CN218020827U - Ink cartridge and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides an ink box and a printing device, the ink box is applied to the printing device, the printing device comprises a first detection component, the first detection component comprises a first transmitting part and a first receiving part, the ink box comprises an ink box body and a detection part, an ink storage cavity is arranged in the ink box body, an accommodating cavity is arranged in the detection part, the accommodating cavity is mutually communicated with the ink storage cavity, the detection part is a light-transmitting part, and the first transmitting part is used for transmitting first detection light towards the detection part when the ink box is fixed on the printing device; the first receiving member may receive the first detection light attenuated by the detection portion when the detection portion has no ink at a position corresponding to the first detection light; the accommodating cavity is provided with a first port and a second port, the accommodating cavity is communicated with the ink storage cavity through the first port and the second port of the accommodating cavity respectively, and the first port is positioned above the second port. The utility model provides an ink horn's ink surplus detects the precision higher.

Description

Ink cartridge and printing apparatus

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an ink horn technical field especially relates to an ink horn and printing device.

Background

A printing apparatus is a commonly used office appliance for ejecting ink on paper to form predetermined characters, images, and the like.

The printing device comprises an ink box, wherein the ink box is generally provided with a detection part for detecting the ink allowance in the ink box, and an inner cavity of the detection part is communicated with an inner cavity of the ink box through an opening of the inner cavity, so that ink in the ink box can be communicated with ink in the detection part. Wherein, the detection portion is light-transmitting piece, and printing device is last to be equipped with light emission spare and light receiving spare, and light emission spare launches the detection light towards the arbitrary position of detection portion, and when light receiving spare did not receive detection light, can regard as the ink to absorb detection light, and the ink in detection portion and the ink box is comparatively sufficient. When the light receiving element receives the detection light, it can be considered that the amount of ink remaining in the detection portion is small, and thus the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge is also small.

Because the ink in the ink box can generate the bubble, the bubble can hinder the circulation of ink between the inner chamber of detection portion and ink horn inner chamber, leads to having the difference between the ink liquid level in the detection portion and the ink liquid level in the ink horn, and the ink liquid level detection precision of ink horn is relatively poor.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In view of the above, the embodiment of the present invention provides an ink cartridge and a printing apparatus, wherein the ink remaining amount detection precision of the ink cartridge is higher.

In order to achieve the above object, the embodiment of the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

a first aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides an ink cartridge, which is applied to a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus includes a first detection assembly for detecting an ink remaining amount, the first detection assembly includes a first emitting element and a first receiving element, the ink cartridge includes an ink cartridge body and a detection portion, an ink storage chamber for storing ink is provided in the ink cartridge body, an accommodating chamber is provided in the detection portion, the accommodating chamber and the ink storage chamber are mutually communicated, the detection portion is a light-transmitting element, and the first emitting element is configured to emit a first detection light toward the detection portion when the ink cartridge is fixed on the printing apparatus; the first receiving member may receive the first detection light attenuated by the detection portion when the detection portion has no ink at a position corresponding to the first detection light; the accommodating cavity is provided with a first port and a second port, the accommodating cavity is communicated with the ink storage cavity through the first port and the second port of the accommodating cavity respectively, and the first port of the accommodating cavity is positioned above the second port of the accommodating cavity.

In some embodiments, the receiving cavity includes a first section and a second section, a first end of the first section forms the first port, a second end of the first section is in communication with a first end of the second section, and a second end of the second section forms the second port.

In some embodiments, the second end of the first section is located between the first port and the second port in the height direction; and/or the first end of the second section is located between the first port and the second port.

In some embodiments, the first emitting member and the first receiving member are located on opposite sides of the cartridge body, respectively; the detection part is provided with a first cavity wall and a second cavity wall, the first cavity wall is arranged on one side of the ink box body facing the first emitting piece, and the second cavity wall is arranged on one side of the ink box body facing the first receiving piece; an included angle is formed between the first cavity wall and the second cavity wall.

In some embodiments, the first cavity wall and the second cavity wall are perpendicular to each other.

In some embodiments, the ink cartridge has a first position and a second position relative to the printing apparatus, the ink cartridge being located in the first position when the ink cartridge is relatively fixed to the printing apparatus, the second position being located forward of the first position in the mounting direction; one of the ink box and the printing device is also provided with a first elastic piece, and the elastic force direction of the first elastic piece is opposite to the installation direction of the ink box; when the ink box is installed, the ink box can resist the elastic force of the first elastic piece and move to the second position from the first position, and under the action of the elastic force of the first elastic piece, the ink box can return from the second position and is fixed at the first position; the detection part is provided with a detection area and an avoidance area, and the avoidance area penetrates through the ink box body along the extending direction of the first detection light; when the ink box is positioned at the first position, the first emitting piece emits first detection light towards the detection area; when the ink box is located at the second position, the first emitting piece emits first detection light towards the avoiding area.

In some embodiments, the accommodating cavity further comprises a third section, and two ends of the third section are respectively communicated with the second end of the first section and the first end of the second section; the cavity wall of the third section forms a detection area, and an area formed by the first section, the second section and the third section in a surrounding mode forms an avoidance area.

In some embodiments, the printing apparatus further comprises a second detection assembly comprising a second emitting element for emitting second detection light and a second receiving element; the ink cartridge further includes a shielding member, and the second receiving member is configured to receive the second detection light attenuated by the shielding member when the ink cartridge is fixed relative to the printing apparatus.

In some embodiments, the ink cartridge comprises a driving member and a second elastic member, two ends of the first elastic member are respectively connected with the driving member and the ink cartridge body, two ends of the second elastic member are respectively connected with the shielding member and the ink cartridge body, the driving member is provided with a first clamping portion, the shielding member is provided with a second clamping portion, and the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are respectively arranged on one sides of the driving member and the shielding member facing each other; when the ink box body moves relative to the printing device, the driving piece abuts against the printing device, the first elastic piece is tightly pressed between the driving piece and the ink box body, and the first clamping part abuts against the second clamping part and drives the shielding piece to move relative to the ink box body towards one side far away from the printing device; wherein, be equipped with the direction inclined plane in the first joint portion, second joint portion can be followed the direction inclined plane and moved towards the one side of keeping away from the driving piece, and when the ink horn was located the second position, first joint portion and second joint portion alternate segregation sheltered from the piece and can stretch out and shelter from the second detection light that the second transmitting piece sent under the elastic force effect of second elastic component.

A second aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a printing apparatus, which includes a first detecting component and the ink cartridge of the first aspect, wherein the first detecting component includes a first emitting element and a first receiving element, the first emitting element is used for facing the ink cartridge, and the detecting portion emits a first detecting light.

Compared with the prior art, the embodiment of the utility model provides an ink horn and printing device have following advantage:

the ink horn includes ink horn body and detection portion, and the ink horn body has the storage ink reservoir of storage ink, is equipped with the holding chamber in the detection portion, and the holding chamber communicates with the storage ink reservoir each other, and like this, the ink of storing up the ink reservoir can circulate each other with the ink in holding chamber to through the liquid level of the ink that detects the holding intracavity, judge whether the ink in the ink horn is about to consume and finishes. The detection portion is the printing opacity piece, like this, when the detection portion with first detection light corresponding position department have ink, detect light and can be absorbed by ink, first detection light can not be received to first receiving piece, can regard as the holding chamber and store up the ink of china ink intracavity comparatively sufficient. When the position of the detection portion corresponding to the first detection light ray is free from ink, the detection portion can attenuate the light ray, the first receiving element receives the attenuated first detection light ray, and at this time, it can be considered that the ink in the ink cartridge is about to be consumed.

Wherein, the holding chamber has first port and second port, the holding chamber is linked together with storing up the ink chamber through its first port and second port respectively, two point intercommunications between holding chamber and the storing up ink chamber promptly, and the first port of holding chamber is located the top of holding chamber second port, like this, after the ink liquid level of holding intracavity begins to reduce, the ink of storing up the ink chamber can not get into the holding chamber through first port, bubble in the storing up ink chamber also can not get into the holding intracavity through first port, the ink liquid level of holding intracavity and the ink liquid level of storing up the ink chamber are in the state of keeping level all the time, the surplus detection precision of ink horn is higher.

In addition to the technical problems, technical features constituting technical solutions, and advantageous effects brought by the technical features of the technical solutions described above, other technical problems that the embodiments of the present invention can solve, other technical features included in the technical solutions, and advantageous effects brought by the technical features will be described in further detail in specific embodiments.

Drawings

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

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a first schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a second schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1 in a first position when the ink cartridge is installed;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1 in a second position when the ink cartridge is installed;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1 returned to a first position when the ink cartridge is installed;

FIG. 8 isbase:Sub>A cross-sectional view taken along A-A of FIG. 7;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural view of a portion B in fig. 8.

Reference numerals:

10: an ink cartridge;

11: an ink cartridge body; 111: an ink storage cavity;

12: a detection unit; 121: an accommodating cavity; 1211: a first port; 1212: a second port; 1213: a first stage; 1214: a second stage; 1215: a third stage; 122: a first chamber wall; 123: a second chamber wall; 124: a detection zone; 125: an avoidance zone;

131: a first elastic member; 132: a shield; 1321: a second clamping part; 133: a drive member; 1331: a first clamping part; 134: a second elastic member;

14: an operating member;

15: a circuit board;

16: an ink outlet;

20: a printing device; 21: a first emitter; 22: a first receiving member; 23: an installation part;

x: the mounting direction; z: and (4) the height direction.

Detailed Description

In order to make the above objects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art without creative efforts all belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

In the related art, the inner chamber of the detection portion communicates with the inner chamber of the ink cartridge through its opening, i.e., ink enters or exits the detection portion through the opening. When the ink liquid level in the detection portion is in the decline in-process, and light receiving part still can not receive detection light, probably cause the inconsistent phenomenon of ink liquid level in the detection portion and the ink liquid level in the ink horn. Meanwhile, ink in the ink box can generate bubbles which can block ink flow, and therefore when the bubbles are generated at the opening position of the detection portion, the phenomenon that the ink liquid level in the detection portion is inconsistent with the ink liquid level in the ink box can be caused, and the ink surplus detection precision of the marker ink box is poor.

In view of this, the embodiment of the present application provides an ink cartridge and a printing apparatus, wherein, the accommodating chamber of the ink cartridge detection portion has two ports, and there is a height difference between the two ports, so, when the liquid level in the detection portion begins to drop, ink cannot enter the detection portion through the port located above, that is, foam in the ink cartridge cannot enter the detection portion, the ink liquid level of the detection portion and the ink liquid level of the ink cartridge are always in a level state, and the remaining amount detection precision of the ink cartridge is higher.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the ink cartridge of fig. 1 returned to the first position when the ink cartridge is mounted. Fig. 8 isbase:Sub>A cross-sectional view taken alongbase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A in fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a schematic structural view of a portion B in fig. 8.

Referring to fig. 1 and 9, the present embodiment provides an ink cartridge 10 applied to a printing apparatus 20, the printing apparatus 20 includes a first detecting member for detecting a remaining amount of ink, the first detecting member includes a first emitting element 21 and a first receiving element 22,

specifically, the printing device 20 is used to eject ink on a sheet to form predetermined characters, images, and the like. The ink cartridge 10 is used to store ink, an ink supply assembly (not shown) is disposed on the printing device 20 to guide the ink in the ink cartridge 10 to a printing nozzle (not shown) of the printing device 20, and the printing device 20 and the ink supply assembly may be of a kind known to those skilled in the art, and the embodiment is not limited thereto.

The printing device 20 is provided with a mounting portion 23, the mounting portion 23 may be a groove-shaped structure, and the ink cartridge 10 may extend into and be accommodated in the mounting portion 23 along the mounting direction X. Thus, only the rear wall surface of the ink cartridge 10 along the mounting direction X is exposed at the opening of the mounting portion 23, the connection structure between the ink cartridge 10 and the mounting portion 23 can be hidden in the mounting portion 23, and the appearance of the printing apparatus 20 is simple.

A contact pin may be provided in the mounting portion 23. The ink cartridge 10 is provided with a circuit board 15, and the circuit board 15 is provided with contacts corresponding to the contact pins one to one. When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted on the printing apparatus 20, the contact pins are electrically connected to the contacts to enable communication between the ink cartridge 10 and the printing apparatus 20, so that the printing apparatus 20 can acquire information on the model number, the date of manufacture, the color of ink, and the like of the ink cartridge 10.

The printing device 20 may be provided with a plurality of mounting portions 23 in parallel, and each mounting portion 23 may be provided with one ink cartridge 10, so that the printing device 20 may simultaneously mount a plurality of ink cartridges 10.

The mounting portion 23 is provided with a first detecting member for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 10. Wherein the first detecting member includes a first emitting piece 21 and a first receiving piece 22, the first emitting piece 21 is used for emitting the first detecting light, and the first emitting piece 21 and the first receiving piece 22 may have different kinds according to the kind of the first detecting light. For example, the first detection light may be laser light, and the divergence angle of the laser light during propagation is small. Optionally, the first detection light may also be a monochromatic light beam such as an infrared light, which is not limited in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a first schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1. Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the cartridge of fig. 2. FIG. 4 is a second schematic structural view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1 in a first position when the ink cartridge is installed. Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the ink cartridge of fig. 1 in a second position when the ink cartridge is installed.

Referring to fig. 2 to 7, the ink cartridge 10 includes a cartridge body 11 and a detecting portion 12, an ink storage chamber 111 for storing ink is disposed in the cartridge body 11, an accommodating chamber 121 is disposed in the detecting portion 12, and the accommodating chamber 121 is communicated with the ink storage chamber 111.

The ink cartridge body 11 is a container-shaped structure, and the interior of the ink cartridge body 11 is hollow and forms an ink storage chamber 111 for containing ink. A plurality of reinforcing ribs are further arranged in the inner cavity of the ink box body 11 so as to improve the strength of the ink box body 11. The cartridge body 11 has an ink outlet 16 connected to the ink supply unit, and the ink in the cartridge body 11 is led out to the ink supply unit through the ink outlet 16. The ink box body 11 is also provided with an air inlet which can be communicated with the inner cavity of the ink box body 11 and the atmosphere, so that when the ink is reduced, the air can be supplemented correspondingly to maintain the air pressure in the ink box body 11.

The ink cartridge body 11 further includes a detection portion 12 for detecting a remaining amount of ink, wherein an accommodating chamber 121 is formed in the detection portion 12, and the accommodating chamber 121 is communicated with the ink storage chamber 111, so that ink in the accommodating chamber 121 can mutually circulate with ink in the ink storage chamber 111. When the ink level in the accommodating chamber 121 begins to decrease, it may be indicated that the ink in the ink storage chamber 111 is about to be consumed, so as to determine whether the ink in the ink storage chamber 111 is about to be consumed through the ink level in the accommodating chamber 121.

The detecting part 12 is a light-transmitting material, and for example, the material of the detecting part 12 may be resin, optical glass, quartz glass, or the like. In the present embodiment, the material of the detection portion 12 is exemplified by optical glass, so that the detection portion 12 can be used as a prism to refract the first detection light, and the light loss is small.

The first emitting member 21 is for emitting a first detection light toward the detecting portion 12 when the ink cartridge 10 is fixed to the printing apparatus 20; the first receiving member 22 may receive the first detection light attenuated by the detection portion 12 when the detection portion 12 is free of ink at a position corresponding to the first detection light;

that is, after the ink cartridge 10 is fixed on the printing apparatus 20, the first emitting member 21 emits the first detection light toward the detecting portion 12, and the first detection light can be emitted into the accommodating chamber 121 through the chamber wall of the detecting portion 12.

When ink is present in the receiving cavity 121 at a position corresponding to the incident point of the first detection light, for example, when the ink level is higher than the incident point of the first detection light, the ink can absorb the first detection light, and no first detection light exits the detection portion 12. At this time, the first receiving element 22 does not receive the first detection light, and the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 10 may be considered sufficient.

When there is no ink in the receiving chamber 121 at a position corresponding to the incident point of the first detection light, that is, the ink level in the receiving chamber 121 is lower than the incident point of the first detection light, then the first detection light is attenuated by the chamber walls of the detection section 12 and emitted toward the first receiving element 22, the attenuated first detection light is received by the first receiving element 22, and the first receiving element 22 can generate different electrical signals, for example, high level or low level, according to the information such as the amount of light of the received first detection light. In this case, the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 10 is considered to be small. The printing device 20 can obtain the remaining amount of ink information after obtaining the electrical signal, and perform an alarm prompt, such as a buzzer alarm or a flash alarm.

The attenuation of the first detection light by the detection portion 12 means changing the propagation path of the first detection light.

The detection unit 12 may be provided on any wall surface of the cartridge body 11. Alternatively, in the present embodiment, the detection portion 12 is provided on the front wall surface of the cartridge body 11 in the mounting direction X, wherein the front wall surface and the rear wall surface are located on opposite sides of the cartridge body 11 in the mounting direction X.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 4, the accommodating chamber 121 has a first port 1211 and a second port 1212, the accommodating chamber 121 is respectively communicated with the ink storing chamber 111 through the first port 1211 and the second port 1212, and the first port 1211 of the accommodating chamber 121 is located above the second port 1212 of the accommodating chamber 121.

The first port 1211 may be located at different positions above the second port 1212, that is, the accommodating cavity 121 may extend vertically along the height direction Z or obliquely, as long as there is a height difference between the first port 1211 and the second port 1212.

Thus, when the ink level in the accommodating chamber 121 begins to decrease, the ink in the accommodating chamber 121 can only communicate with the ink storage chamber 111 through the second port 1212, the liquid level of the ink is located between the first port 1211 and the second port 1212, the ink bubbles in the ink storage chamber 111 cannot flow into the accommodating chamber 121 through the first port 1211, the ink level in the accommodating chamber 121 and the ink level in the ink storage chamber 111 are always in a level state, and the remaining amount detection accuracy of the ink cartridge 10 is high.

In some embodiments, the receiving cavity 121 includes a first section 1213 and a second section 1214, a first end of the first section 1213 forms a first port 1211, a second end of the first section 1213 communicates with a first end of the second section 1214, and a second end of the second section 1214 forms a second port 1212.

The first section 1213 and the second section 1214 can extend in different directions, and illustratively, the first section 1213 and the second section 1214 are disposed in parallel and perpendicular to the height direction Z (as shown in fig. 5 to 7). At this time, a communication cavity may be provided between the first section 1213 and the second section 1214.

In some embodiments, the direction of extension of the first section 1213 and the direction of extension of the second section 1214 may also be angled.

Specifically, the second end of the first segment 1213 is located between the first port 1211 and the second port 1212 in the height direction Z, that is, the first segment 1213 may extend obliquely downward, and the ink may flow downward along the inner wall surface of the first segment 1213, so as to avoid the ink remaining in the first segment 1213. At this time, the extending direction of the second section 1214 may be perpendicular to the height direction Z.

In some embodiments, second section 1214 may also extend obliquely downward, with a first end of second section 1214 located between first port 1211 and second port 1212. At this time, the extending direction of the first section 1213 is perpendicular to the height direction Z.

In some embodiments, the second end of the first segment 1213 is located between the first port 1211 and the second port 1212 and the first end of the second segment 1214 is located between the first port 1211 and the second port 1212. That is, the first section 1213 and the second section 1214 both extend obliquely, in which case the first section 1213 and the second section 1214 may form an approximately V-shaped channel structure.

In some embodiments, the first emitting member 21 and the first receiving member 22 may be located at different positions of the cartridge body 11, respectively. For example, the first emitting element 21 and the first receiving element 22 are located on the same side of the ink cartridge body 11, and in this case, a convex reflection portion may be protruded from an inner wall surface of a cavity wall of the detection portion 12 corresponding to the first detection assembly, and the reflection portion has a vertically arranged mirror surface. The first detection light can be vertically emitted into the detection cavity, and when the reflection part is immersed in the ink, the ink can absorb the first detection light. When the liquid level of the ink is located below the reflection portion in the height direction Z, the first detection light may be reflected by the reflection portion and exit the detection portion 12, and the first receiver 22 may receive the reflected first detection light.

Referring to fig. 7 to 9, in some embodiments, the first emitting element 21 and the first receiving element 22 may be respectively located at two opposite sides of the ink cartridge body 11, so as to implement refraction of the first detection light through the cavity wall of the detection portion 12.

Specifically, the detection portion 12 has a first cavity wall 122 and a second cavity wall 123, the first cavity wall 122 is disposed on a side of the cartridge body 11 facing the first emitter 21, and the second cavity wall 123 is disposed on a side of the cartridge body 11 facing the first receiver 22. Thus, the first detecting light can be refracted by the first cavity wall 122 and enter the accommodating cavity 121, when there is no ink in the position of the accommodating cavity 121 corresponding to the first detecting light, the first detecting light can be emitted through the second cavity wall 123, and the first receiving element 22 can receive the first detecting light emitted through the second cavity wall 123.

It is understood that the detection part 12 has a container-like structure, and the thicknesses of the detection part 12 at different positions of the cavity wall may be set differently. In order to reduce the manufacturing cost, the thicknesses of different positions of the cavity wall of the detection part 12 can be set equally.

At this time, the cavity wall of the detection portion 12 is similar to a parallel glass block, and has a deviation effect on the first detection light without changing the propagation direction of the first detection light. I.e. attenuated by the first cavity wall 122, the propagation direction of the first detection light is not deflected, only shifted vertically in the propagation direction. The propagation direction of the second detection light is also not deflected by the attenuation of the second cavity wall 123, but only shifted vertically in the propagation direction.

In some embodiments, the first cavity wall 122 and the second cavity wall 123 have an included angle therebetween, which may be an acute angle, and the first detection light emitted from the first emitting element 21 and the first detection light emitted from the second cavity wall 123 have different offset distances according to the included angle between the first cavity wall 122 and the second cavity wall 123.

For example, when the first cavity wall 122 and the second cavity wall 123 are disposed in parallel and the first detection light emitted from the first emitting element 21 is disposed perpendicular to the first cavity wall 122, there is no offset between the first detection light emitted from the first emitting element 21 and the first detection light emitted from the second cavity wall 123.

In some embodiments, the first cavity wall 122 and the second cavity wall 123 are perpendicular to each other and are easily shaped. An included angle is formed between the first detection light emitted by the first emitting element 21 and the first cavity wall 122, the included angle is an included angle between a line and a plane, that is, the line has a projection on the plane, and the included angle between the projection and the line is an included angle between the line and the plane.

It can be understood that the first detection light is refracted and reflected when entering the first cavity wall 122 or when entering the second cavity wall 123, and the smaller the reflectivity and absorptivity of the first detection light at the first cavity wall 122, the smaller the reflectivity and absorptivity of the first detection light at the second cavity wall 123, and the greater the transmittance of the first detection light after passing through the first cavity wall 122 and the second cavity wall 123.

It can be understood that, when the material of the detecting portion 12 is determined, the material has a determined refractive index and absorption rate, the main factor affecting the light transmittance is the reflectivity of the detecting portion 12, and the reflectivity increases with the increase of the incident angle, therefore, in this embodiment, the incident angle of the first detecting light incident on the first cavity wall 122 and the second cavity wall 123 may be smaller than 70 °.

Illustratively, the angle between the first detecting light emitted from the first emitting element 21 and the first cavity wall 122 is 45 °, and there is no offset between the first detecting light emitted from the first emitting element 21 and the first detecting light emitted from the second cavity wall 123.

In some embodiments, a connection structure is further provided between the ink cartridge 10 and the printing device 20 to secure the ink cartridge 10 to the printing device 20.

Specifically, one of the ink cartridge 10 and the printing apparatus 20 is provided with a protruding clamping portion (not shown), and the other is provided with a clamping groove (not shown), and the clamping portion can extend into the clamping groove. And the extending dimension of the clamping groove along the mounting direction X is larger than the extending dimension of the clamping part along the mounting direction X.

In some embodiments, the ink cartridge 10 is further provided with an operating member 14, and the operating member 14 is rotatably connected to the cartridge body 11. The engagement portion is provided on the operation member 14, and the engagement groove is provided on the printing apparatus 20. Thus, the operating element 14 can be rotated to make the clamping portion extend into the clamping groove, or the clamping portion extends out of the clamping groove.

Thus, the ink cartridge 10 has a first position and a second position with respect to the printing apparatus 20, and when the ink cartridge 10 is fixed with respect to the printing apparatus 20, the ink cartridge 10 is located at the first position, and the second position is located forward of the first position in the mounting direction X.

One of the ink cartridge 10 and the printing apparatus 20 is further provided with a first elastic member 131, and the direction of the elastic force of the first elastic member 131 is opposite to the mounting direction X of the ink cartridge 10; when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted, the ink cartridge 10 can move from the first position to the second position against the elastic force of the first elastic member 131, and the ink cartridge 10 can return from the second position and be fixed at the first position under the elastic force of the first elastic member 131.

Specifically, when the user mounts the ink cartridge 10, the user may push the ink cartridge 10 into the mounting portion 23 in the mounting direction X, and the ink cartridge 10 may first reach the first position (as shown in fig. 5). At this time, the first elastic member 131 is pressed between the printing apparatus 20 and the cartridge body 11, and the catching portion is located in the catching groove.

The user continues to push the ink cartridge 10, at this time, the ink cartridge 10 continues to move from the first position toward the mounting portion 23 along the mounting direction X until reaching the second position (as shown in fig. 6), in the process, the first elastic member 131 is compressed, and the engaging portion moves along the engaging groove relative to the engaging groove.

At this time, the user releases the ink cartridge 10, the ink cartridge 10 moves in the reverse direction of the mounting direction X under the elastic force of the first elastic member 131 until the ink cartridge 10 returns to the first position (as shown in fig. 7), and the engaging portion abuts against the engaging groove, that is, the ink cartridge 10 and the printing apparatus 20 are relatively fixed.

The detection unit 12 has a detection area 124 and an avoidance area 125, and the avoidance area 125 penetrates the ink cartridge body 11 along the extending direction of the first detection light; when the ink cartridge 10 is located at the first position, the first emitting member 21 emits the first detection light toward the detection section 124; when the ink cartridge 10 is located at the second position, the first emitting member 21 emits the first detection light toward the escape area 125.

Thus, the detection region 124 may attenuate the first detection light when the ink cartridge 10 is initially in the first position during installation of the ink cartridge 10 by a user. When the ink cartridge 10 moves to the second position, the first detection light is emitted through the escape area 125, and the first receiving element 22 does not receive the first detection light or the first receiving element 22 receives the first detection light without attenuation. When the ink cartridge 10 returns to the first position via the second position, the detection section 124 may again attenuate the first detection light.

I.e., the amount of light received by the first receiver 22, different relative positions of the ink cartridge 10 and the printing device 20 can be determined.

In some embodiments, the avoidance zone 125 extends through the test portion 12, and the first segment 1213 and the second segment 1214 surround the avoidance zone 125 at the periphery. The first section 1213 and the second section 1214 are connected and form a V-like structure, the area enclosed by the V-shaped structure forming the avoidance zone 125.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 5 to 7, the accommodating cavity 121 further includes a third section 1215, two ends of the third section 1215 are respectively communicated with the second end of the first section 1213 and the first end of the second section 1214, and the third section 1215 can extend along the height direction Z or extend obliquely downward to avoid ink residue.

Thus, the first section 1213, the third section 1215 and the second section 1214 are in turn connected to form a U-shaped structure, the area enclosed by the U-shaped structure forming the escape area 125. The cavity walls of the first, second, and third sections 1213, 1214, 1215 may each form the detection zone 124, i.e., the first and second cavity walls 122, 123 may be formed on any of the first, second, and third sections 1213, 1214, 1215.

In some embodiments, when the first section 1213 is disposed obliquely with respect to the height direction Z, the wall of the first section 1213 may form the detection area 124, and the wedge-shaped area enclosed between the first section 1213 and the ink cartridge body 11 may form the escape area 125. Similarly, when the second section 1214 is disposed obliquely with respect to the height direction Z, the cavity wall of the second section 1214 may also constitute the detection area 124.

In some embodiments, the walls of the third section 1215 form the detection zone 124, and the third section 1215 is spaced from the cartridge body 11 to form the escape zone 125. The detection zone 124 is located forward of the avoidance zone 125 in the installation direction X. When the ink cartridge 10 is located at different positions of the mounting portion 23, the first receiving member 22 can receive information of different light quantity sizes.

In some embodiments, the printing device 20 further includes a second detection assembly (not shown) including a second emitting element for emitting second detection light and a second receiving element; the ink cartridge 10 further includes a shielding member 132, and the second receiving member is configured to receive the second detection light attenuated by the shielding member 132 when the ink cartridge 10 is fixed relative to the printing apparatus 20.

The second detecting component and the first detecting component may be the same in type or different in type, and this embodiment is not limited. For example, the second detection light emitted from the second emitting element may be infrared light, laser light, or the like.

The ink cartridge 10 includes a shutter 132 for attenuating the second detection light. The attenuation of the second detection light by the shielding member 132 means to shield the second detection light or to change the propagation path of the second detection light. For example, the shielding member 132 may be a light-impermeable member, and when the shielding member 132 is opposite to the second emitting member, the second emitting member emits the second detection light toward the shielding member 132, and at this time, the shielding member 132 shields the second detection light, and the amount of light of the second detection light received by the second receiving member is small or zero.

In some embodiments, the shield 132 may be positioned opposite the second emitter at all times during the process of mounting or dismounting the ink cartridge 10 by a user, i.e., when the ink cartridge 10 and the printing device 20 have different relative positions.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 3 to 7, the ink cartridge includes a driving element 133 and a second elastic element 134, two ends of the first elastic element 131 are respectively connected to the driving element 133 and the ink cartridge body 11, two ends of the second elastic element 134 are respectively connected to the shielding element 132 and the ink cartridge body 11, the driving element 133 is provided with a first clamping portion 1331, the shielding element 132 is provided with a second clamping portion 1321, and the first clamping portion 1331 and the second clamping portion 1321 are respectively disposed on one side of the driving element 133 and one side of the shielding element 132 facing each other.

When the ink cartridge body 11 moves relative to the printing device 20, the driving member 133 abuts against the printing device 20, the first elastic member 131 is tightly pressed between the driving member 133 and the ink cartridge body 11, and the first clamping portion 1331 abuts against the second clamping portion 1321 and drives the shielding member 132 to move relative to the ink cartridge body 11 towards the side away from the printing device 20;

the first clamping portion 1331 is provided with a guiding inclined plane, the second clamping portion 1321 can move towards the side far away from the driving member 133 along the guiding inclined plane, when the ink cartridge 10 is located at the second position, the first clamping portion 1331 and the second clamping portion 1321 are separated from each other, and the shielding member 132 can extend out under the elastic force of the second elastic member 134 and shield the second detection light emitted by the second emitting member.

That is, the driving member 133 and the shutter 132 are movably connected to the cartridge body 11. The shielding member 132 is connected to the cartridge body 11 through the second elastic member 134, and the driving member 133 is connected to the cartridge body 11 through the first elastic member 131, so that after the cartridge body 11 is disassembled, the shielding member 132 can move relative to the cartridge body 11 through the deformation of the second elastic member 134, and the driving member 133 can move relative to the cartridge body 11 through the deformation of the first elastic member 131.

Guiding structures can be arranged between the driving element 133 and the ink box body 11 and between the shielding element 132 and the ink box body 11, so that the driving element 133 and the ink box body 11 can move relative to the ink box body 11 along a preset direction, and the driving element 133 and the shielding element 132 are prevented from deviating. The guide structure may be a guide groove or the like, and the driving member 133 and the ink cartridge body 11 are guided by sliding fit with the guide groove, respectively, and this embodiment does not limit the guide structure.

The blocking member 132 and the driving member 133 may be disposed at any position on the wall surface of the ink cartridge body 11, and alternatively, in this embodiment, the driving member 133 and the blocking member 132 are disposed in parallel along the height direction Z on the top wall surface of the ink cartridge body 11 along the height direction Z. For example, the shutter 132 is located above the driving member 133 in the height direction Z. Thus, the first locking portion 1331 of the driver 133 is located above the driver 133 along the height direction Z, and the second locking portion 1321 of the shutter 132 is located below the shutter 132 along the height direction Z.

The first engaging portion 1331 is provided with a guiding inclined surface, and the second engaging portion 1321 can move along the guiding inclined surface toward a side away from the driving member 133, that is, during the process of abutting the first engaging portion 1331 and the second engaging portion 1321, the second engaging portion 1321 moves along the guiding inclined surface relative to the first engaging portion 1331 until the first engaging portion 1331 and the second engaging portion 1321 are separated from each other, and under the elastic force of the second elastic member 134, the shielding member 132 restores to the initial position relative to the ink cartridge body 11.

The first clamping portion 1331 and the second clamping portion 1321 may be made of any one of Polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polystyrene (PS), or the like.

In some embodiments, the first clamping portion 1331 and the second clamping portion 1321 may be made of ABS plastic, which has a better ability to recover deformation.

In some embodiments, a projecting ram structure (not shown) is provided within the mounting portion 23 that projects beyond an inner wall surface of the mounting portion 23 for abutment with the driver 133.

Taking the example of mounting the ink cartridge 10 on the mounting portion 23, when the ink cartridge body 11 extends into the mounting portion 23 and is located at the first position, referring to fig. 5, the detection area 124 attenuates the first detection light; and first joint portion 1331 and second joint portion 1321 butt each other, under the drive of driving piece 133, the relative ink horn body 11 of shielding piece 132 along the reverse of installation direction X removes, and shielding piece 132 can not attenuate the second detection light, and the second receives the piece and can receive the second detection light.

When the user continues to push the ink cartridge 10 to move until the second position is reached, referring to fig. 6, the first detection light is emitted through the escape area 125. The first engaging portion 1331 and the second engaging portion 1321 are separated from each other, the shielding member 132 returns to the initial position relative to the ink cartridge body 11, and the shielding member attenuates the second detection light.

After the user releases the ink cartridge 10, referring to fig. 7, the ink cartridge 10 returns to the first position and is fixed relative to the printing apparatus 20 by the first elastic member 131. At this time, the detection region 124 attenuates the first detection light, and the shutter attenuates the second detection light.

Namely, the first detection component and the second detection component can prompt whether the ink box 10 is installed in place or not, so that the printing device 20 can be prevented from misjudging that the ink box 10 is installed in place.

The present embodiment also provides a printing apparatus 20 comprising a first detecting component and the above ink cartridge 10, the first detecting component comprises a first emitting element 21 and a first receiving element 22, the first emitting element 21 is used for emitting a first detecting light towards the detecting part 12 of the ink cartridge 10.

The structure, function, working principle, beneficial effect and the like of the first emitting element 21, the first receiving element 22 and the ink cartridge 10 have been described in detail in the above embodiments, and are not described in detail in this embodiment.

The embodiments or implementation modes in the present specification are described in a progressive manner, each embodiment focuses on differences from other embodiments, and the same and similar parts among the embodiments may be referred to each other.

In the description of the present specification, reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "illustrative embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" or the like means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, and not to limit the same; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some or all of the technical features may be equivalently replaced; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. An ink box is applied to a printing device, the printing device comprises a first detection assembly used for detecting ink allowance, and the first detection assembly comprises a first emitting piece and a first receiving piece, and is characterized in that the ink box comprises an ink box body and a detection part, an ink storage cavity used for storing ink is arranged in the ink box body, an accommodating cavity is arranged in the detection part, the accommodating cavity is communicated with the ink storage cavity, the detection part is a light-transmitting piece, and the first emitting piece is used for emitting first detection light towards the detection part when the ink box is fixed on the printing device; the first receiving member may receive the first detection light attenuated by the detection portion when there is no ink at a position of the detection portion corresponding to the first detection light;

the accommodating cavity is provided with a first port and a second port, the accommodating cavity is communicated with the ink storage cavity through the first port and the second port of the accommodating cavity respectively, and the first port of the accommodating cavity is positioned above the second port of the accommodating cavity.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1,

the accommodating cavity comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the first end of the first section forms the first port, the second end of the first section is communicated with the first end of the second section, and the second end of the second section forms the second port.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2,

a second end of the first section is positioned between the first port and the second port in a height direction;

and/or the first end of the second section is located between the first port and the second port.

4. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first emitting member and the first receiving member are respectively located on opposite sides of the cartridge body;

the detection part is provided with a first cavity wall and a second cavity wall, the first cavity wall is arranged on one side of the ink box body facing the first emission part, and the second cavity wall is arranged on one side of the ink box body facing the first receiving part;

an included angle is formed between the first cavity wall and the second cavity wall.

5. The ink cartridge of claim 4, wherein the first chamber wall and the second chamber wall are perpendicular to each other.

6. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the ink cartridge has a first position and a second position with respect to the printing apparatus, the ink cartridge being located at the first position when the ink cartridge is fixed with respect to the printing apparatus, the second position being located forward of the first position in the mounting direction;

one of the ink box and the printing device is also provided with a first elastic piece, and the elastic force direction of the first elastic piece is opposite to the installation direction of the ink box; when the ink box is installed, the ink box can resist the elastic force of the first elastic piece and move to the second position from the first position, and under the action of the elastic force of the first elastic piece, the ink box can return from the second position and is fixed at the first position;

the detection part is provided with a detection area and an avoidance area, and the avoidance area penetrates through the ink box body along the extending direction of the first detection light; when the ink box is positioned at the first position, the first emitting piece emits the first detection light towards the detection area; when the ink box is located at the second position, the first emitting piece emits the first detection light towards the avoidance area.

7. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the accommodating chamber further includes a third section, both ends of the third section are respectively communicated with the second end of the first section and the first end of the second section;

the cavity wall of the third section forms the detection area, and the area formed by the first section, the second section and the third section forms the avoidance area.

8. The ink cartridge of claim 6, wherein the printing apparatus further comprises a second detecting member including a second emitting member for emitting a second detecting light and a second receiving member;

the ink cartridge further comprises a shielding piece, and when the ink cartridge is fixed relative to the printing device, the second receiving piece is used for receiving the second detection light attenuated by the shielding piece.

9. The ink cartridge according to claim 8,

the ink box comprises a driving piece and a second elastic piece, two ends of the first elastic piece are respectively connected with the driving piece and the ink box body, two ends of the second elastic piece are respectively connected with the shielding piece and the ink box body, a first clamping portion is arranged on the driving piece, a second clamping portion is arranged on the shielding piece, and the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are respectively arranged on one sides, facing each other, of the driving piece and the shielding piece;

when the ink box body moves relative to the printing device, the driving piece abuts against the printing device, the first elastic piece is tightly pressed between the driving piece and the ink box body, and the first clamping portion abuts against the second clamping portion and drives the shielding piece to move relative to the ink box body towards one side far away from the printing device;

wherein, be equipped with the direction inclined plane in the first joint portion, second joint portion can be followed direction inclined plane orientation is kept away from one side of driving piece removes, the ink horn is located during the second position, first joint portion with second joint portion alternate segregation, the shielding part can stretch out and shelter from under the elastic force effect of second elastic component the second detection light that the second transmitting part sent.

10. A printing apparatus comprising a first detection assembly and the ink cartridge of any one of claims 1 to 9, the first detection assembly comprising a first emitting member for emitting a first detection light toward the detection portion of the ink cartridge and a first receiving member.

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