CN217993891U - Ink box - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses an ink box, its detachably installs on printing device, including box body and liquid detection portion, the box body is equipped with the chamber that holds the ink, just the box body has front surface and rear surface respectively along the front and back of ink horn installation direction, has the top surface along the top of ink horn installation direction, with the relative basal surface in top surface, liquid detection portion set up on the box body, the intercommunication hold the chamber, be used for detecting the liquid measure state that holds the intracavity, liquid detection portion part is in the top of box body extends along ink horn installation direction, just liquid detection portion extension with have the clearance between the top surface, so that liquid detection portion with hold the chamber and keep apart in the gravity direction. The utility model discloses ink box, through keeping apart the setting with liquid detection portion and holding the chamber, when the ink box takes place to rock, the ink is difficult for also attaching to the next door of buoy or liquid detection portion, makes the ink detect as far as possible and receives the ink to attach to the influence that causes and reduce as far as possible.

Description

Ink box

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a printing apparatus technical field, especially an ink horn.

Background

An ink cartridge is a detachable part widely used in a printing apparatus for supplying consumables to the printing apparatus.

In the prior art, a liquid detection cavity is generally arranged on an ink box, the liquid detection cavity is directly connected with an ink storage cavity of the ink box, a buoy is arranged in the ink box, and the buoy can float through ink and is partially located in the liquid detection cavity. When the ink box is installed on the printing device, the optical sensor is arranged on the printing device, the liquid detection cavity of the ink box is positioned in the light path of the optical sensor, and the floating mark in the ink box can block the light path of the optical sensor in the liquid detection cavity through the buoyancy of ink, so that the printing device can judge the ink amount in the ink box through the light intensity received by the optical sensor.

However, in the conventional ink cartridge, when the ink cartridge is shaken, ink is easily attached to the float or the partition wall of the liquid detection chamber, which affects the rotation of the float and causes the ink to be detected as inaccurate as possible.

Therefore, a solution to the above-mentioned problems is needed.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In order to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides an ink cartridge to solve the above technical problems.

The utility model discloses a reach its purpose, the technical scheme of adoption as follows:

an ink cartridge detachably mountable to a printing apparatus, comprising:

the ink box comprises a box body, a front cover, a back cover and a bottom cover, wherein the box body is provided with an accommodating cavity for accommodating ink, the front and the back of the box body along the installation direction of the ink box are respectively provided with a front surface and a back surface, the top surface is arranged above the box body along the installation direction of the ink box, and the bottom surface is opposite to the top surface;

the liquid detection part is arranged on the box body, is communicated with the containing cavity and is used for detecting the liquid amount state in the containing cavity, the liquid detection part extends along the installation direction of the ink box above the box body, and a gap is formed between the extending part of the liquid detection part and the top surface of the box body, so that the liquid detection part and the containing cavity are isolated in the gravity direction.

In the ink cartridge with the structure, the liquid detection part is separated from the accommodating cavity, so that when the ink cartridge shakes, ink is not easy to adhere to the buoy or the partition wall of the liquid detection part, and the influence of ink adhesion on ink detection is reduced as much as possible.

Preferably, in some embodiments, a gap is located between a bottom surface of the liquid detection part and a top surface of the cartridge body to isolate the liquid detection part from the accommodation chamber in a gravity direction. Therefore, when the ink box shakes, the ink accommodated in the accommodating cavity is not easy to adhere to the liquid detection part.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the liquid detection portion and the accommodation chamber are respectively located on lower sides of the gap in the gravity direction when the ink cartridge is mounted to the printing apparatus. Thus, when the ink cartridge is mounted, the gap can separate the liquid detection part and the accommodating cavity in the gravity direction, and the ink accommodated in the accommodating cavity is not easy to adhere to the liquid detection part.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the liquid detection device further comprises a float, the float is installed in the accommodating cavity and can rotate in the accommodating cavity, a blocking portion is arranged at one end of the float, the blocking portion can extend into the liquid detection portion, and the blocking portion can move in the liquid detection portion when the float rotates. Therefore, when the ink box shakes, the probability that ink is attached to the buoy is greatly reduced, and the buoy can also move in the liquid detection part through the buoyancy of the ink contained in the containing cavity and is used for detecting the ink quantity of the ink box.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the liquid detection portion is provided with an opening through which the liquid detection portion communicates with the accommodation chamber, and the blocking portion is capable of protruding into the liquid detection portion. Thus, the liquid detection portion can communicate with the ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge can detect the amount of ink by the liquid detection portion.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the box body is provided with a box cover, the liquid detection part is arranged on the box cover, and when the box cover is installed on the box body, the liquid detection part is provided with an opening communicated with the accommodating cavity, and the opening faces away from the installation direction of the ink box. Therefore, when the box cover is installed on the box body, the liquid detection part is communicated with the accommodating cavity, so that the ink box can detect the ink amount through the liquid detection part.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the liquid detection portion is a single prism detection portion. Thus, the amount of ink in the ink cartridge can be detected directly by the single prism detection unit.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the cartridge further comprises a light shielding portion provided on the cartridge body, and the light shielding portion is provided on a front side of the liquid detection portion in the cartridge mounting direction. Therefore, the light shielding part can be used for detecting whether the ink box is installed in place on the printing device.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the liquid detection portion and the light shielding portion are disposed on the same side of the cartridge, and the liquid detection portion is not higher than the light shielding portion on the cartridge. Therefore, the liquid detection part is effectively protected from being damaged when the ink box collides or falls due to the fact that the height of the liquid detection part is not higher than that of the light shielding part.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the ink cartridge further comprises a locking portion provided on the cartridge body, the ink cartridge is capable of being snapped onto the printing apparatus by the locking portion, and the locking portion is located on a rear side of the liquid detection portion in the cartridge mounting direction. Thus, the ink cartridge can be fixed to the printing apparatus by providing the locking portion.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the locking part and the liquid detection part are provided on the same side of the cartridge body, and the locking part is higher on the cartridge body than the top of the liquid detection part. Therefore, the locking part is arranged on the box body and is higher than the liquid detection part, so that the liquid detection part can be effectively protected from being damaged when the ink box collides or falls.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without inventive labor.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the position A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the internal structure of the box body of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic view of an internal structure of a box body according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge installed in a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a perspective view of a printing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a first cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge installed in a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the position B in FIG. 10;

fig. 12 is an exploded schematic view of an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure: 1. a printing device; 11. a mounting cavity; 12. an ink supply unit; 13. a stylus; 14. a detection unit; 141. a first detecting member; 142. a second detecting member; 15. a fastening part; 2. a case body; 21. an accommodating chamber; 22. a chip; 221. a substrate; 222. an electrical interface; 23. a liquid detection unit; 231. a gap; 232. an opening; 233. an edge; 234. a bevel; 235. a main body; 236. a box cover; 24. a light shielding portion; 241. a visor; 242. a shield wall; 25. an ink outlet; 26. a groove; 27. a float; 271. a shielding portion; 272. a float; 28. a rotating shaft; 29. a locking portion; 3. a handle.

Detailed Description

For better understanding of the technical solutions of the present invention, the following detailed descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the overall structure of the ink cartridge of the present invention is schematically illustrated.

Referring to fig. 1 to 9, the present embodiment provides an ink cartridge for mounting a printing apparatus 1 (e.g., a printer), wherein the printing apparatus 1 is provided with a mounting chamber 11, and the ink cartridge is detachably mounted in the mounting chamber 11. The ink cartridge stores consumables for development, such as: and (3) ink. When the printing apparatus 1 prints, the consumables in the cartridge may be displayed on a printing medium (e.g., paper, or other printing medium that can carry consumables). One or more mounting cavities 11 may be provided on the printing apparatus 1, and one or more ink cartridges may be mounted thereon, and may be provided with one or more consumables. Generally, the printing apparatus 1 has a plurality of installation cavities 11 (e.g. 4, 5, 6) arranged side by side, each installation cavity 11 can be installed with an ink cartridge, the plurality of ink cartridges may be of the same color or different colors, the shape of the ink cartridge can be adapted to the shape of the installation cavity 11, so that the ink cartridge can be installed on the installation cavity 11, the ink cartridge has an ink outlet 25, the installation cavity 11 has an ink supply unit 12, the ink supply unit 12 is provided with an ink supply needle (not shown), when the ink cartridge is installed on the installation cavity 11, the ink supply needle can be inserted into the ink outlet 25 of the ink cartridge, so that the ink supply needle can communicate with the ink cartridge, so that the ink cartridge can supply ink to the ink cartridge. The structure of the printing apparatus 1 is conventional and will not be described here.

Wherein, the ink box includes box body 2 and the chip 22 of setting on box body 2, liquid detection portion 23, shading portion 24 and ink outlet 25, be equipped with the chamber 21 that holds the ink in the box body 2, ink outlet 25 can communicate and hold chamber 21 and printing device 1, be used for installing and supplying ink for printing device 1 in installation cavity 11, liquid detection portion 23 and shading portion 24 all set up on box body 2, liquid detection portion 23 can be used for detecting the interior china ink volume of box body 2, shading portion 24 and chip 22 all can detect the installation condition of ink box at printing device 1.

The cartridge body 2 has a front surface a constituting a mounting direction side of the ink cartridge to the mounting chamber 11, a rear surface b opposed to the front surface a so as to have the front surface a and the rear surface b respectively in front and rear of the mounting direction of the ink cartridge, a top surface c intersecting the front surface a and the rear surface b, a top surface c located above in the mounting direction of the ink cartridge, a bottom surface d opposed to the top surface c, a left surface e intersecting the front surface a, the rear surface b and the top surface c, a right surface f opposed to the left surface e, and the front surface a, the rear surface b, the top surface c, the bottom surface d, the left surface e and the right surface f are connected to each other so that the cartridge body 2 forms a substantially rectangular parallelepiped cartridge body 21 structure. To better explain the components of the ink cartridge, a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system XYZ axis is established, two X axis, Y axis and Z axis are perpendicular to each other, the cartridge body 2 is set in the vertical direction in the Z axis direction in the use state, i.e., the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface is + Z direction, the horizontal direction is X direction, i.e., the direction from the rear surface b to the front surface is + X direction, the mounting direction of the cartridge body 2 and the length direction of the cartridge body 2, and the width of the cartridge body 21 is the second direction Y, i.e., the direction from the left surface e to the right surface f is + Y direction.

In some embodiments, the chip 22 is disposed on the ink cartridge, and in the mounting direction of the ink cartridge, the chip 22 is located at the front side of the shading portion 24, the chip 22 can be used to record information such as the amount of ink in the ink cartridge, the number of times of using the ink cartridge, and the like, and can transmit information on the ink cartridge to the printing device 1 by being electrically connected to the printing device 1 when the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing device 1, so as to avoid resource waste, the chip 22 on the ink cartridge can be mounted on a new ink cartridge by being dismounted to be reused, and the ink cartridge is used for dismounting the chip 22. The structure of the chip 22 is conventional and will not be described herein.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the ink cartridge is mounted on the upper surface (i.e., the top surface c) of the printing apparatus 1 facing upward in the liquid supply posture, the substrate 221 is provided with the electrical interface 222, the substrate 221 and the electrical interface 222 constitute a chip structure, so that the chip 22 is disposed on the top surface c of the ink cartridge, so that the chip 22 can be mounted on the ink cartridge, and can be located in front of the light shielding portion 24 in the cartridge mounting direction; when the mounting cavity 11 of the printing device 1 includes the contact pins 13, and the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting cavity 11 of the printing device 1, the chip 22 corresponds to the contact pins 13, and the electrical interface 222 on the chip 22 can collide with the contact pins 13, so that the chip 22 is electrically connected with the contact pins 13, and the printing device 1 can receive information of the ink cartridge on the chip 22.

In some embodiments, ink outlets 25 are located below the chip 22 plate in the Z-direction. Specifically, in this embodiment, the ink cartridge has a recess 26 on the front surface a, an ink outlet 25 is provided in the recess 26, the ink outlet 25 can be more effectively matched with the supply needle of the installation cavity 11, the position of the ink supply unit 12 on the installation cavity 11 of the printing apparatus 1 corresponds to the position of the ink outlet 25 on the ink cartridge, when the ink cartridge is installed in the installation cavity 11 of the printing apparatus 1, the ink outlet 25 on the ink cartridge is guided by the ink outlet 25 matching with the ink supply unit 12 of the installation cavity 11, so that the ink outlet 25 on the ink cartridge is connected with the ink supply needle on the ink supply unit 12 on the installation cavity 11, and the ink cartridge can supply ink to the printing apparatus 1.

In some embodiments, the light shielding portion 24 is disposed on the cartridge body 2, the light shielding portion 24 is provided with a light shielding plate 241 capable of blocking or attenuating light emitted from the printing apparatus 1, and can be used to detect whether the cartridge body 2 is mounted in place on the printing apparatus 1, and the light shielding portion 24 is located on the front side of the liquid detection portion 23 in the cartridge mounting direction.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the light shielding portion 24 is provided on the top surface c of the ink cartridge, the light shielding plate 241 is a light shielding plate 241 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape on the top surface c of the ink cartridge, the detection portion 14 is provided in the printing apparatus 1, the detection portion 14 includes a first detection member 141, and the first detection member 141 includes a first optical sensor (not labeled) and a second optical sensor (not labeled) provided along the Y direction, where the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor are a pair of optical sensors, one end is a light emitter and the other end is a light receiver; when the ink cartridge is installed in the installation cavity 11 of the printing device 1 and the cartridge body 2 is installed in the installation cavity 11, the light shielding plate 241 on the ink cartridge can be inserted between the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor to shield the optical signal emitted by one of the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor or change the light path emitted by one of the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor to change the signal received by the other of the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor, so as to determine the installation condition of the ink cartridge.

In some embodiments, the liquid detecting portion 23 is disposed on the top of the case body 2, and is communicated with the accommodating chamber 21 for detecting the liquid amount state in the ink storing chamber, and the light shielding plate 241 is located at the front side of the liquid detecting portion 23 in the ink cartridge mounting direction, and by disposing the light shielding plate 241 at the front side of the liquid detecting portion 23, when the ink cartridge is mounted, the light shielding plate 241 can prevent shavings generated from the chip 22 from moving to the liquid detecting portion 23, and the detection of the liquid detecting portion 23 is affected.

In some embodiments, a gap 231 is provided between the liquid detection portion 23 and the top surface c of the cartridge body 1, the gap 231 separates the liquid detection portion 23 and the accommodating chamber 21 in the gravity direction (Z direction) of the cartridge body 2, and by separating the liquid detection portion 23 from the accommodating chamber 21, when the ink cartridge shakes, the ink is not easily attached to the float or the cap of the liquid detection portion 23, and the influence of ink attachment on the detection of ink is reduced as much as possible.

Further, the liquid detection portion 23 partially extends in the cartridge mounting direction above the cartridge case 2, and a gap 231 is provided between the extending portion of the liquid detection portion 23 and the top surface c of the cartridge case 1, so that the liquid detection portion 23 is isolated from the housing chamber 21 in the gravity direction, and the gap 231 is located between the bottom surface of the liquid detection portion 23 and the top surface c of the cartridge case 2, so as to separate the liquid detection portion 23 and the housing chamber 21 into two independent chambers, and when the ink cartridge is mounted to the printing apparatus 1, the liquid detection portion 23 and the housing chamber 21 are respectively located at the lower sides of the gap 231 in the gravity direction, so as to isolate the liquid detection portion 23 from the housing chamber 21 in the gravity direction, so that when the ink cartridge is mounted, the gap 231 can separate the liquid detection portion 23 and the housing chamber 21 in the gravity direction, so that the ink contained in the housing chamber 21 is not easily attached to the liquid detection portion 23.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the liquid detection portion 23 is a protrusion protruding toward the + Z direction on the top surface c of the cartridge body 2, and the liquid detection portion 23 partially extends in the + X direction above the cartridge body 2, the liquid detection portion 23 is made of a transparent material, the liquid detection portion 23 is communicated into the accommodating chamber 21, in the Z direction, the liquid detection portion 23 has a gap 231 between the bottom and the top of the cartridge body 2, the gap 231 vertically partitions the liquid detection portion 23 and the accommodating chamber 21 in the Z direction, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the printing apparatus, the liquid detection portion 23 and the accommodating chamber 21 are vertically partitioned in the plumb direction, and when the ink cartridge is shaken, the ink in the accommodating chamber 21 is not shaken into the liquid detection portion 23.

In some embodiments, the ink cartridge further comprises a float 27, the float 27 is installed in the accommodating cavity 21 and can rotate in the accommodating cavity 21, one end of the float 27 is provided with a shielding portion 271, the shielding portion 271 can extend into the liquid detection portion 23, when the float 27 rotates, the shielding portion 271 can move in the liquid detection portion 23, when the ink cartridge shakes, the probability that ink adheres to the float 27 is greatly reduced, and the float 27 can also move in the liquid detection portion through the buoyancy of the ink accommodated in the accommodating cavity, so as to detect the ink amount of the ink cartridge.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the bottom of the liquid detection portion 23 is not completely isolated from the housing chamber, the liquid detection portion 23 is provided with an opening 232a communicating with the housing chamber, the opening 232a can communicate with the housing chamber 21 below the liquid detection portion on the side of the liquid detection portion 23, the housing chamber 21 is provided with a float 27 having a substantially "b" shape, the housing chamber 21 has a rotation shaft 28 extending in the Y direction, the float 27 is supported by the rotation shaft 28 and is rotatable about the rotation shaft 28, the bottom of the float 27 is provided with a float 272, the top is provided with a shielding portion 271, and the float 272 has a smaller specific gravity than the ink housed in the housing chamber 21, so that, in the housing chamber 21, when the float 272 is in the ink, the float 272 generates a buoyancy, and in a state where the housing chamber 21 is substantially completely filled with the ink, the float 27 rotates in the housing chamber 21 in the counterclockwise direction due to the buoyancy of the float 272, and the shielding portion 271 at the top of the float 27 enters the inside of the liquid detection portion 23 and can move in the liquid detection portion 23 when the float 27 rotates.

Further, the detection portion 14 in the installation chamber 11 of the printing apparatus 1 further includes a second detection member 142, the second detection member 142 includes a third photosensor (not shown) and a light sensing portion (not shown), the third photosensor and the light sensing portion are disposed in the Y direction, and when the ink cartridge is installed in the installation chamber 11 of the printing apparatus 1, the position of the third photosensor corresponds to the position of the liquid detection portion 23, the liquid detection portion 23 can be inserted between the third photosensor and the light sensing portion, the optical path of the third photosensor can pass through the liquid detection portion 23 to the light sensing portion, and when the float 27 moves in the liquid detection portion, the optical path transmission of the third photosensor can be changed, so that the amount of ink in the ink cartridge can be determined.

When the shielding portion 271 of the float 27 is rotated to reach the liquid detection portion 23 by the buoyancy of the ink in the accommodation chamber 21 in a state where the accommodation chamber 21 is substantially completely filled with the ink, the float 27 changes the state of transmission of the light from the third photosensor in the liquid detection portion 23, that is, the top of the float 27 cuts off the light emitted from the third photosensor, and performs other processing on the light: the top of the float 27 reduces the intensity of light expected to pass through the liquid detection portion 23 to below a predetermined intensity (where the intensity transmits light), for example, to zero. The portion of the float 27 may completely cut off the light so that it does not pass through the liquid detection portion 23, may partially absorb the light, may attenuate the light, may bend the direction of propagation of the light, or may totally reflect the light for changing the state of the light transmitted from the third light sensor to the light sensing portion.

When the ink in the holding chamber decreases and the level of the ink drops below the level of the float, the float 272 at the bottom of the float 27 drops with the level. Therefore, the float 27 rotates counterclockwise in fig. 5 and 6, and since the shield portion 271 of the float 27 (which has entered the liquid detection portion entirely) moves substantially in the-X direction due to the clockwise direction, the shield portion 271 is displaced from the liquid detection portion 23, and in this state, the light emitted from the third photosensor can pass through the liquid detection portion 23 to the light sensing portion, so that the amount of ink in the ink cartridge can be confirmed.

Moreover, the liquid detection part 23 and the light shielding part 21 are arranged on the same side of the cartridge body 1 (namely, on the top surface c of the cartridge body), in the cartridge mounting direction, the light shielding plate 241 is positioned at the front side of the liquid detection part 23 in the cartridge mounting direction, the chip 22 is arranged at the front side of the light shielding part 24, so that the chip 22, the light shielding part 24 and the liquid detection part are sequentially arranged on the top surface c of the cartridge body 2 according to the sequence of the chip 22, the light shielding part 24 is arranged between the chip 22 and the liquid detection part 23, and the chip generated by the contact of the chip 22 and the mounting cavity 11 during the cartridge mounting can be prevented from falling onto the liquid detection part, and the ink quantity in the cartridge is detected by the printing device 1 through the liquid detection part 23 is influenced; the liquid detection portion 23 and the light shielding plate 241 are higher in height in the Z direction than the chip 22, and both the liquid detection portion 23 and the light shielding plate 241 are located above the chip 22, so that shavings generated from the chip 22 are less likely to adhere to the liquid detection portion 23.

In some embodiments, the shielding portion 24 is further provided with a shielding wall 242, the shielding wall 242 is disposed on the rear side of the light shielding plate 241, the light shielding plate 241 is an integral structure, the shape of the shielding wall 242 is adapted to the front side of the liquid detection portion 23, the shielding wall 242 can be attached to the liquid detection portion 23, and the shielding wall 242 can block shavings generated from the chip 22 from moving onto the liquid detection portion 23, so as to prevent the shavings generated from the chip 22 from affecting the detection of the liquid detection portion 23. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the front end surface of the liquid detection unit 23 in the cartridge mounting direction is tapered, the shielding wall 242 is provided with a concave portion having the same shape as the front end surface of the liquid detection unit 23 in the cartridge mounting direction at the rear end surface of the shielding wall 242, the shielding wall 242 and the light shielding plate 241 are formed into a substantially herringbone structure, the rear end surface of the shielding wall 242 can be attached to the front end surface of the liquid detection unit 23 at the top of the cartridge body 2, and the shielding wall 242 can block shavings generated from the chip 22 from moving to the liquid detection unit 23.

Further, in some embodiments, the height of the liquid detection part 23 on the cartridge 1 is not higher than the height of the shielding wall 242, that is, in the + Z direction, the height of the liquid detection part 23 is not higher than the shielding wall 242, and the liquid detection part 23 can be effectively protected from being damaged when the ink cartridge collides or falls due to the height of the liquid detection part 23 being not higher than the shielding wall 243.

In some embodiments, the ink cartridge further comprises a locking portion 29, and an engaging portion 15 is provided in the mounting chamber 11, wherein the locking portion 29 is engageable with the engaging portion 15 when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting chamber 11, and is fixable in the mounting chamber 11 when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting chamber 11, and the locking portion 29 is located at the rear side of the liquid detecting portion 23 in the cartridge mounting direction.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the locking portion 29 is a snap structure formed by protruding from the top surface c of the case 2, so that the locking portion 29 and the liquid detection portion are located on the same side, the engaging portion 15 is a cross rod arranged on the mounting cavity 11 along the Y direction, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting cavity 11, the locking portion 29 of the snap structure can be engaged with the cross rod of the mounting cavity 11, so that the ink cartridge is engaged and fixed in the mounting cavity 11, and the front end of the locking portion 29 in the mounting direction is an arc surface, so that the locking portion 29 is more easily engaged with the engaging portion 15 during mounting of the ink cartridge, thereby facilitating mounting of the ink cartridge; and the locking part 29 is higher than the top of the liquid detection part 23 on the box body 1, and the locking part 29 is higher than the liquid detection part 23 on the box body 1, so that the liquid detection part 23 can be effectively protected from being damaged when the ink box collides or falls.

Preferably, in some embodiments, the box body 2 is further provided with a handle 3, and the box body 2 is conveniently detached in the mounting cavity 11 by arranging the handle 3. Specifically, in the present embodiment, a handle 3 is provided at the boundary between the top surface c and the rear surface b of the ink cartridge having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, the handle 3 is capable of facilitating the operation of the ink cartridge by the user, and the user rotates the handle 3 to push the ink cartridge downward in the-Z direction, so that the locking portion 29 of the ink cartridge is disengaged from the mounting cavity 11, and the ink cartridge is taken out; alternatively, the ink cartridge is pushed to be mounted in the mounting chamber 11 by pushing the handle 3.

Example two:

referring to fig. 10 to 13, the present embodiment provides another ink cartridge of the present invention, and the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that: the liquid detector 23 is a single prism detector, and the ink cartridge can detect the amount of ink in the ink cartridge directly by the single prism detector without an internal float.

In the present embodiment, the single prism detection unit is a prism detection unit provided separately, and thus, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the prism detection portion is an extended protrusion of the top surface c of the cartridge body 1, and the front side of the protrusion in the X direction is provided with an inclined edge 233, two side surfaces connected to the edge 233 are two inclined surfaces 234, so that the prism detection portion is a single prism detection portion, the inclined edge 233 is provided so that the prism detection portion is provided with the inclined surface 234 in the X direction, and the prism detection portion can change the state of receiving light in response to the ink contained in the containing chamber by the inclined surface 234, and when the ink cartridge is mounted in the printing apparatus 1, the ink cartridge can cooperate with a third optical sensor mounted on the printing apparatus 1, and can detect the amount of ink in the ink cartridge.

In some embodiments, the liquid detection portion 23 is provided with an opening 232b, the liquid detection portion 23 communicates with the accommodation chamber 21 through the opening 232b, and the opening 232b faces or faces away from the cartridge mounting direction, so that the liquid detection portion 23 can communicate with the accommodation chamber 21, and the cartridge can detect the amount of ink through the liquid detection portion. Specifically, in this embodiment, the ink cartridge includes a main body 235 and a cover 236, the cover 236 is detachably mounted on the main body 235 to close the main body 235 to form the accommodating chamber 21, the liquid detection portion 23 is disposed on the cover 236, the liquid detection portion 23 is a half-enclosed structure, the opening 232b is disposed opposite to the mounting direction of the ink cartridge, when the cover 236 is mounted on the main body 235, the liquid detection portion 23 is located at the top of the cartridge body 1, a gap 231 is formed between the bottom surface of the liquid detection portion 23 and the top surface c of the cartridge body 1 to isolate the liquid detection portion 23 from the accommodating chamber 21 in the gravity direction, the opening 232b can communicate with the accommodating chamber 21 below the liquid detection portion 23 at one side of the liquid detection portion 23, the liquid detection portion 23 is separated from the accommodating chamber 21 by the gap 231, and when the ink cartridge shakes, ink is not easily attached to a float or a partition wall of the liquid detection portion.

The other structures of the printing device and the ink cartridge in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the usage principle is the same, which is not described herein again.

The utility model discloses ink box, through keeping apart the setting with liquid detection portion and holding the chamber, when the ink box takes place to rock, the ink is difficult for also attaching to the next door of buoy or liquid detection portion, makes the ink detect as far as possible and receives the ink to attach to the influence that causes and reduce as far as possible.

What has been described above are only some embodiments of the invention. For those skilled in the art, without departing from the inventive concept, several modifications and improvements can be made, which are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

1. An ink cartridge detachably mountable to a printing apparatus, comprising:

a box body provided with a containing cavity for containing ink, wherein the front and the back of the box body along the installation direction of the ink box are respectively provided with a front surface and a back surface, a top surface above in the ink cartridge mounting direction, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface;

the liquid detection part is arranged on the box body and communicated with the containing cavity and used for detecting the liquid amount state in the containing cavity, the liquid detection part is partially arranged above the box body and extends along the installation direction of the ink box, and a gap is arranged between the extending part of the liquid detection part and the top surface, so that the liquid detection part is separated from the containing cavity in the gravity direction.

2. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gap is located between a bottom surface of the liquid detection part and the top surface to isolate the liquid detection part from the housing chamber in a direction of gravity.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the liquid detection portion and the accommodation chamber are respectively located on lower sides of the gap in a direction of gravity when the ink cartridge is mounted to the printing apparatus.

4. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a float, wherein the float is mounted in the accommodating chamber and is rotatable in the accommodating chamber, and a shielding portion is provided at one end of the float, the shielding portion being capable of extending into the liquid detecting portion, and the shielding portion being capable of moving in the liquid detecting portion when the float rotates.

5. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid detection portion is provided with an opening through which the liquid detection portion communicates with the accommodation chamber, and the shielding portion is capable of protruding into the liquid detection portion through the opening.

6. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge body is provided with a lid, the liquid detection portion is provided on the lid, and when the lid is mounted on the cartridge body, the liquid detection portion is provided with an opening communicating with the accommodation chamber, and the opening faces away from a mounting direction of the ink cartridge.

7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said liquid detecting portion is a single prism detecting portion.

8. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a light shielding portion provided on the cartridge body and provided on a front side of the liquid detection portion in the cartridge mounting direction.

9. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the liquid detecting portion and the light shielding portion are provided on the same side of the cartridge body, and the liquid detecting portion is not higher than the light shielding portion on the cartridge body.

10. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a locking portion provided on the cartridge body, the ink cartridge being capable of being engaged with the printing apparatus via the locking portion, and the locking portion being located on a rear side of the liquid detection portion in the cartridge mounting direction.

11. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 10, wherein the locking portion and the liquid detection portion are provided on the same side of the cartridge body, and the locking portion is higher on the cartridge body than a top of the liquid detection portion.

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