM switches the second restriction unit LM2 from the standing state to the lodging state when the state of the mounting unit 12 is switched from the closed state to the open state by the cover 13, and wherein the state switching unit LMM switches the second restriction unit LM2 from the lodging state to the standing state when the state of the mounting unit 12 is switched from the open state to the closed state by the cover 13.

Modification 1 of the embodiment

Next, modification 1 of the embodiment will be described. In modification 1 of the embodiment, in place of the configuration in which the second regulating portion LM2 is a member capable of switching between the raised state and the fallen state, in the printing apparatus 1, when the state of the mounting portion 12 is the open state, the cover 13 is opened to a position below the virtual plane including the upper surface of the first guide portion GD3, and the second regulating portion LM2 is relatively moved with respect to the ink cartridge IC so that the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 do not interfere with each other. Thus, when the ink cartridge IC is removed from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can relatively move the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 so that the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 do not interfere with each other. As a result, the printing apparatus 1 can suppress leakage of ink from the ink cartridge IC.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the case of the printing apparatus 1 in a state where the cover 13 is opened. The surface M1 shown in fig. 14 shows an example of a virtual surface including the upper surface of the first guide portion GD 3. As shown in fig. 14, in modification 1 of the embodiment, when the cover 13 is in an open state, that is, when the mounting portion 12 is in an open state, the cover 13 is opened to a position below the virtual plane M1 including the upper surface of the first guide portion GD 3. That is, when the ink cartridge IC is detached from the mounting portion 12 in the removal direction, the printing apparatus 1 moves the second regulating portion LM2 relative to the ink cartridge IC so that the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 do not interfere with each other. Thus, in the printing apparatus 1, when the state of the mounting portion 12 is switched from the closed state to the open state by the cover 13, and when the ink cartridge IC is mounted to the mounting portion 12, the second restriction portion LM2 does not overlap with the ink cartridge IC when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed from the mounting direction opposite to the removal direction. As a result, when the ink cartridge IC is detached from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can suppress the occurrence of interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second restriction portion LM 2.

As shown in fig. 6, a cover portion 13A may be provided on the cover 13, and the cover portion 13A may cover a part of the exterior surface of the printing apparatus 1 when the cover 13 is in a closed state. In a state where the cover 13 is opened, the cover portion 13A protrudes in the vertical direction. In this configuration, the cover 13 may be opened so that the tip of the cover portion 13A is positioned below the virtual plane M1 including the upper surface of the first guide portion GD 3. Thus, when the ink cartridge IC is detached from the mounting portion 12 in the removal direction, the ink cartridge IC can be prevented from interfering with the covering portion 13A.

Modification 2 of the embodiment

Next, modification 2 of the embodiment will be described. In modification 2 of the embodiment, the printing apparatus 1 includes a second guide portion GD4 instead of the second regulating portion LM2, and the second guide portion GD4 is configured to be switchable between a raised state and a reclined state, and is configured to be switchable between a guide position for guiding the ink cartridge IC when the ink cartridge IC is taken out from the mounting portion 12, and a storage position for storing the ink cartridge IC in the cover 13. When the ink cartridge IC is removed from the mounting portion 12, the second guide portion GD4 in the guide posture guides the ink cartridge IC to a position above the upper end of the second regulating portion LM2 in the vertical direction. Thus, when the ink cartridge IC is taken out from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can relatively move the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 so that the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 do not interfere with each other. As a result, when the ink cartridge IC is detached from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can suppress the occurrence of interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second restriction portion LM 2.

Such a second guide portion GD4 is provided on a surface of the cover 13 on which the second regulating portion LM2 is provided. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the cover 13 provided with the second guide portion GD 4. In the example shown in fig. 15, the second guide portion GD4 is a substantially flat plate-shaped member. The second guide portion GD4 is rotatable about a predetermined axis, and can switch between the guide posture and the storage posture by this rotation. In this example, the predetermined axis coincides with the rotation axis of the cover 13, but may be configured not to coincide with the rotation axis of the cover 13. The posture of the second guide portion GD4 is changed by such rotation of the second guide portion GD4 about a predetermined axis. More specifically, the second guide portion GD4 can be switched between a posture substantially parallel to the cover 13 and a posture inclined with respect to the cover 13 by rotation about a predetermined axis. The posture substantially parallel to the cover 13 in the posture of the second guide portion GD4 is a posture in which, of the postures of the second guide portion GD4, the surface provided with the second regulating portion LM2 among the surfaces provided with the cover 13 is substantially parallel to the largest surface among the surfaces provided with the second guide portion GD4 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. Among the postures of the second guide portions GD4, the posture inclined with respect to the cover 13 is a posture in which the largest surface of the surfaces of the second guide portions GD4 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape among the postures of the second guide portions GD4 is inclined with respect to the surface of the surfaces of the cover 13 on which the second regulating portion LM2 is provided.

Here, an opening through which the second restricting portion LM2 can be inserted is formed in the second guide portion GD4. In order that the second guide portion GD4 does not interfere with the second restricting portion LM2 when the posture of the second guide portion GD4 is substantially parallel to the cover 13, the opening is formed in the second guide portion GD4. Therefore, the second guide portion GD4 can be placed in a posture substantially parallel to the cover 13 without interfering with the second regulating portion LM 2. The storage posture of the second guide portion GD4 is a posture substantially parallel to the cover 13. The second guide portion GD4 may be configured without an opening through which the second restricting portion LM2 can be inserted. In this case, the shape of the second guide portion GD4 is a shape that does not overlap the second regulating portion LM2 in a direction orthogonal to a surface provided with the second regulating portion LM2 among the surfaces of the cover 13 when the storage posture is established, and the shape of the second guide portion GD4 may be any shape as long as the shape can guide the ink cartridge IC to a position above the upper end of the second regulating portion LM2 in the vertical direction when the ink cartridge IC is taken out from the mounting portion 12.

On the other hand, the guiding posture of the second guiding portion GD4 is a posture in which the second guiding portion GD4 is inclined with respect to the cover 13. However, the guide posture of the second guide portion GD4 is a posture in which the second regulating portion LM2 is not inserted into the opening of the second guide portion GD4. Thus, the object guided by the surface of the second guide portion GD4, which is not opposed to the cover 13, does not interfere with the second restricting portion LM 2. As a result, when the ink cartridge IC is taken out from the mounting portion 12, the second guide portion GD4 of the guide posture can guide the ink cartridge IC to a position above the upper end of the second regulating portion LM2 in the vertical direction. That is, when the ink cartridge IC is taken out from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can relatively move the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 so that the ink cartridge IC and the second regulating portion LM2 do not interfere with each other.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the second guide portion GD4 in the guide posture. In the example shown in fig. 16, a biasing member SP3 is provided between the second guide portion GD4 and the cover 13, and the biasing member SP3 biases the second guide portion GD4 so that the posture of the second guide portion GD4 becomes the guide posture. The biasing member SP3 is, for example, a spring, but may be another biasing member that can bias the second guide portion GD4 so as to set the posture of the second guide portion GD4 to the guide posture. By providing the lid 13 with such a biasing member SP3, when the lid 13 is closed as shown in fig. 17, that is, when the mounting portion 12 is in the closed state, the second guide portion GD4 is pushed by the ink cartridge IC and is switched to the storage posture. Fig. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the second guide portion GD4 in the storage posture. In this case, the second guide portion GD4 is switched from the guide posture to the storage posture, and the second guide portion GD4 can suppress rotation of the ink cartridge IC, and the second guide portion GD4 can guide the ink cartridge IC to a position above the upper end of the second regulating portion LM2 in the vertical direction by switching the second guide portion GD4 from the storage posture to the guide posture. The biasing member SP3 is an example of a biasing member included in a posture changing section that changes the posture of the second guide portion GD4 between the guide posture and the storage posture. The printing apparatus 1 may be configured to include, as the posture changing section, another member for changing the posture of the second guide unit GD4 between the guide posture and the storage posture. Further, since the biasing member SP3 is provided, the printing apparatus 1 can switch the posture of the second guide portion GD4 in association with the opening/closing of the cover 13 without requiring an additional operation of changing the posture of the second guide portion GD4 by the user. Further, the printing apparatus 1 does not need to include a member for receiving an operation for changing the state of the second regulating portion LM2, and the structure of the cover 13 can be simplified.

Modification 3 of the embodiment

Next, modification 3 of the embodiment will be described. In modification 3 of the embodiment, instead of the second regulating portion LM2 being a member capable of switching between the standing state and the lodging state, the printing apparatus 1 is provided with a third guide portion GD5, and the third guide portion GD5 guides the ink cartridge IC upward in the removal direction when the ink cartridge IC is detached from the mounting portion 12.

Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the mounting portion 12 provided with the third guide portion GD 5. In fig. 18, the cover 13 is omitted to simplify the drawing. In fig. 18, the appearance of the recess 121 is shown when none of the four ink cartridges ICs is mounted to the mounting portion 12, in order to facilitate the observation of the case where the third guide portion GD5 is provided to the mounting portion 12. In the example shown in fig. 18, the third guide portion GD5 is provided on a surface closest to the right surface of the printing device 1, among the surfaces of the recess 121. When the ink cartridge ICR is detached from the mounting portion 12, the third guide portion GD5 guides the ink cartridge ICR upward in the removal direction. Thereby, the printing apparatus 1 can guide the ink cartridge ICR to a position above the upper end of the second regulating portion LM2 in the vertical direction. As a result, when the ink cartridge ICR is removed from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can relatively move the ink cartridge ICR and the second regulating portion LM2 so that the ink cartridge ICR and the second regulating portion LM2 do not interfere with each other, and when the ink cartridge ICR is removed from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can suppress the ink cartridge ICR and the second regulating portion LM2 from interfering with each other. In order to guide the ink cartridge ICR by the third guide portion GD5 provided in the mounting portion 12, the ink cartridge ICR is provided with a protrusion TH guided by the third guide portion GD 5.

Fig. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the ink cartridge ICR provided with the protrusion TH. In the example shown in fig. 19, the protrusion TH is provided on a surface closest to the right surface of the printing apparatus 1 among the surfaces of the ink cartridges ICR, so that the ink cartridges ICR are guided upward in the removal direction by the third guide GD5 provided in the mounting portion 12 during the removal of the ink cartridges ICR from the mounting portion 12. As shown in fig. 20, the third guide portion GD5 is provided on the surface closest to the left surface of the printing device 1, among the surfaces of the ink cartridges ICR. Fig. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the ink cartridge ICR provided with the third guide portion GD5. When the ink cartridge IC, that is, the ink cartridge ICG mounted on the mounting portion 12 beside the ink cartridge ICR is detached from the mounting portion 12, the third guide portion GD5 provided to the ink cartridge ICR guides the ink cartridge ICG upward in the removal direction. In order to guide the ink cartridge ICG, the ink cartridge ICG is provided with a protrusion TH guided by a third guide portion GD5 provided in the ink cartridge ICR. The third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICG have the same configuration as the third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICR. Therefore, the third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICG are not illustrated.

When the ink cartridge ICB is detached from the mounting portion 12, the third guide portion GD5 provided to the ink cartridge ICG guides the ink cartridge ICB upward in the removal direction. In order to guide the ink cartridge ICB, the ink cartridge ICB is provided with a protrusion TH guided by a third guide portion GD5 provided in the ink cartridge ICB. The third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICB have the same configuration as the third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICR. Therefore, the third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICB are not described in the drawings.

When the ink cartridge ICK is detached from the mounting portion 12, the third guide portion GD5 provided in the ink cartridge ICB guides the ink cartridge ICK to the upper side of the removal direction. In order to guide the ink cartridge ICK, the ink cartridge ICK is provided with a protrusion TH guided by a third guide portion GD5 provided in the ink cartridge ICK. The third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICK have the same configuration as the third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICR. Therefore, the third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICK are not described in the drawings.

In addition, the mounting portion 12 is provided with a protrusion TH for assisting the third guide portion GD5 of the ink cartridge ICB in guiding the ink cartridge ICK during removal of the ink cartridge ICK. More specifically, the protruding portion TH is provided on the surface closest to the left surface of the printing apparatus 1, among the surfaces of the mounting portion 12. Fig. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the mounting portion 12 provided with the protruding portion TH. In fig. 21, the cover 13 is omitted for the sake of simplifying the drawing.

When the printing apparatus 1 is viewed toward the left surface of the printing apparatus 1, and when four cartridge ICs are mounted on the mounting portion 12, the protruding portion TH of each of the four cartridge ICs substantially overlaps with the protruding portion TH provided on the mounting portion 12 except for offset due to mounting error. Further, when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed toward the left surface of the printing apparatus 1, and when four cartridge ICs are mounted on the mounting portion 12, the third guide portion GD5 provided in each of the four cartridge ICs substantially overlaps the third guide portion GD5 provided in the mounting portion 12 except for a deviation due to a mounting error.

As described above, in modification 3 of the embodiment, the third guide portion GD5 and the protrusion portion TH are provided in each of the mounting portion 12 and the four ink cartridges IC. Thus, when the four ink cartridge ICs are detached from the mounting portions 12, respectively, the four ink cartridge ICs are guided to the upper side of the removal direction toward the removal direction. As a result, when the ink cartridge IC is detached from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can suppress the occurrence of interference between the ink cartridge IC and the second restriction portion LM 2.

Here, fig. 22 to 25 show a case where the ink cartridge ICR according to modification 3 of the embodiment is guided by the third guide portion GD5 when the ink cartridge ICR is detached. Fig. 22 shows an example of the case of the ink cartridge ICR when mounted on the mounting portion 12. The protrusion TH shown in fig. 22 is a protrusion TH provided in the ink cartridge ICR. The third guide portion GD5 shown in fig. 22 is the third guide portion GD5 provided in the mounting portion 12, which is not shown in fig. 22. Fig. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the case of the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 22 when the operating section CL of the ink cartridge ICR is pressed down from above.

Fig. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 23 is pulled out halfway in the removal direction by the user. Fig. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the ink cartridge ICR shown in fig. 24 is further pulled out toward the removal direction by the user. As shown in fig. 22 to 25, the ink cartridge ICR is guided upward in the removal direction by the third guide portion GD5. Thus, when the ink cartridge ICR is detached from the mounting portion 12, the printing apparatus 1 can suppress the ink cartridge ICR from interfering with the second restriction portion LM 2. The operations of the cartridge ICG, the cartridge ICB, and the cartridge ICK when the cartridge ICG, the cartridge ICB, and the cartridge ICK are detached are the same as those of the cartridge ICR when the cartridge ICR is detached. That is, when the cartridge ICs are detached from the mounting portion 12 for each of the four cartridge ICs, the printing apparatus 1 can suppress the cartridge ICs from interfering with the second restriction portion LM 2.

The matters described above may be arbitrarily combined.

For example, although the first guide portion GD3 is the lower surface of the recess 121 in the present embodiment, the printing device 1 may be provided with other members for guiding the inclined portion TP instead.

For example, the first regulating portion LM1 in the present embodiment is provided at the upper portion of the ink cartridge ICR, but may be provided at another portion of the ink cartridge ICR instead. Similarly, the position where the operation unit CL is provided may be changed as appropriate.

The present embodiment is also applicable to a printing apparatus capable of mounting a cartridge having a different shape and configuration from the cartridge IC. That is, the printing apparatus 1 may be a printing apparatus as described below, including: a printing unit that prints on a printing medium; a mounting part which can be detached from a liquid container having a liquid storage part for storing the liquid supplied to the printing part; and a cover for switching the state of the mounting portion between an open state in which the mounting portion is open and a closed state in which the mounting portion is closed, wherein the liquid container includes: a first restricting portion restricting detachment of the liquid containing body from the mounting portion; and an operation unit that receives an operation to release the restriction by the first restriction unit, wherein the cover includes: and a second regulating portion that, when the mounting portion is in the closed state, protrudes toward the operation portion to regulate an operation of the liquid container, wherein the liquid container is displaceable between a regulating position in which the operation of the mounting portion in a first direction toward the cover in a direction orthogonal to a vertical direction is regulated by the first regulating portion, and a releasing position in which the regulation of the first regulating portion is released, and wherein when the liquid container is taken out from the mounting portion, the printing apparatus can relatively move the liquid container and the second regulating portion so that the liquid container and the second regulating portion do not interfere with each other.

In the printing apparatus described above, the matters of embodiments and modifications 1 to 3 may be arbitrarily combined.

As described above, the printing apparatus according to the embodiment includes: a printing unit that prints on a printing medium; a mounting portion to which a liquid container having a liquid storage portion for storing the liquid supplied to the printing portion is attachable and detachable; and a cover for switching the state of the mounting portion between an open state in which the mounting portion is open and a closed state in which the mounting portion is closed, wherein the liquid container includes: a first restriction portion provided at an upper portion of the liquid container in the vertical direction, for restricting detachment of the liquid container from the mounting portion; and an operation unit which is provided at an upper portion of the liquid container in the vertical direction, and which, when the liquid container is attached to the attachment unit, is located closer to the cover than the first restriction unit, and which receives an operation to release the restriction by the first restriction unit; and an inclined portion provided below the liquid container in the vertical direction and located below the operation portion, the installation portion being inclined upward in the vertical direction as approaching the cover when the liquid container is installed in the installation portion, the installation portion including: the first guide part guides the inclined part, and the cover is provided with: and a second restriction portion protruding toward the operation portion in a state where the attachment portion is closed, the second restriction portion restricting the movement of the liquid container, the liquid container being displaceable between a restriction position in which the movement of the attachment portion in a first direction toward the cover in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction is restricted by the first restriction portion, and a release position in which the restriction of the first restriction portion is released and the inclined portion is brought into contact with the first guide portion, the liquid container and the second restriction portion being movable relative to each other so that the liquid container and the second restriction portion do not interfere with each other when the liquid container is taken out from the attachment portion. Thus, when the liquid container is detached from the mounting portion, the printing apparatus can suppress interference between the liquid container and the second regulating portion. In the above-described example, the printing apparatus 1 is an example of the printing apparatus. In the above-described example, the printing unit 11 is an example of the printing unit. In the above-described example, the liquid storage TK is an example of the liquid storage. In the above-described example, the ink cartridge IC is an example of the liquid container. In the above-described example, the mounting portion 12 is an example of the mounting portion. In the above-described example, the cover 13 is an example of the cover. In the above-described example, the first restriction portion LM1 is an example of the first restriction portion. In the above-described example, the operation unit CL is an example of the operation unit. In the above-described example, the inclined portion TP is an example of the inclined portion. In the above-described example, the first guide portion GD3 is an example of the first guide portion. In the above-described example, the second limiting portion LM2 is an example of the second limiting portion.

Notes attached

[1]

A printing apparatus includes:

a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium;

a mounting unit configured to be attachable to and detachable from a liquid container having a liquid storage unit for storing liquid supplied to the printing unit; and

a cover for switching the state of the mounting part between an open state in which the mounting part is opened and a closed state in which the mounting part is closed,

the liquid container is provided with:

a first restricting portion provided at an upper portion of the liquid container in a vertical direction, for restricting detachment of the liquid container from the mounting portion; and

an operation portion provided on an upper portion of the liquid container in a vertical direction, and located closer to the cover than the first regulating portion when the liquid container is attached to the attaching portion, the operation portion receiving an operation to release the regulation by the first regulating portion, and

an inclined portion provided below the liquid container in the vertical direction and located below the operation portion, the inclined portion being inclined upward in the vertical direction as approaching the cover when the liquid container is mounted to the mounting portion,

The mounting portion includes: a first guide portion for guiding the inclined portion,

the cover is provided with: a second regulating portion protruding toward the operation portion in the closed state of the attachment portion, the second regulating portion regulating an operation of the liquid container,

the liquid container is displaceable between a restricting position in which the movement of the mounting portion in a first direction toward the cover in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction is restricted by the first restricting portion, and a releasing position in which the restriction by the first restricting portion is released and the inclined portion is brought into contact with the first guide portion,

when the liquid container is taken out from the mounting portion, the liquid container and the second regulating portion can be moved relatively so that the liquid container and the second regulating portion do not interfere with each other.

[2]

The printing apparatus according to [1], wherein the second restriction portion does not overlap with the liquid containing body when the printing apparatus is viewed in an installation direction opposite to the first direction in a case where the cover opens the installation portion and in a case where the liquid containing body is installed to the installation portion.

[3]

The printing apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein the second regulating portion is a member capable of switching between a standing state and a lodging state.

[4]

The printing apparatus according to [3], wherein the second restriction portion falls in the first direction when switching from the standing state to the falling state.

[5]

The printing apparatus according to [3] or [4], wherein the second regulating portion switches the standing state and the lodging state by its own weight.

[6]

The printing apparatus according to any one of [3] to [5], comprising:

a state switching part for switching the state of the second limiting part,

the state switching portion switches the second restriction portion from the standing state to the lodging state when the state of the mounting portion is switched from the closed state to the open state by the cover, and switches the second restriction portion from the lodging state to the standing state when the state of the mounting portion is switched from the open state to the closed state by the cover.

[7]

The printing apparatus according to [1], comprising:

a second guide portion capable of switching a posture to a guiding posture for guiding the liquid container and a storage posture for storing in the cover when the liquid container is taken out from the mounting portion,

When the liquid container is taken out from the mounting portion, the second guide portion in the guide posture guides the liquid container to a position above an upper end of the second regulating portion in the vertical direction.

[8]

The printing apparatus according to [7], comprising:

a posture changing unit that changes a posture of the second guide unit between the guide posture and the storage posture,

the posture changing section changes the posture of the second guide section to the guide posture when the state of the mounting section is changed from the closed state to the open state by the cover, and changes the posture of the second guide section to the storage posture when the state of the mounting section is changed from the open state to the closed state by the cover.

[9]

The printing apparatus according to [8], wherein the posture changing section includes:

and a biasing member that biases the second guide portion in a direction in which the posture of the second guide portion becomes the guide posture.

[10]

The printing apparatus according to [1], wherein one of a third guide portion and a protruding portion is provided on one of two surfaces orthogonal to a width direction of the surface of the liquid container, the width direction intersecting the first direction and the vertical direction, the third guide portion guides the liquid container to a position above the first direction, the protruding portion is guided by the third guide portion,

The other of the third guide portion and the protruding portion is provided in the mounting portion.

[11]

The printing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein,

the liquid container is provided with:

a connection unit which is connected to a connected unit provided in the mounting unit and which supplies the liquid; and

a guide groove provided on an outer surface of the connection portion, the guide groove being guided by the protrusion of the installation portion during installation of the liquid container to the installation portion,

the guide groove includes: a first guide surface having a front end in a mounting direction opposite to the first direction open forward, the first guide surface extending in the first direction; and a second guide surface intersecting the first guide surface.

[12]

The printing apparatus according to [11], wherein,

when the liquid container is attached to the attachment portion, the first guide surface is inclined upward in the first direction at a predetermined first angle toward the first direction,

the inclined portion is inclined upward in the first direction at a second angle smaller than the first angle toward the first direction.

[13]

The printing apparatus according to [1], wherein,

When the state of the mounting portion is the open state, the cover is opened to a position below a virtual plane including the upper surface of the first guide portion, and the second regulating portion is moved relative to the liquid containing body so that the liquid containing body and the second regulating portion do not interfere with each other.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Deletion, etc.

Claims

1. A printing device is characterized in that,

the printing device is provided with:

a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium;

a liquid container having a liquid storage unit for storing the liquid supplied to the printing unit;

a mounting unit to which the liquid container can be attached and detached; and

the liquid container is provided with:

a first restricting portion provided at an upper portion of the liquid container in a vertical direction, for restricting detachment of the liquid container from the mounting portion;

An operation unit which is provided above the liquid container in the vertical direction, and which, when the liquid container is attached to the attachment unit, is located closer to the cover than the first restriction unit, and which receives an operation to release the restriction by the first restriction unit; and

the cover is provided with: a second regulating portion projecting toward the operation portion to regulate an operation of the liquid container when the mounting portion is in the closed state,

2. A printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the second restriction portion does not overlap the liquid containing body when the printing apparatus is viewed in an installation direction opposite to the first direction in a case where the cover opens the installation portion and in a case where the liquid containing body is installed to the installation portion.

3. Printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the second regulating portion is a member capable of switching between a standing state and a lodging state.

4. A printing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein,

the second restriction portion falls in the first direction when switching from the standing state to the falling state.

5. A printing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein,

the second restriction portion switches between a standing state and a lodging state by its own weight.

6. A printing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein,

The printing device is provided with: a state switching part for switching the state of the second limiting part,

7. A printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the printing device is provided with: a second guide portion capable of switching a posture to a guide posture for guiding the liquid container when the liquid container is taken out from the mounting portion and a storage posture for storing the liquid container in the cover,

8. The printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the printing unit is configured to,

the printing device is provided with: a posture changing unit that changes a posture of the second guide unit between the guide posture and the storage posture,

9. A printing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein,

the posture changing section includes: and a biasing member that biases the second guide portion in a direction in which the posture of the second guide portion becomes the guide posture.

10. A printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

one of a third guide portion and a protruding portion is provided on one of two surfaces orthogonal to a width direction of the surfaces of the liquid container, the width direction intersecting the first direction and the vertical direction, the third guide portion guides the liquid container to a position above the first direction, the protruding portion is guided by the third guide portion,

the mounting portion is provided with the other of the third guide portion and the protruding portion.

11. A printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the liquid container is provided with:

the guide groove includes: a first guide surface having a front end in a mounting direction opposite to the first direction open forward, the first guide surface extending in the first direction;

and a second guide surface intersecting the first guide surface.

12. The printing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the printing unit is configured to,

13. A printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,