CN218367036U - Ink box - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to an ink cartridge for mounting in an insertion direction into a cartridge attachment unit of a printer, the ink cartridge including a cartridge body provided with a mounting portion for cooperating with a positioning portion of the cartridge attachment unit to determine a position at which the ink cartridge is mounted to the cartridge attachment unit. In the process that the user installs the ink cartridge in the cartridge attaching unit, the installation part is matched with the positioning part, so that the position of the ink cartridge installed in the cartridge attaching unit is the same each time, the first shielding part is accurately positioned between the light emitter and the light receiver of the first sensor, the accuracy of the detection of whether the cartridge attaching unit of the printer is installed in place on the ink cartridge is improved, and the use experience of the user is improved.

Description

Ink box

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of ink-jet printers, in particular to an ink box.

Background

The ink box is used for being installed in an installation cavity of the printer, a sensor is arranged in the installation cavity, a shielding part is arranged on a shell of the ink box, and the shielding part can shield signals sent by the sensor in a state that the ink box is installed in place. However, the installation cavity of the existing printer does not have a positioning mechanism for the ink cartridge, so that the user installs the ink cartridge in the installation cavity at different depths, the matching of the shielding part and the sensor is influenced, the printer cannot accurately detect whether the ink cartridge is installed, and the use is influenced.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The present application provides an ink cartridge that enables the position of the ink cartridge to be the same every time the ink cartridge is mounted to a cartridge attachment unit of a printer by providing a positioning structure.

An embodiment of the present application provides an ink cartridge for installation into a cartridge attachment unit of a printer along an insertion direction, the ink cartridge including a cartridge body provided with an installation portion for cooperation with a positioning portion of the cartridge attachment unit so that the ink cartridge is installed in a position determination of the cartridge attachment unit.

In one possible design, the mounting portion includes a first protrusion provided on at least one of an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface of the case body, for abutting against the positioning portion.

In a possible design, the box body is further provided with a guide portion, along the insertion direction, the guide portion is disposed in front of the first protrusion for guiding in cooperation with the positioning portion.

In one possible design, the cartridge body is further provided with a shielding portion for cooperating with a sensor of the cartridge attachment unit;

along the insertion direction, the shielding portion is disposed in front of the first protrusion and the guide portion.

In one possible design, the shielding portion includes a first shielding portion for cooperating with a first sensor of the cartridge attachment unit to enable installation detection of the ink cartridge, and a second shielding portion for cooperating with a second sensor of the cartridge attachment unit to enable ink exhaustion detection of the ink cartridge.

In one possible design, the shield is a plate-like member.

In one possible design, the mounting portion further includes a second protrusion provided on the front surface of the case body for abutting against the positioning portion.

In one possible design, the second projection is provided in front of the shielding portion in the insertion direction.

In one possible design, the rear surface of the cartridge body is further provided with an operation portion for mounting or removing the ink cartridge.

In a possible design, the operating portion is provided with a groove which extends in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. In the present application, the upper surface of the cartridge body is provided with a first shielding portion, and the cartridge attachment unit is provided with a first sensor therein, wherein the first sensor is composed of a pair of optical sensors, one end of which is a light emitter and the other end of which is a light receiver, and when the ink cartridge is not mounted to the cartridge attachment unit, the light receiver can receive light emitted from the light emitter, and the printer confirms that the ink cartridge is not mounted; when the ink cartridge is mounted to the cartridge attachment unit, the first shielding portion is located between the light emitter and the light receiver of the first sensor, propagation of light from the light emitter to the light receiver is blocked, the light receiver cannot receive the light, and the printer confirms that the ink cartridge is mounted in place. In the process that the user installs the ink cartridge in the cartridge attaching unit, the installation part is matched with the positioning part, so that the position of the ink cartridge installed in the cartridge attaching unit is the same each time, the first shielding part is accurately positioned between the light emitter and the light receiver of the first sensor, the accuracy of the detection of whether the cartridge attaching unit of the printer is installed in place on the ink cartridge is improved, and the use experience of the user is improved.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the application.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge provided herein in one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1 mounted to a cartridge attachment unit;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge attachment unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 with the ink cartridge not installed in place;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 with the ink cartridge installed in place;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge provided herein in another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge provided herein in another embodiment;

fig. 8 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge of fig. 7 mounted to the cartridge attachment unit.

Reference numerals:

1-box body;

10-front surface;

11-upper surface;

12-the rear surface;

13-lower surface;

14-side surface;

20-a chip rack;

21-a chip board;

22-a first shade;

23-a second shade;

24-an operating part;

25-ink outlet;

26-a first projection;

27-a guide;

28-a buoy;

29-a second projection;

100-a cartridge attachment unit;

101-a containment chamber;

102-ink needles;

103-a stylus;

104-a rod-shaped body;

105-a first sensor;

106-a second sensor;

107-inner wall.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the application.

Detailed Description

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

It should be understood that the embodiments described are only a few embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

The terminology used in the embodiments of the present application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. As used in the examples of this application and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein is merely one type of association that describes an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

It should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", and the like used in the embodiments of the present application are described in terms of the angles shown in the drawings, and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present application. In addition, in this context, it will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on" or "under" another element, it can be directly on "or" under "the other element or be indirectly on" or "under" the other element via an intermediate element.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge provided herein in one embodiment. As shown in fig. 1, a direction in which the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 100 is defined as an insertion direction 51, and a direction opposite to the insertion direction 51, i.e., a direction in which the ink cartridge is removed from the cartridge attachment unit 100 is defined as a removal direction 52. It is understood that although the inserting direction 51 and the removing direction 52 are horizontal in the present embodiment, the inserting direction 51 and the removing direction 52 may not be horizontal in other embodiments. The direction of gravity is defined as a lower direction 53 and the direction opposite to the direction of gravity is defined as an upper direction 54. The following is a description of a case where the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 are horizontal.

The ink cartridge is substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a front surface 10, an upper surface 11, a rear surface 12, a lower surface 13, and a side surface 14, wherein the front surface 10 faces the insertion direction 51, the rear surface 12 faces the removal direction 52, the upper surface 11 faces the upper direction 54, the lower surface 13 faces the lower direction 53, and the side surface 14 faces a direction perpendicular to both the insertion direction 51 and the upper direction 54. Further, each surface of the ink cartridge in the present application is not necessarily a flat surface, and there may be projections or depressions.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1, a chip rack 20 is disposed at the boundary between the upper surface 11 and the front surface 10, a chip board 21 is mounted in the chip rack 20, and the chip board 21 can be mounted in the chip rack 20 by means of plug-in engagement. Thus, the chip board 21 is located below the upper surface 11 in the lower direction 53, i.e., most of the chip board 21 is covered by the chip holder 20, and only the interface for electrical connection is exposed at a position where it can be contacted with the printer.

The embodiment of the application provides an ink cartridge for being mounted in a cartridge attachment unit 100 of a printer along an insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge comprising a cartridge body 1, the cartridge body 1 being provided with a mounting portion for cooperating with a positioning portion of the cartridge attachment unit 100 to determine a position at which the ink cartridge is mounted to the cartridge attachment unit 100.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 to 5, the upper surface 11 of the cartridge body 1 is provided with a first shielding portion 22, and the cartridge attachment unit 100 is provided with a first sensor 105, wherein the first sensor 105 is composed of a pair of optical sensors, one end of which is a light emitter and the other end of which is a light receiver, and when the ink cartridge is not mounted to the cartridge attachment unit 100, the light receiver can receive light emitted from the light emitter, and the printer confirms that the ink cartridge is not mounted; when the ink cartridge is mounted to the cartridge attachment unit 100, the first shielding portion 22 is located between the light emitter and the light receiver of the first sensor 105, and blocks the propagation of light from the light emitter to the light receiver, the light receiver cannot receive the light, and the printer confirms that the ink cartridge is mounted in place. In the process that the user mounts the ink cartridge to the cartridge attaching unit 100, the mounting portion is engaged with the positioning portion, so that the position at which the ink cartridge is mounted to the cartridge attaching unit 100 is the same each time, and the first shielding portion 22 is accurately located between the light emitter and the light receiver of the first sensor 105, thereby improving the accuracy of the detection of whether the ink cartridge is mounted in place by the cartridge attaching unit 100 of the printer, and further improving the use experience of the user.

Further, a second sensor 106 is provided in the cartridge attachment unit 100, and the second sensor 106 is also composed of a pair of optical sensors, one end of which is a light emitter and the other end of which is a light receiver capable of receiving light emitted from the light emitter. The surface of the ink box is provided with a second shielding part 23, the inside of the ink box is provided with a buoy 28, when the ink in the ink box is sufficient, the buoy 28 floats in the ink, so that the second shielding part 23 shields the light transmission between the second sensors 106, the light receiver cannot receive the light, and the printer confirms that the ink amount in the ink box is sufficient; when the ink in the ink cartridge is consumed, the float 28 rotates, the second shielding portion 23 moves and cannot shield the light transmission between the second sensors 106, the light receiver receives the light, and the printer confirms that the ink amount in the ink cartridge is insufficient, so that the ink exhaustion detection is realized.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 to 5, the mounting portion includes a first protrusion 26, and the first protrusion 26 is disposed on at least one of the upper surface 11, the lower surface 13, and the side surface 14 of the case 1 for abutting against the positioning portion.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the process of installing the ink cartridge in the cartridge attaching unit 100 by the user, the first protrusion 26 abuts against the positioning portion to limit the position of the ink cartridge relative to the cartridge attaching unit 100, so that the position of the ink cartridge installed in the cartridge attaching unit 100 at each time is the same, and meanwhile, the abutting limiting mode has a simple structure, is convenient to operate, is convenient to produce and process, improves the use experience of the user, and reduces the production difficulty.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 4, the box body 1 is further provided with a guide portion 27, and the guide portion 27 is provided in front of the first protrusion 26 in the insertion direction for guiding in cooperation with the positioning portion.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 4, in the process of mounting the ink cartridge to the cartridge attachment unit 100 by the user, the positioning portion is engaged with the guide portion 27, and the guide portion 27 functions as a guide, so that the first protrusion 26 can abut against the positioning portion, and the first protrusion 26 is prevented from deviating too far from the positioning portion to abut against, thereby preventing the mounting detection of the ink cartridge from being affected.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the cartridge body 1 is further provided with a shielding portion for cooperating with a sensor of the cartridge attachment unit 100 to enable mounting detection of the ink cartridge; the shielding portion is provided in front of the first projection 26 and the guide portion 27 in the insertion direction 51.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the shielding portion includes a first shielding portion 22 and a second shielding portion 23, the first shielding portion 22 cooperates with the first sensor 105 to achieve the mounting detection of the ink cartridge, and the second shielding portion 23 cooperates with the second sensor 106 to achieve the ink exhaustion detection of the ink cartridge. The first protrusion 26 and the guide portion 27 are disposed behind the blocking portion along the insertion direction 51, so that the space on the surface of the cartridge body 1 is effectively utilized, and the functions of guiding and positioning the cartridge during installation are achieved on the basis that the original function of the cartridge is not affected.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the shielding portion is a plate-like member.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the shield portion is a plate-like member, so that the shield portion has higher reliability in shielding light emitted from the sensor, and higher accuracy in mounting detection or exhaustion detection of the ink cartridge by the cartridge attaching unit 100 is improved.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the mounting portion further includes a second protrusion 29, and the second protrusion 29 is provided on the front surface 10 of the case 1 for abutting against the positioning portion.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, in the process of installing the ink cartridge in the cartridge attaching unit 100 by the user, the second protrusion 29 abuts against the positioning portion to limit the position of the ink cartridge relative to the cartridge attaching unit 100, so that the position of the ink cartridge installed in the cartridge attaching unit 100 at each time is the same, and meanwhile, the abutting limiting mode has a simple structure, is convenient to operate, is convenient to produce and process, improves the use experience of the user, and reduces the production difficulty.

In addition, the ink box is provided with the first bulge 26 and the second bulge 29 simultaneously, so that the function of installing the ink box at the same position every time is more reliable, and the use experience of a user is improved.

In a particular embodiment, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the second projection 29 is provided in front of the shielding portion in the insertion direction 51.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 7, the second projection 29 is provided in front of the blocking portion in the insertion direction 51, and the space on the front surface 10 of the cartridge body 1 is effectively used, so that the function of guiding and positioning when the ink cartridge is mounted can be realized without affecting the original function of the ink cartridge.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the rear surface 12 of the cartridge body 1 is further provided with an operation portion 24 for mounting or removing the ink cartridge. The operating portion 24 is provided with a groove extending in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction 51.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the operation portion 24 is formed in a handle shape, and the operation portion 24 is provided with a groove into which a finger of a user can be inserted, so that the ink cartridge can be mounted and removed by holding the operation portion 24, thereby facilitating the operation. Specifically, the groove may extend in the upper direction 54 or the lower direction 53, may extend in the left-right direction of the ink cartridge, and may be provided with an anti-slip pattern on the surface of the operation portion 24. As shown in FIG. 6, the ink cartridge may further have only one recess for easy operation by a user, thereby leaving a space for disposing the ink storage chamber and increasing the ink storage capacity of the ink cartridge.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the cartridge attachment unit 100 is provided with a housing chamber 101 for mounting the ink cartridge, and a positioning portion is provided in the housing chamber 101 for cooperating with a mounting portion of the ink cartridge for determining a position of insertion of the ink cartridge into the housing chamber 101.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the cartridge attachment unit 100 may be provided with a plurality of accommodating chambers 101 for mounting ink cartridges of different color inks. In the process of installing the ink cartridge to holding chamber 101, the installation department of ink cartridge and the location portion butt in holding chamber 101 restrict the degree of depth that the ink cartridge installed into holding chamber 101, make the ink cartridge insert the position determination who holds chamber 101 for the propagation of light between first sensor 105 is blockked to first occlusion part 22 accuracy, thereby improved the box of printer attach unit 100 to the rate of accuracy of the detection whether the ink cartridge installed in place, and then improved user's use experience.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1, 3 and 5, the front surface 10 of the cartridge body 1 is provided with an ink outlet 25, the ink outlet 25 extends from the front surface 10 in the insertion direction 51, and ink in the cartridge body 1 can flow out through the ink outlet 25. An ink needle 102 and a contact pin 103 are arranged in the accommodating cavity 101, when the ink box is installed in the accommodating cavity 101, the ink needle 102 is communicated with the ink outlet 25 to supply ink to the printer, and the contact pin 103 is in contact with the chip board 21 to realize connection of electric signals for reading information stored in the chip board 21.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, a guide engagement portion for engaging with the guide portion 27 of the ink cartridge is provided in the accommodating chamber 101, and the guide engagement portion is a rod-shaped body 104.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, in the process of the user mounting the ink cartridge to the cartridge attachment unit 100, the rod-shaped body 104 can be in contact with the guide portion 27, and the ink cartridge moves in the insertion direction 51 along the rod-shaped body 104 through the guide portion 27, so that the mounting path of the ink cartridge is determined, and the difficulty of mounting the ink cartridge is reduced.

Specifically, the cross section of the rod-shaped body 104 may be circular, so that the friction force between the rod-shaped body 104 and the guide portion 27 is rolling friction, thereby reducing the resistance received when the ink cartridge is installed and improving the use experience.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the rod-like body 104 is a positioning portion for abutting against the first projection 26 of the ink cartridge, and the first projection 26 is a mounting portion.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, when the ink cartridge is moved to the mounting position along the rod-shaped body 104 in the insertion direction 51 by the guide portion 27, the rod-shaped body 104 abuts against the first projection 26 to restrict the movement of the ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge is mounted in position, so that the mounting position of the ink cartridge with respect to the housing chamber 101 is determined.

Specifically, the guide portion 27 may be a convex structure, and the height of the guide portion 27 protruding in the upper direction 54 is lower than the first protrusion 26.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 8, the inner wall 107 of the accommodating chamber 101 is a positioning portion for abutting against the second projection 29 of the ink cartridge, and the second projection 29 is a mounting portion.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 8, the inner wall 107 of the accommodating chamber 101 has an advantage of simple structure as the positioning portion, and the position where the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge attaching unit 100 can be controlled by adjusting the length of the second protrusion 29 protruding from the front surface 10 of the cartridge body 1 in the insertion direction 51, so that the position where the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge attaching unit 100 at a time is the same, and the accuracy of the cartridge mounting detection of the cartridge attaching unit 100 with respect to the ink cartridge is improved.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application, and various modifications and changes may be made to the present application by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims (10)

1. An ink cartridge for mounting into a cartridge attachment unit (100) of a printer in an insertion direction, characterized in that the ink cartridge comprises a cartridge body (1), the cartridge body (1) being provided with a mounting portion for cooperating with a positioning portion of the cartridge attachment unit (100) for determining a position at which the ink cartridge is mounted to the cartridge attachment unit (100).

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion includes a first projection (26), and the first projection (26) is provided on at least one of an upper surface (11), a lower surface (13), and a side surface (14) of the cartridge body (1) for abutting against the positioning portion.

3. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cartridge body (1) is further provided with a guide portion (27), the guide portion (27) being provided in front of the first projection (26) in the insertion direction for guiding in cooperation with the positioning portion.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the cartridge body (1) is further provided with a shielding portion for cooperating with a sensor of the cartridge attachment unit (100);

the shielding portion is disposed in front of the first projection (26) and the guide portion (27) in the insertion direction.

5. The ink cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the shielding portion includes a first shielding portion (22) and a second shielding portion (23), the first shielding portion (22) being for cooperating with a first sensor (105) of the cartridge attachment unit (100) to enable installation detection of the ink cartridge, the second shielding portion (23) being for cooperating with a second sensor (106) of the cartridge attachment unit (100) to enable end-of-ink detection of the ink cartridge.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the shielding portion is a plate-like member.

7. The ink cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the mounting portion further comprises a second projection (29), the second projection (29) being provided on a front surface (10) of the cartridge body (1) for abutting against the positioning portion.

8. The ink cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the second projection (29) is provided in front of the shielding portion in the insertion direction.

9. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rear surface (12) of the cartridge body (1) is further provided with an operation portion (24) for mounting or removing the ink cartridge.

10. Ink cartridge according to claim 9, characterised in that the operating portion (24) is provided with a groove extending in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction.

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