EP3498477A1

EP3498477A1 - Ink cartridge chip, ink cartridge and ink-jet printer

Info

Publication number: EP3498477A1
Application number: EP17838541.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jingzhang XIA; Yongqun QIU; Zhizheng Jia; Yijing ZHU; Haoming Ma; Weijian Chen
Original assignee: Zhuhai Ninestar Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhuhai Ninestar Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-08-12
Filing date: 2017-07-20
Publication date: 2019-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-20
Also published as: EP3498477A4; WO2018028411A1; JP6709321B2; EP3498477B1; JP2019521889A

Abstract

This application discloses an ink cartridge chip, an ink cartridge, and an ink-jet printer. The ink cartridge chip is configured to electrically connect to contact pins in an installation portion, an accommodation groove is provided on the ink cartridge chip, and contact portions configured to come into contact with the contact pins are disposed in the accommodation groove. According to the ink cartridge chip, the ink cartridge, and the ink-jet printer provided in the present invention, an accommodation groove that can accommodate contact pins is provided on the ink cartridge chip, and at least two inner contact portions configured to come into contact with the contact pins are disposed in the accommodation groove, to avoid that during installation of the ink cartridge chip, if the chip deviates, the contact pin may not slide into a notch, easily causing cases of poor contact of the chip and damage to (bending of) the contact pin, and ensure stable and effective contact between the ink cartridge chip and the contact pin, thereby improving use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip, and facilitating market promotion and application.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of ink-jet printing technologies, and in particular, to an ink cartridge chip, an ink cartridge, and an ink-jet printer.

RELATED ART

There are many types of chips for printers. A chip for a printer is configured to store manufacturer information, ink volume information, ink cartridge type information, ink color information, and the like. A chip for an ink-jet printer plays a decisive role in normal operation of the ink-jet printer.
The Chinese Patent No. 201020599870.2 discloses an ink cartridge chip and an ink cartridge. It can be learned by referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 that, in the prior art, a chip 20 has multiple notches 22, and each notch 22 has an electric-conductor 25.
However, during implementation of the technical solution, the prior art has the following disadvantages: As a printer and an ink cartridge are miniaturized, a chip also becomes increasingly miniaturized, a gap between terminals of the chip also becomes increasingly small, and a contact pin 7 also becomes increasingly thin. In addition, to better achieve a contact effect between an electric-conductor 25 and the contact pin, a notch 22 and an open end 23 also become increasingly small. Consequently, chip processing difficulty is high (processing of a small and deep groove), an installation precision requirement is high, and during installation, if the chip deviates, the contact pin may not slide into the notch 22, easily causing cases of poor contact of the chip and damage to (bending of) the contact pin.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an ink cartridge chip, an ink cartridge, and an ink-jet printer, to resolve a problem existing in the prior art that poor contact of a chip and damage to a contact pin are easily caused.
A first aspect of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge chip. The ink cartridge chip is configured to electrically connect to contact pins in an installation portion, an accommodation groove is provided on the ink cartridge chip, and contact portions configured to come into contact with the contact pins are disposed in the accommodation groove.
A second aspect of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge detachably installed in an installation portion. The ink cartridge includes the foregoing ink cartridge chip, and the ink cartridge chip is configured to engage with contact pins in the installation portion.
A third aspect of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge that can be installed in an installation portion. The ink cartridge includes the foregoing ink cartridge chip.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet printer. The ink-jet printer includes the foregoing ink cartridge.
According to the ink cartridge chip, the ink cartridge, and the ink-jet printer provided in the present invention, an accommodation groove that can accommodate contact pins is provided on the ink cartridge chip, and at least two inner contact portions configured to come into contact with the contact pins are disposed in the accommodation groove, to avoid that during installation of the ink cartridge chip, if the chip deviates, the contact pin may not slide into a notch, easily causing cases of poor contact of the chip and damage to (bending of) the contact pin, and ensure stable and effective contact between the ink cartridge chip and the contact pin, thereby improving use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip, and facilitating market promotion and application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present invention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art may derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a first schematic structural diagram of a chip in the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of engagement of the chip and a terminal support in the prior art;
FIG. 3 is a first schematic structural diagram of a chip according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a second schematic structural diagram of the chip according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a first schematic structural diagram of a chip according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a second schematic structural diagram of the chip according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a first schematic structural diagram of contact between the chip and contact pins according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a second schematic structural diagram of contact between the chip and the contact pins according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a first schematic structural diagram of contact between the chip and contact pins according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a second schematic structural diagram of contact between the chip and the contact pins according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of contact between the chip and contact pins according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a first schematic structural diagram of a chip according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a second schematic structural diagram of the chip according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a third schematic structural diagram of the chip according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a first schematic diagram of a connection between the chip and a chip rack according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a second schematic diagram of a connection between the chip and the chip rack according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of contact between the chip and contact pins according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a first schematic structural diagram of installation of an ink cartridge and the chip according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a second schematic structural diagram of installation of the ink cartridge and the chip according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a first schematic structural diagram of installation of an ink cartridge and the chip according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 22 is a second schematic structural diagram of installation of the ink cartridge and the chip according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 23 is a first schematic structural diagram of an ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;
FIG. 24 is a second schematic structural diagram of the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;
FIG. 25 is a third schematic structural diagram of the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;
FIG. 26 is a first schematic structural diagram of an ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;
FIG. 27 is a second schematic structural diagram of the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;
FIG. 28 is a third schematic structural diagram of the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;
FIG. 29 is a schematic separated structural diagram of a chip rack according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 30 is a first schematic structural diagram of a chip rack according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 31 is a second schematic structural diagram of the chip rack according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 32 is a third schematic structural diagram of the chip rack according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 33 is a schematic structural diagram of the chip supported and fixed by the chip rack according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 34 is a first schematic structural diagram of installation of the chip rack and the chip according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 35 is a second schematic structural diagram of installation of the chip rack and the chip according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 36 is a third schematic structural diagram of installation of the chip rack and the chip according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 37 is a first schematic structural diagram of a chip rack according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 38 is a second schematic structural diagram of the chip rack according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 39 is a first schematic structural diagram of a connection between the chip and the contact pins in the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 40 is a second schematic structural diagram of a connection between the chip and the contact pins in the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 41 is a third schematic structural diagram of a connection between the chip and the contact pins in the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 42 is a fourth schematic structural diagram of a connection between the chip and the contact pins in the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 43 is a schematic structural diagram of the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 44 is a schematic structural diagram of an ink cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 45 is a schematic structural diagram of the chip in the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram of installation of the chip and the chip rack in the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 47 is a schematic structural diagram of an installation portion configured to install an ink cartridge according to the present invention;
FIG. 48 is a first schematic structural diagram of an ink cartridge according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 49 is a second schematic structural diagram of the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 50a is a first schematic structural diagram of the chip rack according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 50b is a second schematic structural diagram of the chip rack according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 51a is a first schematic structural diagram of the chip rack and an ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 51b is a second schematic structural diagram of the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 51c is a third schematic structural diagram of the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 51d is a fourth schematic structural diagram of the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 51e is a fifth schematic structural diagram of the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 51f is a sixth schematic structural diagram of the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 52 is a third schematic structural diagram of the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 53a is a first schematic partial structural diagram of a housing according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 53b is a second schematic partial structural diagram of a housing according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 53c is a third schematic partial structural diagram of a housing according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
FIG. 54 is a first schematic structural diagram of an ink cartridge according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 55 is a schematic exploded view of the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 56a is a first schematic partial structural diagram of a housing according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 56b is a second schematic partial structural diagram of the housing according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 56c is a third schematic partial structural diagram of the housing according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 57 is a schematic position diagram showing that the ink cartridge chip comes into contact with a second group of contact pins during installation of the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 58a is a first schematic position diagram showing that the ink cartridge chip arrives between a first group of contact pins and the second group of contact pins during installation of the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 58b is a second schematic position diagram showing that the ink cartridge chip arrives between the first group of contact pins and the second group of contact pins during installation of the ink cartridge according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 59a is a first schematic position diagram when the ink cartridge is taken out according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
FIG. 59b is a second schematic position diagram when the ink cartridge is taken out according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention; and
FIG. 60 is a schematic structural diagram of an ink cartridge according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

DETAILED EMBODIMENTS

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have same meanings that are generally understood by persons skilled in the art of the present invention. Herein, the terms used in this specification of the present invention are merely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention.
The terms "up", "down", "front", "rear" and the like are used to describe relative positional relationships of various structures in the accompanying drawings, are merely for convenience of description, and are not intended to limit an implementable scope of the present invention. A change or adjustment of the relative relationships without essentially changing the technical content are also considered as the implementable scope of the present invention.
The terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely for convenience of description of different components, and should not be construed as indicating or implying a sequenced relationship or relative importance or implicitly specifying a quantity of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature restricted by "first" or "second" may explicitly indicate or implicitly include at least one of such features.
An embodiment provides an ink cartridge chip. The ink cartridge chip is configured to electrically connect to contact pins in an installation portion, an accommodation groove is provided on the ink cartridge chip, and contact portions configured to contact the contact pins are disposed in the accommodation groove.
Specifically, it can be learned by referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 that, this embodiment provides an ink cartridge chip 1 electrically connected to multiple contact pins 7 in an installation portion of a printer. An accommodation groove 2 that can accommodate the contact pins 7 is provided on the ink cartridge chip 1. At least two inner connection terminals configured to come into contact with the contact pins 7 are disposed in the accommodation groove 2. An inner contact portion 201 is disposed on the inner connection terminal, and the contact pin 7 comes into contact with the inner contact portion 201.
In this embodiment, specific shapes and structures of the ink cartridge chip 1 and the accommodation groove 2 are not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. For example, the ink cartridge chip 1 may be set to have a rectangular shape, or a square or oval structure, and for the accommodation groove 2, the accommodation groove 2 may be set as a rectangular groove, a trapezoidal groove, or the like. Specifically, when the accommodation groove 2 has a rectangular structure, a contact surface on which the inner contact portion 201 is located is perpendicular to a side surface (a first plane 101) of the ink cartridge chip 1. When the accommodation groove 2 has a trapezoidal structure, a contact surface on which the inner contact portion 201 is located is a slope. In this case, the contact surface is basically perpendicular to a side surface. In addition, a specific quantity of inner contact portions 201 is not limited. For example, the quantity of inner contact portions 201 may be set to 2, 3, or 4. In this case, the width of the accommodation groove 2 may be set to be larger. In this way, a case in which the contact pin 7 is easily broken and cannot be installed in place due to a relatively small accommodation groove 2 during installation can be effectively prevented. In addition, two of disposed inner contact portions 201 are disposed to be opposite to each other, so that interference between the two inner connection terminals can be reduced to the greatest extent, thereby ensuring use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip 1.
In addition, at least one accommodation groove 2 is provided on the ink cartridge chip 1. A specific quantity of accommodation grooves 2 may be set according to a specific design requirement. When there is one accommodation groove 2, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, some connection terminals may be disposed in the accommodation groove 2, and some connection terminals may be disposed in the first plane 101. The terminals disposed in the accommodation groove 2 may be more important connection terminals, for example, a power terminal and an installation detection terminal. When there are multiple accommodation grooves 2, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, all the connection terminals may be disposed in the accommodation grooves 2, to effectively overcome a disadvantage existing in the prior art that poor contact of a chip and damage to a contact pin 7 are easily caused.
According to the ink cartridge chip 1 provided in this embodiment, an accommodation groove 2 that can accommodate contact pins 7 is disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1, and at least two inner contact portions 201 configured to come into contact with the contact pins 7 are disposed in the accommodation groove 2, to avoid that during installation of the ink cartridge chip 1, if the ink cartridge chip 1 deviates, the contact pin 7 may not slide into a notch, easily causing cases of poor contact of the ink cartridge chip 1 and damage to (bending of) the contact pin 7, and ensure stable and effective contact between the ink cartridge chip 1 and the contact pin 7, thereby improving use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip 1, and facilitating market promotion and application.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 that, in this embodiment, the specific shape and structure of the ink cartridge chip 1 are not limited. More commonly, the ink cartridge chip 1 is set to have a rectangular structure. The ink cartridge chip 1 having a rectangular structure includes the first plane 101 and a third plane 103 vertically intersecting the first plane 101. A surface area of the first plane 101 is smaller than a surface area of the third plane 103. The third plane 103 of the ink cartridge chip 1 is perpendicular to an installation direction of the ink cartridge chip 1, and a center line of an ink outlet on the ink cartridge may be perpendicular to the third plane 103. At least one accommodation groove 2 is provided in the first plane 101, and a preset angle exists between each inner contact portion 201 disposed in the accommodation groove 2 and the first plane 101.
The ink cartridge chip 1 has the first plane 101, a second plane 102, the third plane 103, a fourth plane 104, a fifth plane 105, and a sixth plane 106. The first plane 101 is set to be opposite and parallel to the second plane 102. The third plane 103 is set to be opposite and parallel to the fourth plane 104. The fifth plane 105 is set to be opposite and parallel to the sixth plane 106. The first plane 101 is basically vertically connected to the third plane 103, the fourth plane 104, the fifth plane 105, and the sixth plane 106. The second plane 102 is basically vertically connected to the third plane 103, the fourth plane 104, the fifth plane 105, and the sixth plane 106. The third plane 103 and the fourth plane 104 have the largest surface areas. Therefore, an electrical component such as a memory 5 may be disposed in the third plane 103 or the fourth plane 104. In this way, an area in which the electrical component can be disposed is relatively large, and a distance between electrical components disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1 is relatively long, thereby reducing interference between the electrical components, and further ensuring a use effect of the ink cartridge chip 1.
In addition, a specific value range of the preset angle existing between the inner contact portion 201 and the first plane 101 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. More preferably, the preset angle may be set to 90°. In this way, the inner contact portion 201 is perpendicular to the first plane 101, and during installation of the ink cartridge chip 1, damage caused to the inner contact portion 201 due to scratches is avoided, thereby ensuring a normal use effect of the inner contact portion 201, and further ensuring use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip 1. Certainly, persons skilled in the art may alternatively set a surface of the inner contact portion 201 and the first plane 101 to be at a particular angle, provided that a technical effect of better contact with the contact pin 7 can be achieved. Details are not described herein.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 that, when a quantity of accommodation grooves 2 provided in the first plane 101 is insufficient to dispose connection terminals that come into contact with all the contact pins 7, an accommodation groove 2 and an outer contact portion 3 configured to come into contact with the contact pin 7 may be disposed in the first plane 101.
The outer contact portion 3 and the inner contact portion 201 have a same function, that is, they are configured to come into contact with the contact pins 7. A difference lies in that, the outer contact portion 3 disposed in the first plane 101, while the inner contact portion 201 is disposed in the accommodation groove 2. For a specific position at which the inner contact portion 201 is disposed in the accommodation groove 2 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. More preferably, the inner contact portion 201 may be disposed in a groove end surface 202 that is in the accommodation groove 2 and that intersects the first plane 101. In this way, occurrence of a case in which the contact pin 7 disposed in the accommodation groove 2 is easily broken and cannot be installed in place can be effectively reduced, and two inner contact portions 201 disposed in the accommodation groove 2 are disposed to be opposite to each other, to reduce interference between the inner connection terminals, and further ensure use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip 1.
Further, it can be learned by referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 that, in this embodiment, multiple accommodation grooves 2 may alternatively be provided, and the multiple accommodation grooves 2 are all provided in the first plane 101. To further ensure that the contact pin 7 can be installed in place, and enable the accommodation groove 2 to achieve a function of guiding the contact pin 7, it may be set in such a manner that the accommodation groove 2 has a gradually decreasing width along a direction away from the first plane 101.
Persons skilled in the art may understand that, a large depth of the accommodation groove 2 indicates a longer distance between a bottom surface of the accommodation groove 2 and the contact pin 7, and a smaller depth of the accommodation groove 2 indicates a shorter distance between the bottom surface of the accommodation groove 2 and the contact pin 7. If the bottom surface is away from the contact pin 7, the bottom surface does not come into contact with the contact pin 7. If the bottom surface is closer to the contact pin 7, after the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the installation portion, a larger pressure formed due to the installation is applied to the contact pin 7, easily causing damage to a head of the contact pin 7. Certainly, the foregoing two manners are applied to different cases, and specifically, a choice and a setting may be made according to a design requirement of a user.
It is set in such a manner that the accommodation groove 2 has a gradually decreasing width along the direction away from the first plane 101, so that the contact pin 7 and the contact portion can be in stable, effective, and better contact, and an installation pressure caused by the bottom surface of the accommodation groove 2 to the contact pin 7 is reduced, thereby further ensuring use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip 1.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 that, a quantity of connection terminals on the ink cartridge chip 1 may be an odd number such as 7, 9, or 11, or may be an even number such as 6, 8, or 10. When the quantity of connection terminals is an even number, and one accommodation groove 2 is provided in the first plane 101, inner contact portions 201 on at least two inner connection terminals may be disposed in the accommodation groove 2, and a contact portion on another connection terminal may be disposed in the first plane 101, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. When multiple accommodation grooves 2 are disposed in the first plane 101, two inner contact portions 201 may be disposed in each accommodation groove 2. Alternatively, the multiple accommodation grooves 2 may be set to include a first accommodation groove 21 and a second accommodation groove 22, two inner contact portions 201 are disposed in the first accommodation groove 21, three inner contact portions 201 are disposed in the second accommodation groove 22, and the three inner contact portions 201 are disposed on two groove end surfaces 202 and one bottom surface 203 of the second accommodation groove 22. Based on such a setting manner, a case in the Background that a contact pin 7 is broken and cannot be installed in place due to a relatively small accommodation groove 2 during installation can be avoided. In addition, interference between terminals is effectively reduced. In this case, to connect to a connection terminal, a side groove 6 may further be provided on one side of the multiple accommodation grooves 2 in the first plane 101. A side contact portion 601 configured to come into contact with the contact pin 7 is disposed in the side groove 6. For a specific position at which the side contact portion 601 is disposed in the side groove 6 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. More preferably, the side contact portion 601 may be disposed on a side surface in the side groove 6 close to the accommodation groove 2, to facilitate contact between the contact pin 7 and the side contact portion 601.
When the quantity of connection terminals is an odd number, one accommodation groove 2 may be disposed in the first plane 101, at least two inner contact portions 201 are disposed in the accommodation groove 2, and a contact portion on another connection terminal is disposed in the first plane 101. Alternatively, multiple accommodation grooves 2 may be disposed in the first plane 101, and two inner contact portions 201 are disposed in each accommodation groove 2. In this case, to connect to a connection terminal, a side groove 6 may further be provided on one side of the multiple accommodation grooves 2 in the first plane 101. A side contact portion 601 configured to come into contact with the contact pin 7 is disposed in the side groove 6, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Alternatively, the multiple accommodation grooves 2 may be set to include a first accommodation groove 21 and a second accommodation groove 22, two inner contact portions 201 are disposed in the first accommodation groove 21, and three inner contact portions 201 are disposed in the second accommodation groove 22, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, contact between the ink cartridge chip 1 and the contact pin 7 can be effectively implemented, and different structures of the ink cartridge chip 1 may be set according to different quantities of contact pins 7, thereby enlarging applicability of the ink cartridge chip 1, and improving practicability of the ink cartridge chip 1.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by also referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 16 that, in this embodiment, the ink cartridge chip 1 may be set as a soft board chip. The soft board chip includes a first connection portion 9 and a second connection portion 10 connected to the first connection portion 9. At least one accommodation groove 2 is formed on the second connection portion 10 through folding.
The at least one accommodation groove 2 is formed on the second connection portion 10 through folding. Therefore, more preferably, the length of the second connection portion 10 is set to be greater than the length of the first connection portion 9, to facilitate formation of the accommodation groove 2. In addition, when the ink cartridge chip 1 is a soft board chip, the accommodation groove 2 may be formed through folding, and the soft board chip may be installed on a chip rack 11. The accommodation groove 2 is formed on the soft board chip through support and fixing by the chip rack 11. That is, the accommodation groove 2 may be already disposed before the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed, or may be formed after the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed. In addition, one or more accommodation grooves 2 may be disposed, and the multiple accommodation grooves 2 may further be set to include the first accommodation groove 21 and the second accommodation groove 22 in the foregoing embodiment, provided that the ink cartridge chip 1 and the contact pin 7 can be in effective and stable contact. Details are not described herein.
The ink cartridge chip 1 is set as a soft board chip, and the accommodation groove 2 is formed on the soft board chip through folding or through support and fixing by the chip rack 11, thereby effectively ensuring stable and effective contact between the soft board chip and the contact pin 7, avoiding occurrence of a case of causing damage to the contact pin 7, improving applicability of the ink cartridge chip 1, and facilitating market promotion and application.
In addition, referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, this embodiment provides an ink cartridge 8 detachably installed in an installation portion of a printer. The installation portion of the printer includes multiple contact pins 7. The multiple contact pins 7 are arranged in two rows in a direction perpendicular to an installation direction in which the ink cartridge 8 is installed in the installation portion.
A specific quantity of contact pins 7 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. For example, the quantity of contact pins 7 may be set to 6 or 7. More commonly, the quantity of contact pins 7 is 7, and the seven contact pins 7 are arranged in two rows in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the ink cartridge 8 is installed in the installation portion. For details, refer to FIG. 9. When there is one accommodation groove 2 in a first plane 101 of an ink cartridge chip 1, for a specific structure of contact between the contact pins 7 and the ink cartridge chip 1, refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, where two of the multiple contact pins 7 are disposed in the accommodation groove 2, and another contact pin 7 comes into contact with the first plane 101. When multiple accommodation grooves 2 and one side groove 6 are provided in the first plane 101 of the ink cartridge chip 1, and two inner contact portions 201 that come into contact with the contact pins 7 are disposed in each accommodation groove 2, for a specific structure of contact between the contact pins 7 and the ink cartridge chip 1, refer to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. When multiple accommodation grooves 2 are provided in a plane of the ink cartridge chip 1, and the multiple accommodation grooves 2 include a first accommodation groove 21 and a second accommodation groove 22, for a specific structure of contact between the contact pins 7 and the ink cartridge chip 1, refer to FIG. 12.
The ink cartridge chip 1 is disposed in the ink cartridge 8. Specifically, an accommodation groove 2 that can accommodate contact pins 7 is disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1, and at least two inner contact portions 201 configured to come into contact with the contact pins 7 are disposed in the accommodation groove 2, to avoid that during installation of the ink cartridge chip 1, if the chip 1 deviates, the contact pin 7 may not slide into a notch, easily causing cases of poor contact of the ink cartridge chip 1 and damage to (bending of) the contact pin 7, and ensure stable and effective contact between the ink cartridge chip 1 and the contact pin 7, thereby improving use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge 8, and facilitating market promotion and application.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 that, in this embodiment, a specific arrangement manner of the inner contact portions 201 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. More preferably, the inner contact portions 201 on the ink cartridge chip 1 are disposed on inner connection terminals, and the inner connection terminals are arranged in one row in the direction perpendicular to the installation direction in which the ink cartridge 8 is installed in the installation portion.
The inner connection terminals are connection terminals disposed in the accommodation groove 2, and it is set in such a manner that the inner connection terminals are arranged in one row in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the ink cartridge 8 is installed in the installation portion. Because the inner contact portions 201 are disposed on the inner connection terminals, the inner contact portions 201 are also arranged in one row in the direction perpendicular to the installation direction in which the ink cartridge 8 is installed in the installation portion. In this way, an arrangement manner of the inner contact portions 201 corresponds to that of the contact pins 7, to facilitate contact between the contact pins 7 and the inner contact portions 201, to ensure a contact effect of the ink cartridge chip 1, thereby improving use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge 8.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 that, in this embodiment, a specific implementation of installing the ink cartridge chip 1 in the ink cartridge 8 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. More preferably, a positioning portion 4 may be disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1. A connection portion 801 matching the positioning portion 4 is disposed on the ink cartridge 8. The ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the ink cartridge 8 by using the positioning portion 4 and the connection portion 801.
A specific structure of the positioning portion 4 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. For example, the positioning portion 4 is set as a positioning groove matching the ink cartridge chip 1, and the ink cartridge chip 1 can be stably installed in the ink cartridge 8 by using the positioning groove, provided that the ink cartridge chip 1 can be stably and effectively installed in the ink cartridge 8. Details are not described herein.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by also referring to FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 that, in addition to the foregoing manner of directly installing the ink cartridge chip 1 in the ink cartridge 8 by using the positioning portion 4, persons skilled in the art may install the ink cartridge chip 1 in the ink cartridge 8 in another manner, for example, install the ink cartridge chip 1 in the ink cartridge 8 by using a chip rack 11. A specific shape and structure of the chip rack 11 are not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. When the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the ink cartridge 8 by using the chip rack 11, first, the ink cartridge chip 1 needs to be connected to the chip rack 11. Specifically, the positioning portion 4 is disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1, and the positioning portion 4 may be an installation hole. The chip is installed in the ink cartridge chip 1 by using the installation hole and a positioning element 12. For details, refer to FIG. 17. After the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed on the chip rack 11, a connecting rod may be disposed on the chip rack 11, a connecting rod groove matching the connecting rod is provided on the ink cartridge 8, and the chip rack 11 is installed on the ink cartridge 8 by using the connecting rod and the connecting rod groove. When the chip rack 11 is installed on the ink cartridge 8, the ink cartridge chip 1 can come into contact with the contact pins 7. For details, refer to FIG. 18.
The ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the ink cartridge 8 by using the chip rack 11. In this case, the ink cartridge chip 1 may be a soft board chip, to effectively ensure installation stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip 1, and further enlarge applicability of the ink cartridge chip 1, thereby further improving use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge 8, and facilitating market promotion and application.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, still referring to FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, the ink cartridge chip 1 includes the first plane 101 and a third plane 103 vertically intersecting the first plane 101. A surface area of the first plane 101 is smaller than a surface area of the third plane 103. The ink cartridge 8 is set to further include an ink outlet, a bottom surface, and a side surface. A plane in which the ink outlet is located is the bottom surface, and a surface perpendicular to the bottom surface and used to install the ink cartridge chip 1 is the side surface. After the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the ink cartridge 8, the contact portions on the ink cartridge chip 1 protrude from the side surface, and at least one contact portion is perpendicular to the side surface.
The contact portion on the ink cartridge chip 1 is set to protrude from the side surface of the ink cartridge 8, to effectively facilitate contact between the contact pin 7 and the contact portion on the ink cartridge chip 1, and ensure stability and reliability of contact between the contact pin 7 and the contact portion on the ink cartridge chip 1. In addition, because at least one accommodation groove 2 is provided on the ink cartridge chip 1, and at least two inner contact portions 201 configured to come into contact with the contact pins 7 is disposed in the accommodation groove 2, a preset angle may exist between the inner contact portion 201 and the side surface. More preferably, the preset angle may be 90°.
In addition, the Chinese Patent No. 201320875786.2 discloses an ink cartridge chip, an ink cartridge, and an ink-jet printer. The chip includes five bottom chip contacts and four top chip contacts. When the ink cartridge chip comes into contact with contact pins of the ink cartridge chip having a contact pin structure, the bottom chip contact includes a contact portion at an end portion of the bottom chip contact, and the contact portion is adjacent to a protruding portion of a bottom contact pin of the ink cartridge chip. The top chip contact includes a contact portion at an end portion of the top chip contact, and the contact portion is adjacent to a protruding portion of a top contact pin of the ink cartridge chip.
However, because the contact portion configured to come into contact with the contact pin is a pointed protruding structure. It is difficult to manufacture the pointed protruding structure, it is difficult to control precision, and processing and manufacturing difficulty is high. In addition, during installation, when the chip comes into contact with a top contact pin, the chip is subject to a lateral force applied by the contact pin, and the chip easily shakes, easily causing contact dislocation of the chip and affecting normal use of the chip.
Further, to avoid the foregoing disadvantage, it can be learned by referring to FIG. 23 to FIG. 25 that, this embodiment provides another ink cartridge chip 1. The ink cartridge chip 1 is configured to electrically connect to contact pins 7 in an installation portion. Multiple smoothly connected first recessed portions 107 and multiple smoothly connected second recessed portions 108 are disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1. The first recessed portion 107 is disposed on a first surface 109 of the ink cartridge chip 1, the second recessed portion 108 is disposed on a second surface 1010 of the ink cartridge chip 1, the first recessed portion 107 is recessed toward a direction of the second surface 1010, the second recessed portion 108 is recessed toward a direction of the first surface 109, and a contact portion 13 configured to come into contact with the contact pin 7 is disposed in each of the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108.
A shape and structure of the ink cartridge chip 1 may be a rectangular structure, a square structure, an oval structure, or the like. A specific shape and structure of the ink cartridge chip 1 may be set according to a design requirement. More commonly, the ink cartridge chip 1 is set to have a rectangular structure. In addition, the multiple first recessed portions 107 are smoothly connected, to enable the multiple first recessed portions 107 to form a first wavy structure, and similarly, the multiple second recessed portions 108 are smoothly connected, to enable the multiple second recessed portions 108 to form a second wavy structure, and because the first recessed portion 107 is disposed on the first surface 109, and the second recessed portion 108 is disposed on the second surface 1010, for the ink cartridge chip 1, more preferably, the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 are set to be opposite and parallel to each other, so that the second wavy structure formed by the multiple second recessed portions 108 is parallel to the first wavy structure formed by the multiple first recessed portions 107, that is, bending trends of the first wavy structure and the second wavy structure keep consistent, thereby enabling the ink cartridge chip 1 to have a relatively orderly structure, and facilitating a setting on the contact portion 13. In addition, to facilitate processing and manufacturing of the ink cartridge chip 1, more preferably, the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 may be spaced from each other along a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the installation portion. That is, at a same position on the ink cartridge chip 1, if the first surface 109 has a recessed structure, there is a protruding structure at a same position on the second surface 1010 opposite to the first surface 109. If the first surface 109 has a protruding structure, there is a recessed structure at a same position on the second surface 1010 opposite to the first surface 109. In this way, production and processing difficulty of the ink cartridge chip 1 is effectively reduced, and production and manufacturing costs of the ink cartridge chip 1 are also effectively reduced.
Persons skilled in the art may understand that, usually, the contact portions 13 need to be disposed on connection terminals 14. The sizes and the widths of the connection terminals 14 may be adjusted and set according to the size and the space of the ink cartridge chip 1, and the sizes and the widths of the connection terminals 14 may be not the same. In addition, some additional terminals 19 that cannot come into contact with the contact pins 7 may be disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1, and the additional terminal 19 may be configured to perform short-circuit detection on another terminal, and the like. In addition, in this embodiment, the contact portions 13 that come into contact with the contact pins 7 may be disposed in the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108, the multiple first recessed portions 107 are smoothly connected, and the multiple second recessed portions 108 are smoothly connected, so that when the ink cartridge chip 1 comes into contact with the contact pins 7, the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 may achieve a function of guiding the contact pins 7, to prevent a case in which the ink cartridge chip 1 and the contact pin 7 are easily incorrectly installed, and effectively ensure a normal use effect of the ink cartridge chip 1.
According to the ink cartridge chip 1 provided in this embodiment, multiple smoothly connected first recessed portions 107 are disposed on a first surface 109 of the ink cartridge chip 1, multiple smoothly connected second recessed portions 108 are disposed on a second surface 1010 of the ink cartridge chip 1, and contact portions 13 configured to come into contact with contact pins 7 are disposed in the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108, so that designable space of the contact portions 13 is relatively large, lowering manufacturing difficulty and processing difficulty, and the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 achieve a function of guiding the contact pins 7 during installation of the ink cartridge chip 1 and the contact pins 7, to avoid occurrence of a case of easily causing contact dislocation of the chip, and ensure a normal use effect of the ink cartridge chip 1, thereby improving practicability of the ink cartridge chip 1, and facilitating market promotion and application.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 22 to FIG. 24 that, for the ink cartridge chip 1, the ink cartridge chip 1 may include the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 opposite to the first surface 109, and the ink cartridge chip 1 may further include an edge surface 1011. The edge surface 1011 is connected to tail ends of the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010, and a preset angle exists between the edge surface 1011 and each of the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010. The preset angle may be 90° or another angle or the like. A specific angle range may be set according to a design requirement. Details are not described herein. In addition, when the ink cartridge chip 1 includes the edge surface 1011, a specific disposition position of the contact portion 13 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. For example, the contact portion 13 may be disposed to be close to the edge surface 1011, or a gap may be set between the contact portion 13 and the edge surface 1011. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, being close to the edge surface 1011 may include: a case in which the contact portion 13 is connected to the edge surface 1011, and the contact portion 13 is approaching the edge surface 1011. That the contact portion 13 is approaching the edge surface 1011 is a case in which a distance between the contact portion 13 and the edge surface 1011 is less than or equal to a preset threshold. The preset threshold may be set according to a specific design requirement, for example, may be set to 1 mm or 2 mm. For details, refer to FIG. 22 and FIG. 23. Another case is a case in which a gap is set between the contact portion 13 and the edge surface 1011, and the gap is greater than a preset threshold. Usually, the gap is a distance between the contact portion 13 and the edge surface 1011 that can be directly observed by a designer. A specific gap or distance may be set according to a specific design requirement, provided that the contact pin 7 can conveniently come into contact with the contact portion 13. Details are not described herein.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 23 to FIG. 25 with reference to FIG. 39 to FIG. 42 that, in this embodiment, a specific structure of the contact pin 7 configured to come into contact with the contact portion 13 is not limited. More preferably, the contact pins 7 are set to include two rows of contact pins, where one row of contact pins are upper contact pins 701, and the other row of contact pins are lower contact pins 702. When observed from a direction parallel to the edge surface 1011 of the ink cartridge chip 1, a row structure formed by the upper contact pins 701 is parallel to a row structure formed by the lower contact pins 702, and the upper contact pin 701 and the lower contact pin 702 are spaced from each other. To facilitate contact between the contact portions 13 and the contact pins 7, the contact portions 13 may be set to include an upper contact portion 1302 configured to come into contact with the upper contact pin 701 and a lower contact portion 1301 configured to come into contact with the lower contact pin 702. The upper contact portion 1302 is disposed in the first recessed portion 107, and the lower contact portion 1301 is disposed in the second recessed portion 108.
The contact portions 13 are disposed on the connection terminals 14. Therefore, when the contact portions 13 include the upper contact portion 1302 and the lower contact portion 1301, correspondingly, the connection terminals 14 include an upper terminal 1402 and a lower terminal 1401, the upper contact portion 1302 is disposed on the upper terminal 1402, the lower contact portion 1301 is disposed on the lower terminal 1401, and each of the upper contact portion 1302 and the lower contact portion 1301 is configured to come into contact with the contact pin 7. In addition, when the upper contact portion 1302 is disposed in the first recessed portion 107, and the lower contact portion 1301 is disposed in the second recessed portion 108, to ensure a contact effect of the upper contact portion 1302 and the upper contact pin 701, and a contact effect of the lower contact portion 1301 and the lower contact pin 702, more preferably, the upper contact portion 1302 may be disposed at a position in the first recessed portion 107 close to the second surface 1010, and the lower contact portion 1301 may be disposed at a position in the second recessed portion 108 close to the first surface 109. In this case, because the upper contact portion 1302 is disposed at a particular position in the first recessed portion 107, and the lower contact portion 1301 is disposed at a particular position in the second recessed portion 108, in a process of coming into contact with the contact pins 7, based on effective guide functions achieved by the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 for the contact pins 7, it is very easy to enable the upper contact pin 701 to come into contact with the upper contact portion 1302 disposed in the first recessed portion 107, and enable the lower contact pin 702 to come into contact with the lower contact portion 1301 disposed in the second recessed portion 108, and it is not easy to cause a case of dislocation and slide-out, to ensure stability and reliability of contact between the contact pins 7 and the contact portions 13, thereby improving a normal use effect of the ink cartridge chip 1. Certainly, persons skilled in the art may alternatively dispose the upper contact portion 1302 at another position in the first recessed portion 107, and dispose the lower contact portion 1301 at another position in the second recessed portion 108, provided that the foregoing technical effect can be implemented or can be approximately implemented. Details are not described herein.
The ink cartridge chip 1 may be manufactured by using a material such as FR-4. The first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are manufactured on the ink cartridge chip 1 through stamping or in another manner. That is, after the ink cartridge chip 1 is manufactured completely, in a natural state, the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are formed. The first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 may alternatively be manufactured on the ink cartridge chip 1 through wire cutting or in another manner. That is, after the ink cartridge chip 1 is manufactured completely, in a natural state, the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are formed. The ink cartridge chip 1 may alternatively be a flexible chip, and a preferred material is a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) material. The material has a flexible feature and is easy to bend and deform. The ink cartridge chip 1 is supported and pressed by using a chip rack 11, to obtain the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 22 to FIG. 27 that, in this embodiment, a specific manner of forming the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. For example, it may be set in such a manner that the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are formed immediately after delivery of the ink cartridge chip 1. In this case, it may be considered that the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are formed on the ink cartridge chip 1 in a natural state, as shown in FIG. 24 to FIG. 26. Alternatively, it may be set in such a manner that the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are formed through a manual operation after delivery of the ink cartridge chip 1. For example, the ink cartridge chip 1 is a soft board chip, and after a folding operation is manually performed on the soft board chip, the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are formed. Usually, at the delivery of the soft board chip, the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 of the soft board chip are located in a same plane. Therefore, the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 of the soft board chip need to be folded to be opposite surfaces. To ensure a folding effect of a surface of the soft board chip, a folding line 15 may be set on the soft board chip. The folding line 15 is set between the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010. For details, refer to FIG. 25. A designer may fold the soft board chip according to a position of the folding line 15, when the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 are folded to be opposite and parallel to each other, the multiple first recessed portions 107 and the multiple second recessed portions 108 may further be formed on the soft board chip through folding. Alternatively, it may be set in such a manner that the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are formed through pressing and molding by a particular apparatus after delivery of the ink cartridge chip 1. For example, the ink cartridge chip 1 is a soft board chip, the soft board chip is installed on the chip rack 11, and the soft board chip is supported and fixed by the chip rack 11, to form the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108. For details, refer to FIG. 34 to FIG. 36.
A specific structure of chip rack 11 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. For example, the chip rack 11 may be set to have an integrally molded structure or a separated structure. For the chip rack 11 having a separated structure, as shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, the chip rack 11 may be set to include an upper bracket 1101 and a lower bracket 1102 movably connected to the upper bracket 1101. The upper bracket 1101 and the lower bracket 1102 may be connected by using a rotating shaft 1105, so that the upper bracket 1101 can rotate by using the rotating shaft 1105. Certainly, persons skilled in the art may alternatively use a chip rack 11 having another structure, provided that the multiple first recessed portions 107 and the multiple second recessed portions 108 can be formed on the ink cartridge chip 1. In addition, the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are formed on the chip by using the chip rack 11, to effectively extend a processing and manufacturing manner of the ink cartridge chip 1, thereby further reducing production and manufacturing difficulty of the ink cartridge chip 1, improving practicability of the ink cartridge chip 1, and facilitating market promotion and application.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 22 to FIG. 27 that, in this embodiment, the ink cartridge chip 1 includes the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010. The first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 are set to be parallel to each other, and surface areas of the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 may be set to be the largest. In this way, an electrical component disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1 may be disposed on the first surface 109 or the second surface 1010. Specifically, the ink cartridge chip 1 may be set to further include a memory 5 disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1. The memory 5 is connected to at least one contact portion 13 disposed in the first recessed portion 107 and/or the second recessed portion 108, so that the memory 5 can store information about an ink cartridge in which the ink cartridge chip 1 is located. In addition, for the ink cartridge chip 1, because the surface areas of the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 are set to be relatively large, the memory 5 may be disposed on the first surface 109 or the second surface 1010. In addition to the memory 5, another electrical component (not shown) may be disposed on the first surface 109 or the second surface 1010. The electrical component may be configured to complete a corresponding function (such as installation detection) of the ink cartridge chip 1. Because the surface areas of the first surface 109 and the second surface 1010 are relatively large, it can be convenient to dispose the memory 5 and another electrical component, and interference between the memory 5 and the electrical component can be effectively reduced, thereby effectively ensuring use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip 1.
In addition, it can be learned by referring to FIG. 47 that, an installation portion 400 configured to install the ink cartridge is disposed on a printer. The installation portion 400 includes an ink supply portion 410, a contact pin 420, a print head 430, and an opening 440. The ink supply portion 410 is located on a bottom wall 400a of the installation portion 400. The ink supply portion 410 is connected to the print head 430. The contact pin 420 is located on a side wall 400b of the installation portion 400. In addition, the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion 400 along a preset installation direction. The ink cartridge has an ink outlet, a chip, and a housing. After the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion 400, the ink outlet is connected to the ink supply portion 410, and the chip is engaged with the contact pin 420. When the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion 400 from the opening 440, the chip is disposed on a side wall of the ink cartridge, and a terminal on the chip is exposed on an outer surface of the ink cartridge. The contact pin 420 is disposed on the side wall of the installation portion 400. The terminal is located on the side wall of the ink cartridge, and during installation, the terminal exposed on the outer surface may be damaged due to scratches of the installation portion 400. When the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion 400 in a tilted posture, especially when the ink cartridge is reversely installed (that is, a rear side wall is used as the side wall 400b for installation), it is very easy for the chip, especially, the terminal to touch the rear side wall used as the side wall 400b of the installation portion 400, causing poor contact between the terminal and the contact pin 420 due to damage to the terminal.
To avoid the foregoing disadvantage, it can be learned by referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 43 that, this embodiment provides still another ink cartridge 8. The ink cartridge 8 is detachably installed on an accommodation structure 400, and the ink cartridge chip 1 in the foregoing embodiment may be disposed in the ink cartridge 8. Specifically, for a structure feature and a corresponding function of the ink cartridge chip 1, refer to the content described above, and details are not described herein again.
Further, still referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 43, and FIG. 47, the accommodation structure 400 may include a bottom surface 400a on which an ink supply portion 41 is disposed and a side surface 400b perpendicular to the bottom surface 400a. A contact pin 420 is disposed on the side surface 400b. The ink cartridge 8 includes an ink outlet 18 connected to the ink supply portion 410 and an outer contact portion 3 electrically connected to the contact pin 420. A groove end surface 202 configured to come into contact with the contact pin 420 is provided on the outer contact portion 3, the groove end surface 202 is located in a direction basically perpendicular to the side surface 400b, and when observed from a direction perpendicular to the groove end surface 202, there is a spacing S between the ink cartridge chip 1 and a center line of the ink outlet 18.
In this embodiment, a specific structure of the ink cartridge 8 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. For example, the ink cartridge 8 is set to include a housing and a housing accommodation portion configured to accommodate the housing. The ink outlet 18 is disposed on the housing, and the ink cartridge chip 1 is disposed in the housing accommodation portion. Alternatively, the ink cartridge 8 may be set to further include an ink cartridge bottom wall 803 and an ink cartridge side wall 802 perpendicular to the ink cartridge bottom wall 803. The ink outlet 18 is disposed on the ink cartridge bottom wall 803, the ink cartridge chip 1 is disposed on the ink cartridge side wall 802, and the like, provided that the ink cartridge 8 can achieve the foregoing technical effect. Details are not described herein.
In addition, in this embodiment, a specific implementation of disposing the ink cartridge chip 1 on the accommodation structure 400 is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. More preferably, an opening 440 used to install the ink cartridge chip 1 in the accommodation structure 400 along an installation direction may be provided on the accommodation structure 400. A specific shape of the opening 440 matches a shape of the ink cartridge chip 1. The direction in which the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the accommodation structure 400 is set to a direction P, so that the side surface 400b is parallel to the installation direction P. When the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the accommodation structure 400, the groove end surface 202 of the ink cartridge chip 1 comes into contact with the contact pin 420 disposed on the side surface 400b. A specific shape and structure of the groove end surface 202 of the ink cartridge chip 1 are not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a shape and a structure of the contact pin 420. In addition, when observed from the direction perpendicular to the groove end surface 202, a position of a side edge of the ink cartridge chip 1 close to the ink outlet 18 is set to L2, and a position of the center line of the ink outlet is set to L1. It can be learned by referring to FIG. 44 that, there is the spacing S between L1 and L2. That is, there is a gap between the center line of the ink outlet and the ink cartridge chip 1. A specific value range of the spacing S is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement, provided that there is the spacing S between the ink cartridge chip 1 and the center line of the ink outlet. In this way, design space of the ink outlet 18 and the ink cartridge chip 1 is effectively enlarged, and manufacturing costs are reduced.
In addition, it should be noted that, that the groove end surface 202 is provided in the direction basically perpendicular to the side surface 400b means that, during specific production and design, the groove end surface 202 is provided in the direction basically perpendicular to the side surface 400b. Because during specific production and design, there is a particular design error and/or production error, it is very difficult to enable the groove end surface 202 to be located in a direction completely perpendicular to the side surface 400b, so that within allowed ranges of the production and design errors, it is feasible that the groove end surface 202 is provided in the direction basically perpendicular to the side surface 400b. To achieve an effect of protecting the groove end surface 202 of the ink cartridge chip 1, more preferably, a preset angle may exist between the groove end surface 202 and the side surface 400b, and a range of the preset angle is set to 90°±15°. An effect of being basically perpendicular can be achieved provided that the preset angle between the groove end surface 202 and the side surface is within the foregoing range. In this way, during installation of the ink cartridge chip 1, damage caused to the terminal on the ink cartridge chip 1 or the groove end surface 202 of the ink cartridge chip 1 due to scratches of the side surface 400b of the accommodation structure 400 can be effectively prevented, and use stability and reliability of the ink cartridge chip 1 are ensured.
According to the ink cartridge 8 provided in this embodiment, a groove end surface 202 of an ink cartridge chip 1 is provided in a direction basically perpendicular to a side surface 400b, to effectively overcome a problem existing in the prior art that poor contact between an outer contact portion 3 and a contact pin 420 is easily caused due to damage to the outer contact portion 3, and avoid occurrence of a case in which damage is caused to the outer contact portion 3 and the groove end surface 202 of the ink cartridge chip 1 due to scratches during installation, thereby ensuring a normal use effect of the ink cartridge 8. In addition, a particular spacing S is set between the ink cartridge chip 1 and a center line of an ink outlet, to effectively enlarge design space of the ink outlet 18 and the ink cartridge chip 1, and reduce manufacturing costs, thereby improving practicability of the ink cartridge 8, and facilitating market promotion and application.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 16 that, when the groove end surface 202 is provided in a third plane 103 of the ink cartridge chip 1, an accommodation groove 2 may also be provided in the third plane 103 of the ink cartridge chip 1. When the ink cartridge chip 1 is a soft board ink cartridge chip 1, the accommodation groove 2 may be already provided before the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed, or may be formed after the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed. For example, for the ink cartridge chip 1 in FIG. 13, the ink cartridge chip 1 is a soft board ink cartridge chip 1, and has a plate structure before the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed, and a folding operation is performed on the ink cartridge chip 1, so that the accommodation groove 2 is formed on the ink cartridge chip 1. As shown in FIG. 16, when the ink cartridge chip 1 needs to be installed in the accommodation structure 400, a chip rack 11 having the ink cartridge chip 1 needs to be installed on the accommodation structure 400. For details, refer to FIG. 43, FIG. 44, and FIG. 47. That is, the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed in the accommodation structure 400 by using the chip rack 11. In this case, there is also a spacing S between the ink cartridge chip 1 and the center line of the ink outlet. In this way, design space of the ink outlet 18 and the ink cartridge chip 1 is effectively enlarged, and production and manufacturing costs are reduced.
In addition, based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 23 to FIG. 28, and FIG. 47 that, multiple spaced groove end surfaces 202 are formed when observed from a direction perpendicular to the side surface 400b of the accommodation structure 400 and perpendicular to the installation direction P. Specific positions at which the groove end surfaces 202 are disposed in the first recessed portion 107 and the second recessed portion 108 are not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. More preferably, the groove end surface 202 provided in the first recessed portion 107 may be provided at a position in the first recessed portion 107 close to a fourth plane 104, and the groove end surface 202 provided in the second recessed portion 108 may be provided at a position in the second recessed portion 108 close to the third plane 103. In this way, a case in which a contact pin 420 that comes into contact with the groove end surface 202 in the first recessed portion 107 or the second recessed portion 108 easily has a position deviation can be effectively prevented, and stability and reliability of contact between the contact pin 420 and the groove end surface 202 is ensured, thereby improving a normal use effect of the ink cartridge 8.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by also referring to FIG. 45 that, this embodiment provides an ink cartridge chip 1 having another structure. The ink cartridge chip 1 includes a soft board portion 1012 and a hard board portion 1013 connected to the soft board portion 1012. Groove end surfaces 202 are provided on the soft board portion 1012. All the groove end surfaces 202 may be located in a third plane 103. As shown in FIG. 46, contact pins 420 matching the groove end surfaces 202 are arranged in one row. The groove end surfaces 202 may alternatively be located in a third plane 103 and a first third plane 1032, and contact pins 420 matching the groove end surfaces 202 are arranged in upper and lower rows or multiple rows.
Specific shapes and structures of the soft board portion 1012 and the hard board portion 1013 are not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to a specific design requirement. More preferably, the soft board portion 1012 and the hard board portion 1013 are both set to have a rectangular structure, and a surface area of the soft board portion 1012 is larger than a surface area of the hard board portion 1013. In addition, the groove end surface 202 is provided on one side of the soft board portion 1012 that protrudes from the hard board portion 1013, and the groove end surface 202 is away from the hard board portion 1013; and an installation hole passing through the soft board portion 1012 and the hard board portion 1013 may be provided on the ink cartridge chip 1, and the ink cartridge chip 1 may be installed on a chip rack 11 by using the installation hole, as shown in FIG. 46. When the ink cartridge chip 1 needs to be installed in an ink cartridge 8, the chip rack 11 on which the ink cartridge chip 1 is installed needs to be installed in the ink cartridge 8. As shown in FIG. 46, the ink cartridge chip 1 is disposed on the ink cartridge chip 1 by using the installation hole and a connecting element, a connecting rod 1104 is disposed on the chip rack 11, a connecting rod groove is provided on the ink cartridge 8, and the chip rack 11 is installed on the ink cartridge 8 by using the connecting rod 1104 and the connecting rod groove, to install the ink cartridge chip 1 in the ink cartridge 8. In addition, to provide a better support effect for movement of the ink cartridge chip 1, an elastic component 11 is disposed on the ink cartridge 8 at a lower end of the chip rack 11. The elastic component 11 may be a spring. In this case, when the chip rack 11 is installed on the ink cartridge 8, based on the elastic component 11, the elastic component 11 may provide effective support for movement of the chip rack 11 and the ink cartridge chip 1, to rapidly and stably install the ink cartridge chip 1 in the ink cartridge 8, so as to improve installation efficiency of the ink cartridge chip 1, thereby improving practicability of the ink cartridge 8.
Another aspect of this embodiment provides an ink-jet printer. The ink-jet printer includes the foregoing ink cartridge and an accommodation structure in which the ink cartridge can be installed.
According to the ink-jet printer provided in this embodiment, the foregoing ink cartridge is disposed on the ink-jet printer, to effectively overcome a problem existing in the prior art that poor contact between a terminal and a contact pin is easily caused due to damage to the terminal, avoid occurrence of a case in which damage is caused to an outer contact portion and a groove end surface of an ink cartridge chip due to scratches during installation, and ensure a normal use effect of the ink-jet printer. In addition, a particular spacing S is set between the ink cartridge chip and a center line of an ink outlet, to effectively enlarge design space of the ink outlet and the ink cartridge chip, and reduce manufacturing costs, thereby improving market competitiveness of the ink-jet printer, and facilitating market promotion and application.
Further, during specific application, the ink cartridge chip is usually detachably installed on an outer wall of a housing, and after the ink cartridge chip is installed on the housing, the ink cartridge chip is fixed relative to the housing. The ink cartridge chip has terminals, and a contact pin rack has contact pins arranged in two rows. The ink cartridge may be installed in an installation portion along a preset installation direction P. During installation of the ink cartridge, the terminal on the ink cartridge chip presses the contact pin, so that the contact pin is deformed toward the interior of the contact pin rack, and when the terminal crosses the contact pin, the contact pin restores from the deformation, and the terminal comes into contact with a middle position of the contact pin.
However, during implementation of the foregoing technical solution, because an upper portion of the contact pin is relatively thin, and the contact pin is not deformed toward the exterior of the contact pin rack, in a process of moving the ink cartridge in a direction opposite to the installation direction (that is, during separation of the ink cartridge from the installation portion, the ink cartridge moves toward a direction -P), an upward component force applied by the ink cartridge chip to the contact pin very easily causes the contact pin to break or deform. Consequently, it is very difficult to perform an operation of taking out the ink cartridge, and much inconvenience is caused to a user.
Therefore, to avoid the foregoing disadvantage, based on the foregoing embodiment, it can be learned by still referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, FIG. 39 to FIG. 42, and FIG. 47 and FIG. 48 that, this embodiment provides another ink cartridge, installed in an accommodation structure 400 having multiple groups of contact pins 420. The accommodation structure 400 is disposed in an imaging device such as a printer. As shown in FIG. 47, an ink supply portion 410 is disposed on a bottom wall 400a of the installation portion. The ink supply portion 410 is connected to a print head 430. Multiple groups of contact pins 420 are disposed on a side wall 400b of the installation portion. The contact pin 420 is configured to engage with an ink cartridge chip 200 of the ink cartridge. An opening 440 configured to install the ink cartridge is further provided in the accommodation structure 400. In the foregoing accompanying drawings, P indicates an installation direction of the ink cartridge, Q indicates a direction perpendicular to the installation direction P of the ink cartridge and toward an inner portion of the ink cartridge, and T indicates a direction perpendicular to the installation direction P of the ink cartridge and the direction Q.
There is a ridge-shaped protrusion 420a at the bottom of each contact pin 420, and the contact pin 420 has particular elasticity. That is, the ridge-shaped protrusion 420a may rotate by using a top end of an entire contact pin 420 as a fulcrum, that is, the ridge-shaped protrusion 420a can rotate inward to produce elastic deformation. The multiple contact pins 420 form upper and lower rows: a first group of contact pins 421 and a second group of contact pins 422 along the installation direction. When the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400, the ink cartridge chip 200 is located between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422, and comes into contact with both the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422.
The ink cartridge may have a housing 100. The housing 100 has a side portion and an inner portion. A side portion of the ink cartridge is the side portion of the housing 100 of the ink cartridge, and the inner portion of the ink cartridge is inner space enclosed by the housing 100. An ink outlet 121 is provided on the housing 100. The ink outlet 121 is configured to match the ink supply portion 410 of the accommodation structure 400. A position at which the ink outlet 121 is provided is not specifically limited in this embodiment, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement, provided that the ink outlet 121 can match the ink supply portion 410 of the accommodation structure 400. For example, the ink outlet 121 may be provided at the bottom of the housing 100 (that is, a bottom surface 100c of the ink cartridge). An ink storage chamber is disposed in the inner portion of the housing 100, and the ink storage chamber is configured to store ink.
The ink cartridge chip 200 is disposed on the side portion of the housing 100. The ink cartridge chip 200 can move toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge relative to the housing 100, to be away from the contact pin 420. An accommodation portion 130 configured to accommodate the ink cartridge chip 200 is disposed on the housing 100. The accommodation portion 130 is configured to accommodate the ink cartridge chip 200 when the ink cartridge chip 200 moves relative to the housing 100. The housing 100 has a first relative surface 100a and a second relative surface 100b that are parallel to the installation direction P in which the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400. In this embodiment, movement means that the ink cartridge chip 200 produces a distance and displacement on the first relative surface 100a and/or the second relative surface 100b. For example, the first relative surface 100a and the second relative surface 100b of the housing 100 are used as support surfaces for supporting the ink cartridge chip 200. In this embodiment, movement means that the ink cartridge chip 200 produces a distance and displacement on the foregoing support surfaces.
When the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400, terminals come into contact with the contact pins 420. In a direction T perpendicular to the installation direction P in which the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400, an upper terminal and a lower terminal are alternately disposed, an upper contact portion 221a and a lower contact portion 211a are alternately disposed, and a first recessed portion 211 and a second recessed portion 221 are alternately disposed. When the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400, at least some of the terminals are inserted between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422. Specifically, at least a part (for example, the upper contact portion 221a and the lower contact portion 211a) of the ink cartridge chip 200 is inserted between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422 along a rear end in the direction Q. Connection portions 200a may be fixedly disposed on two sides of the ink cartridge chip 200, and a matching portion 100d is disposed on the housing 100. The matching portion 100d is configured to install and support the connection portion 200a, and the connection portion 200a can move in the matching portion 100d. For example, the connection portion 200a may be a bump, the matching portion 100d may be a chute, the bump is installed in the chute, and the bump can move in the chute. An extension direction of the chute may be tilted relative to the installation direction of the ink cartridge and is toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge, or an extension direction of the chute is perpendicular to the installation direction of the ink cartridge and is toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge. The connection portion 200a may be fixed with the ink cartridge chip 200 through soldering or clamping, or may be integrally molded with a part of the ink cartridge chip 200 or the ink cartridge chip 200.
In this embodiment, the connection portion may be connected to a drive portion, and the drive portion is connected to a control portion. After the control portion receives an instruction of a user for taking out the ink cartridge, the control portion sends a control instruction to the drive portion, and the drive portion drives the connection portion to move toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge according to the control instruction, that is, drives the ink cartridge chip 200 to move toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge, to be away from the contact pin 420 on the accommodation structure 400. The control portion may be a controller, and the drive portion may be a motor. An apparatus such as a worm gear configured to convert rotational motion into linear motion may be disposed at an output end of the motor, to drive the connection portion to move in the matching portion. In addition, the connection portion may be enabled to move in the matching portion under the action of an acting force applied by the accommodation structure 400 to the ink cartridge chip 200.
For the ink cartridge provided in this embodiment, when the ink cartridge is taken out of the accommodation structure 400 along a direction opposite to the installation direction, the ink cartridge chip 200 moves toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge relative to the housing 100, so that the ink cartridge chip 200 can be away from the contact pin 420 on the accommodation structure 400, and be accommodated in the accommodation portion 130 of the housing 100, to effectively avoid damage to the contact pin 420, and smoothly take the ink cartridge out of the accommodation structure 400.
Further, the ink cartridge chip 200 can rotate relative to the housing 100. Specifically, the connection portions on the two sides of the ink cartridge chip 200 may be rotating shafts, and the matching portion on the housing 100 may be a long hole. The rotating shaft rotates in the long hole by using an axis of the rotating shaft as a center of rotation, and the rotating shaft may move along a hole wall of the long hole.
In this embodiment, the connection portion can move and rotate in the matching portion under the action of the acting force applied by the accommodation structure 400 to the ink cartridge chip 200. Specifically, when the ink cartridge is taken out of the accommodation structure 400 along the direction opposite to the installation direction P, a relative position of the ink cartridge and the accommodation structure 400 changes. In this process, because the contact pin 420 cannot rotate toward the direction -P or Q, when the ink cartridge chip 200 intends to leave from a position between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422, the second group of contact pins 422 apply an acting force to the ink cartridge chip 200, a component force of the acting force along an extension direction of the matching portion enables the connection portion of the ink cartridge chip 200 to move and rotate in the matching portion, and one end of the ink cartridge chip 200 toward the accommodation structure 400 enters the accommodation portion 130, to prevent the contact pin 420 from rotating and deforming toward the direction Q. After the ink cartridge moves to enable the ink cartridge chip 200 to cross ridge-shaped protrusions 420a of the second group of contact pins 422, the ink cartridge chip 200 is no longer subject to a force that enables the ink cartridge chip 200 to rotate, and the ink cartridge chip 200 no longer rotates.
In this case, a restoration apparatus may be disposed on the housing 100, so that after the ink cartridge chip 200 crosses the ridge-shaped protrusions 420a of the second group of contact pins 422, the ink cartridge chip 200 is pushed to restore to an original position. The restoration apparatus is not specifically limited in this embodiment, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement, provided that a function of pushing the ink cartridge chip 200 to restore to an original position can be implemented.
It should be noted that, in a process in which the ink cartridge chip 200 moves relative to the housing 100, the ink cartridge chip 200 forms displacement in a direction toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge and perpendicular to the installation direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, referring to FIG. 50a to FIG. 51f, further, the ink cartridge chip 200 is installed on a chip rack 300, the chip rack 300 is installed on the side portion of the housing 100, and the chip rack 300 can move relative to the housing 100. The accommodation portion 130 is further configured to accommodate the chip rack 300.
Specifically, connecting rods 311 are disposed on two sides of the chip rack 300. The connecting rod 311 is axial. An installation groove 122 is provided on the housing 100. The connecting rod 311 is inserted in the installation groove 122, and a groove wall of the installation groove that is used to support movement of the connecting rod has a projection distance in the direction perpendicular to the installation direction of the ink cartridge and toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge. In this embodiment, a specific value of the projection distance is not limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement. However, the projection distance needs to be longer than a projection distance of the connecting rod 311 in the same direction, so that the connecting rod 311 can move toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge. It may be understood that, a part of the ink cartridge chip 200 on which a contact portion is disposed is exposed outside the chip rack 300, to engage with the contact pin 420.
Preferably, a first projection area of the installation groove 122 in an axial direction perpendicular to the connecting rod 311 is larger than a second projection area of the connecting rod 311 in the axial direction perpendicular to the connecting rod 311, so that there is activity space in the installation groove 122 in which the connecting rod 311 can smoothly move.
In order that after the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400, the ink cartridge chip 200 can be in close contact with the contact pin 420, further, an abutting portion 312 is disposed on the chip rack 300, and an elastic element 500 is clamped between the abutting portion 312 and the housing 100.
Specifically, an abutting portion 312 may include a package body. The plate-shaped body may be disposed to be perpendicular to the chip rack 300. A convex column is extended from the plate-shaped body toward the housing 100. The convex column is configured to connect to the elastic element 500. The elastic element 500 may be a spring, or may be another structure manufactured by using an elastic material. Using an example in which the elastic element 500 is a spring, one end of the spring may be fixedly connected to the housing 100, and the other end of the spring may be sheathed in the convex column or inserted in a central hole of the convex column. Preferably, the abutting portion 312 may be disposed at the bottom of the chip rack 300, and is extended by a preset length in a direction perpendicular to the chip rack 300. The elastic element 500 may be disposed in the accommodation portion 130, so that the ink cartridge has a more compact structure.
The chip rack 300 and the ink cartridge chip 200 form an engagement body. In a process of separating the ink cartridge from the accommodation structure 400, the engagement body rotates and forms displacement in the direction toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge and perpendicular to the installation direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion, so that after the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400, the elastic element 500 abuts, by using the abutting portion 312 abutting against the chip rack 300, against the ink cartridge chip 200 between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422, to ensure good contact between the ink cartridge chip 200 and the contact pin 420 on the accommodation structure 400.
Further, the connecting rod can rotate in the installation groove and move along an extension direction of the groove wall of the installation groove. When the chip rack 300 rotates relative to the housing 100, the connecting rod moves relative to the housing 100, to effectively reduce space occupied by the accommodation portion 130, and help enlarge an ink storage chamber in the housing 100, and increase a volume of ink stored in the ink cartridge.
Further, referring to FIG. 50a to FIG. 53c, further, the chip rack 300 includes a first chip rack 310 and a second chip rack 320 detachably connected to the first chip rack 310. The ink cartridge chip 200 is installed in a space portion 330 between the first chip rack 310 and the second chip rack 320. A shape of the space portion 330 matches a shape of the ink cartridge chip 200.
Specifically, one end of the first chip rack 310 is fixedly connected to one end of the second chip rack 320, and the first chip rack 310 and the second chip rack 320 can rotate around a joint. Certainly, the first chip rack 310 and the second chip rack 320 may alternatively be separately disposed, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement. The detachable connection between the first chip rack 310 and the second chip rack 320 may be implemented by using a buckle, a clamping hole, a bolt or the like, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement, provided that the first chip rack 310 can be detachably connected to the second chip rack 320. The first chip rack 310 is detachably connected to the second chip rack 320, so that when the ink cartridge chip 200 is replaced, the connection needs to be broken to open the space portion 330, to take out the ink cartridge chip 200 and replace the ink cartridge chip 200 with a new ink cartridge chip 200, without replacing both the chip rack 300 and the ink cartridge chip 200, thereby reducing replacement costs.
In this embodiment, after the ink cartridge chip 200 is placed in the space portion 330 between the first chip rack 310 and the second chip rack 320, the first chip rack 310 may be clamped with the second chip rack 320. The ink cartridge chip 200 may be a flexible chip, and a preferred material is an FPC material. The material has a flexible feature and is easy to bend and deform. Therefore, the first recessed portion 211 and the second recessed portion 221 may be obtained by pressing the ink cartridge chip 200 by using the first chip rack 310 and the second chip rack 320. After the chip rack 300 is installed on the housing 100, the first chip rack 310 may be located below the second chip rack 320. In this case, the abutting portion 312 may be disposed at the bottom of the first chip rack 310, and the connecting rods 311 may be disposed on two sides of the second chip rack 320. That is, the connecting rod 311 is located between the ink cartridge chip 200 and the elastic element 500, so that the ink cartridge has a compact structure, and it helps to increase a volume of ink stored in the ink cartridge.
As shown in FIG. 51a, preferably, a lower surface of one end of the first chip rack 310 toward the exterior of the ink cartridge is a slope 310a, to guide the chip rack 300 to move during installation of the ink cartridge. The first chip rack 310 has a gradually increasing thickness toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge from the end of the first chip rack 310 toward the exterior of the ink cartridge, so that the lower surface of the end of the first chip rack 310 toward the exterior of the ink cartridge forms the slope 310a. For the ink cartridge, in a process in which the ink cartridge is installed in installation portion 200 along the installation direction P, when the slope 310a comes into contact with the installation portion 200 or the second group of contact pins 422, the second group of contact pins 422 may be guided to move toward a direction away from the ink cartridge chip 200 or the engagement body formed by the chip rack 300 and the ink cartridge chip 200 may be guided to move toward a direction away from the second group of contact pins 422, so that the slope 310a achieves a guiding function during installation of the ink cartridge.
In this embodiment, the first chip rack 310 may include a first bracket body 310b and first flanges 310c. The first flange 310c is disposed at one end of the first bracket body 310b toward the exterior of the ink cartridge. The second chip rack 320 may include a second bracket body 320a and second flanges 320b. The second flange 320b is disposed at one end of the second bracket body 320a toward the exterior of the ink cartridge. Space between two adjacent first flanges 310c is used to expose the contact portion on the ink cartridge chip 200, and space between two adjacent second flanges 320b is also used to expose the contact portion on the ink cartridge chip 200.
Alternatively, the first flange 310c on the first chip rack 310 and/or the second flange 320b on the second chip rack 320 may be canceled, or a quantity of first flanges 310c on the first chip rack 310 and/or a quantity of second flanges 320b on the second chip rack 320 may be reduced, to simplify a processing process of the chip rack 300. As shown in FIG. 51b, the second chip rack 320 includes only the second bracket body 320a. As shown in FIG. 51c, when the quantity of second flanges 320b on the second chip rack 320 is reduced, the length of the second bracket body 320a is increased, so that the ink cartridge chip 200 is installed firmly and reliably. As shown in FIG. 51d, the first chip rack 310 includes only the first bracket body 310b. In this case, the length of the first bracket body 310b may also be correspondingly increased. As shown in FIG. 51e, the first chip rack 310 may include the first bracket body 310b and one first flange 310c. As shown in FIG. 51f, the second chip rack 320 includes only the second bracket body 320a, and the first chip rack 310 includes only the first bracket body 310b. In this case, the length of the first bracket body 310b and/or the second bracket body 320a may be correspondingly increased.
Preferably, a fixing portion 314 is disposed on each of two sides of the first chip rack 310, and a clamping jaw 322 is disposed on each of the two sides of the second chip rack 320. The clamping jaw 322 is configured to clamp with the fixing portion 314, to fixedly clamp the ink cartridge chip 200 between the first chip rack 310 and the second chip rack 320. In this embodiment, a clamping structure is relatively simple, a processing process is also relatively simple, and an operation is convenient.
To firmly fix the ink cartridge chip 200 on the chip rack 300 and prevent the ink cartridge chip 200 from producing displacement relative to the chip rack 300, further, a fixing post 313 is disposed on the first chip rack 310, a first positioning hole 230 is provided on the ink cartridge chip 200, and a second positioning hole 321 is provided on the second chip rack 320. The first positioning hole 230 and the second positioning hole 321 are used for the fixing post 313 to pass therethrough. There may be one or more fixing posts 313. In this embodiment, a quantity of fixing posts 313 is not specifically limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement.
To further firmly fix the ink cartridge chip 200 on the chip rack 300 and prevent the ink cartridge chip 200 from rotating relative to the chip rack 300, a positioning notch 240 is provided on each of the two sides of the ink cartridge chip 200, and a positioning protrusion 315 matching the notch is provided on the first chip rack 310. One or more positioning notches 240 may be provided on each of the two sides of the ink cartridge chip 200. In this embodiment, a quantity of positioning notches 240 is not specifically limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement.
Further, the accommodation portion 130 includes a first accommodation portion 131 and a second accommodation portion 132. The second accommodation portion 132 is disposed above the first accommodation portion 131. The first accommodation portion 131 is configured to accommodate a front end, toward the exterior of the ink cartridge, of the engagement body formed by the chip rack 300 and the ink cartridge chip 200. The second accommodation portion 132 is configured to accommodate a rear end, toward the interior of the ink cartridge, of the engagement body formed by the chip rack 300 and the ink cartridge chip 200. The installation groove 122 may be provided between the first accommodation portion 131 and the second accommodation portion 132. The first accommodation portion 131 may be disposed to be in communication with the second accommodation portion 132.
Further, a limiting portion 140 is further disposed above the accommodation portion 130. The second accommodation portion 132 is disposed inside the limiting portion 140. The limiting portion 140 is used for upward movement of the rear end of the engagement body formed by the chip rack 300 and the ink cartridge chip 200. It should be noted that, the limiting portion 140 is mainly configured to limit the chip rack 300 from continuing to move upward when the chip rack 300 is located at the top of the installation groove 122, to avoid damage to the chip rack 300 and a component around the chip rack 300.
Further, the housing 100 includes a first housing 110 and a second housing 120 connected to the first housing 110. The chip rack 300 is rotatably installed on the second housing 120. The accommodation portion 130 and the ink outlet 121 are provided on the second housing 120. The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be clamped or in interference fit, or the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are integrally molded. In addition, the limiting portion 140 and the installation groove 122 may be provided on the second housing 120.
Further, a preset angle exists between a length direction of the installation groove 122 and the direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400. In this embodiment, a specific value of the preset angle is not specifically limited, and persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement. Preferably, the bottom of the installation groove 122 extends away from the accommodation structure 400, and extends toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge, to reduce space occupied by the accommodation portion 130. When the ink cartridge is not installed in the accommodation structure 400, the chip rack 300 may be located at the top of the installation groove 122.
In this embodiment, when the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400 along the installation direction P, in a process in which the relative position of the ink cartridge and the accommodation structure 400 changes, first, the ink cartridge chip 200 comes into contact with the second group of contact pins 422, a force is applied to contact between the ink cartridge chip 200 and the ridge-shaped protrusions 420a of the second group of contact pins 422, the ink cartridge chip 200 transfers an acting force to which the ink cartridge chip 200 is subject to the chip rack 300, the connecting rod 311 of the chip rack 300 moves along the groove wall of the installation groove 122, and the ink cartridge chip 200 also moves; and the second group of contact pins 422 rotate by using a top end of an entire contact pin 420 as a fulcrum (rotates in a direction -Q). After the ink cartridge chip 200 crosses the ridge-shaped protrusions 420a of the second group of contact pins 422 and arrives between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422, the second group of contact pins 422 restore to original positions, and the ink cartridge chip 200 comes into contact with both the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422. The connecting rod 311 may slide to a middle position or another position in the installation groove 122. In this case, the ink cartridge chip 200 is subject to a force F1 applied by the accommodation structure 400 along the direction Q.
When the ink cartridge is taken out of the accommodation structure 400 along the opposite direction -P of the installation direction P, the relative position of the ink cartridge and the accommodation structure 400 changes. In this process, the contact pin 420 cannot rotate toward the direction Q. First, when the ink cartridge chip 200 intends to leave from a position between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422, the second group of contact pins 422 apply a force F2 inclined down to the ink cartridge chip 200. The force F2 to which the ink cartridge chip 200 is subject is transmitted to the chip rack 300. Under the action of the force F2, the chip rack 300 rotates and moves by using the connecting rod 311 as an axis, a terminal on the ink cartridge chip 200 moves along the direction P, and the chip rack 300 and the ink cartridge chip 200 enter the accommodation portion 130, to avoid damage to the contact pin 420 on the accommodation structure 400. If a value of a component force, along an extension direction of the installation groove 122 (the extension direction of the installation groove 122 is a movement direction of the ink cartridge chip 200 relative to the housing 100), of the force F2 applied by the second group of contact pins 422 to the ink cartridge chip 200 is greater than a value of a component force, in the direction, of an elastic force of the elastic element 500, the chip rack 300 moves toward the top of the installation groove 122. If a value of a component force, along an extension direction of the installation groove 122, of the force F2 applied by the second group of contact pins 422 to the ink cartridge chip 200 is less than a value of a component force, in the direction, of an elastic force of the elastic element 500, the chip rack 300 moves toward the bottom of the installation groove 122.
The housing 100 has a first relative surface 100a and a second relative surface 100b that are parallel to the installation direction P in which the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400. In this embodiment, movement means that the engagement body formed by the ink cartridge chip 200 and the chip rack 300 produces a distance and displacement on the first relative surface 100a and/or the second relative surface 100b. For example, the first relative surface 100a and the second relative surface 100b of the housing 100 are used as support surfaces for supporting the ink cartridge chip 200. In this embodiment, movement means that the engagement body produces a distance and displacement on the foregoing support surfaces. It can be learned from FIG. 49 that, installation grooves 122 are provided on the first relative surface 100a and the second relative surface 100b. The installation groove 122 is configured to install the connecting rod 311.
It may be understood that, after the ink cartridge continues to move until the ink cartridge chip 200 crosses the ridge-shaped protrusions 420a of the second group of contact pins 422, the chip rack 300 is no longer subject to a force that enables the chip rack 300 to rotate, and the chip rack 300 no longer rotates. However, in this case, if the contact pin 420 still applies a force along the direction Q to the ink cartridge chip 200, the connecting rod 311 of the chip rack 300 still cannot restore to the top of the installation groove 122. When the accommodation structure 400 applies no force to the ink cartridge chip, the ink cartridge chip 200 and the chip rack 300 restore to original positions under the action of the elastic element 500.
Based on the foregoing embodiment, still referring to FIG. 54 to FIG. 56c, a difference between this embodiment and the foregoing embodiment lies in that the installation groove 122 has a different structure. Unless otherwise specified, the ink cartridge used in this embodiment is the same as that in Embodiment 1.
Specifically, the groove wall of the installation groove 122 that is used for movement of the connecting rod 311 is perpendicular to the installation direction P of the ink cartridge. The installation channel 123 is in communication with a front end of the installation groove 122. When the ink cartridge is not installed in the accommodation structure 400, the chip rack 300 may be located at a rear end of the installation groove 122 toward the accommodation structure 400. The limiting portion 140 is configured to limit upward movement of the chip rack 300 when the chip rack 300 is located at the rear end of the installation groove 122, to ensure that the ink cartridge can be smoothly taken out and placed.
Further, for convenience of assembling, taking out, and replacing the chip rack 300, an installation channel 123 is further disposed on the housing 100. The installation channel 123 may be disposed on the second housing 120. One end of the installation channel 123 is in communication with the installation groove 122, and an opening in communication with space outside the housing is provided at the other end of the installation channel 123. Preferably, the installation channel 123 is in communication with the bottom of the installation groove 122, or the installation channel 123 is in communication with the front end of the installation groove 122.
A method for assembling the ink cartridge provided in this embodiment may include the following steps:

Step 1: Install the ink cartridge chip 200 between the first chip rack 310 and the second chip rack 320, and clamp the first chip rack 310 with the second chip rack 320.
Step 2: Install the elastic element 500 on the housing 100. An execution order of step 1 and step 2 is not limited.
Step 3: Install, along the installation channel 123, the connecting rod 311 of the first chip rack 310 in the installation groove 122 in which the connecting rod 311 can move along the groove wall and rotation can be performed by using the connecting rod 311 as an axis, and enable the elastic element 500 to abut against the abutting portion 312 on the first chip rack 310.

Further, still referring to FIG. 57 to FIG. 59b, -P in the accompanying drawings indicates the direction opposite to the installation direction P of the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is installed in the accommodation structure 400 along the installation direction P, in a process in which the relative position of the ink cartridge and the accommodation structure 400 changes, first, the ink cartridge chip 200 comes into contact with the second group of contact pins 422, as shown in FIG. 57, a force is applied to contact between the ink cartridge chip 200 and the ridge-shaped protrusions 420a of the second group of contact pins 422, the ink cartridge chip 200 transfers an acting force to which the ink cartridge chip 200 is subject to the chip rack 300, the connecting rod 311 of the chip rack 300 moves along the groove wall of the installation groove 122, and the ink cartridge chip 200 also moves; and the second group of contact pins 422 rotates by using a top end of an entire contact pin 420 as a fulcrum (rotates in a direction -Q). After the ink cartridge chip 200 crosses the ridge-shaped protrusions 420a of the second group of contact pins 422 and arrives between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422, as shown in FIG. 15a and FIG. 15b, the second group of contact pins 422 restores to original positions, and the ink cartridge chip 200 comes into contact with both the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422. The connecting rod 311 may slide to a middle position or another position in the installation groove 122. In this case, the ink cartridge chip 200 is subject to a force F1 applied by the accommodation structure 400 along the direction Q.
When the ink cartridge is taken out of the accommodation structure 400 along the opposite direction -P of the installation direction P, the relative position of the ink cartridge and the accommodation structure 400 changes. In this process, the contact pin 420 cannot rotate toward the direction Q. First, when the ink cartridge chip 200 intends to leave from a position between the first group of contact pins 421 and the second group of contact pins 422, as shown in FIG. 58a and FIG. 58b, the second group of contact pins 422 applies a force F2 inclined down to the ink cartridge chip 200. The force F2 to which the ink cartridge chip 200 is subject is transmitted to the chip rack 300. Under the action of the force F2, the chip rack 300 rotates and moves by using the connecting rod 311 as an axis, a terminal on the ink cartridge chip 200 moves along the direction P, and the chip rack 300 and the ink cartridge chip 200 enter the accommodation portion 130, to avoid damage to the contact pin 420 on the accommodation structure 400. If a value of a component force, in the direction Q, of the force F2 is greater than a value of a component force, in the direction, of an elastic force of the elastic element 500, the chip rack 300 moves toward the front end of the installation groove 122. If a value of a component force, in the direction Q, of the force F2 is less than a value of a component force, in the direction, of an elastic force of the elastic element 500, the chip rack 300 moves toward the rear end of the installation groove 122.
It may be understood that, after the ink cartridge continues to move until the ink cartridge chip 200 crosses the ridge-shaped protrusions 420a of the second group of contact pins 422, the chip rack 300 is no longer subject to a force that enables the chip rack 300 to rotate, and the chip rack 300 no longer rotates. However, in this case, if the contact pin 420 still applies a force along the direction Q to the ink cartridge chip 200, the connecting rod 311 of the chip rack 300 still cannot restore to the rear end of the installation groove 122. When the accommodation structure 400 applies no force to the ink cartridge chip, the ink cartridge chip 200 and the chip rack 300 restore to original positions.
Further, based on the foregoing embodiment, still referring to FIG. 60, it may be understood that, in the ink cartridge, for structures not described in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, persons skilled in the art may make a setting according to an actual requirement. As shown in FIG. 60, the ink cartridge has the housing 100, the ink cartridge chip 200, the chip rack 300, and the like. The engagement body formed by the ink cartridge chip 200 and the chip rack 300 is disposed to be inclined relative to the bottom surface 100c of the ink cartridge. Similarly, the contact pin in the installation portion is disposed to be inclined. The engagement body formed by the ink cartridge chip 200 and the chip rack 300 is installed in the housing 100 along the direction Q. The installation process is similar to that in the foregoing embodiment.
In a process of installing the ink cartridge in this embodiment in the installation portion (an installation portion used by the ink cartridge in this embodiment is not shown), first, a first detent 101 is installed on the installation portion, then the side portion of the ink cartridge chip 200 is rotatably disposed, and finally, a second detent 102 is installed on the installation portion. In the process of installing the ink cartridge in the installation portion, first, the ink cartridge chip 200 comes into contact with the contact pin in the installation portion, a force is applied to the ink cartridge chip and the contact pin in a process in which the ink cartridge chip comes into contact with the contact pin, the ink cartridge chip 200 transfers an acting force to which the ink cartridge chip 200 is subject to the chip rack 300, the connecting rod 311 of the chip rack 300 moves and rotates along the groove wall of the installation groove 122, and the ink cartridge chip 200 also moves. After the ink cartridge chip 200 crosses the contact pin 4, and when the ink cartridge chip 200 arrives between the two groups of contact pins in the installation portion, the ink cartridge chip 200 comes into contact with both the two groups of contact pins. In this case, the connecting rod 311 may slide to a middle position or another position in the installation groove 122.
Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are merely intended for describing the technical solutions of the present invention rather than limiting the present invention. Although the present invention is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, persons of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they may still make modifications to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent replacements to some or all technical features thereof, as long as such modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

An ink cartridge chip, wherein the ink cartridge chip is configured to electrically connect to contact pins in an installation portion, an accommodation groove is provided on the ink cartridge chip, and contact portions configured to come into contact with the contact pins are disposed in the accommodation groove.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 1, wherein the accommodation groove is configured to accommodate the contact pins, and the contact portions comprise at least two inner contact portions disposed in the accommodation groove.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 2, wherein two of the inner contact portions are disposed to be opposite to each other.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 2, wherein at least one accommodation groove is provided on the ink cartridge chip.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 4, wherein the ink cartridge chip comprises a first plane and a third plane that vertically intersects the first plane; a surface area of the first plane is smaller than a surface area of the third plane; at least one accommodation groove is provided in the first plane, and a preset angle exists between each inner contact portion disposed in the accommodation groove and the first plane; and the inner contact portion is located on a groove end surface that is in the accommodation groove and that intersects the first plane.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 5, wherein an accommodation groove and an outer contact portion configured to come into contact with the contact pin are provided in the first plane.
The ink cartridge chip according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the accommodation groove has a gradually decreasing width along a direction away from the first plane.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 6, wherein a side groove is further provided on a side of multiple accommodation grooves in the first plane, and a side contact portion configured to come into contact with the contact pin is disposed in the side groove.
The ink cartridge chip according to any one of claims 5, 6, and 8, wherein the preset angle is 90°.
The ink cartridge chip according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the ink cartridge chip comprises a first connection portion and a second connection portion connected to the first connection portion, and at least one accommodation groove is formed on the second connection portion through folding.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 1, wherein the accommodation groove comprises multiple smoothly connected first recessed portions and multiple smoothly connected second recessed portions that are disposed on the ink cartridge chip, the first recessed portion is disposed on a first surface of the ink cartridge chip, the second recessed portion is disposed on a second surface of the ink cartridge chip, the first recessed portion is recessed toward a direction of the second surface, the second recessed portion is recessed toward a direction of the first surface, and a contact portion configured to come into contact with the contact pin is disposed in each of the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 11, wherein the multiple first recessed portions form a first wavy structure, and the multiple second recessed portions form a second wavy structure parallel to the first wavy structure.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 12, wherein the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion are spaced from each other along a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the ink cartridge chip is installed in the installation portion.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 13, wherein the contact pins comprise an upper contact pin and a lower contact pin, the contact portions comprise an upper contact portion configured to come into contact with the upper contact pin and a lower contact portion configured to come into contact with the lower contact pin, the upper contact portion is disposed in the first recessed portion, and the lower contact portion is disposed in the second recessed portion.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 14, wherein the upper contact portion is disposed at a position in the first recessed portion close to the second surface, and the lower contact portion is disposed at a position in the second recessed portion close to the first surface.
The ink cartridge chip according to claim 14, wherein the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion are formed on the ink cartridge chip in a natural state.
An ink cartridge detachably installed in an installation portion, comprising the ink cartridge chip according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the ink cartridge chip is configured to engage with contact pins in the installation portion.
The ink cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the ink cartridge comprises an ink cartridge body, the ink cartridge chip is installed on the ink cartridge body, the ink cartridge body further comprises an ink outlet, a bottom surface, and a side surface, the ink outlet is provided on the bottom surface, the ink cartridge chip is disposed on the side surface, contact portions on the ink cartridge chip protrude from the side surface, and at least one contact portion is perpendicular to the side surface.
The ink cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the ink cartridge is configured to be detachably installed in the installation portion, the installation portion comprises multiple contact pins, the multiple contact pins are arranged in two rows in a direction perpendicular to an installation direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion, and inner contact portions on the ink cartridge chip are arranged in one row in the direction perpendicular to the installation direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion.
The ink cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the installation portion comprises a bottom wall on which an ink supply portion is disposed and a side wall perpendicular to the bottom wall, the contact pin is disposed on the side wall, the ink cartridge comprises an ink outlet configured to connect to the ink supply portion, a contact terminal configured to electrically connect to the contact pin is disposed on the ink cartridge chip, a contact surface used to come into contact with the contact pin is provided on the contact terminal, the contact surface is located in a direction basically perpendicular to the side wall, and when observed from a direction perpendicular to the contact surface, there is a spacing between the ink cartridge chip and a center line of the ink outlet.
The ink cartridge according to according to claim 20, wherein an opening configured to enable the ink cartridge chip to be installed in the installation portion along the installation direction is provided on the installation portion, and the side wall is parallel to the installation direction.
The ink cartridge according to according to claim 20, wherein the center line of the ink outlet is parallel to the installation direction, the ink cartridge chip comprises a primary surface perpendicular to the installation direction and a side surface vertically connected to the primary surface, a surface area of the primary surface is larger than a surface area of the side surface, and the center line of the ink outlet is perpendicular to the primary surface.
The ink cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the ink cartridge is configured to be installed in the installation portion comprising multiple groups of contact pins and an ink supply portion, the ink cartridge has a housing, the housing has a side portion and an inner portion, the ink cartridge chip is installed on the side portion of the housing of the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge chip is capable of moving toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge relative to the housing, an accommodation portion is further disposed on the housing, and the accommodation portion is configured to accommodate the ink cartridge chip.
The ink cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the ink cartridge is configured to be installed in the installation portion comprising multiple groups of contact pins and an ink supply portion, the ink cartridge has a side portion and an inner portion, the ink cartridge chip is installed on a side portion of a housing of the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge chip is capable of rotating and moving toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge relative to the housing, an accommodation portion is further disposed on the housing, and the accommodation portion is configured to accommodate the ink cartridge chip.
The ink cartridge according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the ink cartridge chip comprises terminals configured to come into contact with the multiple groups of contact pins, the terminals comprise an upper terminal disposed on a first surface of the ink cartridge chip and a lower terminal disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface, and when the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion, the upper terminal and the lower terminal are alternately disposed on the ink cartridge chip in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion.
The ink cartridge according to claim 25, wherein the multiple groups of contact pins comprise a first group of contact pins and a second group of contact pins, and when the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion, at least some of the terminals are inserted between the first group of contact pins and the second group of contact pins.
The ink cartridge according to claim 26, wherein the ink cartridge chip further comprises a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion are alternately disposed in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion, the upper terminal is disposed in the first recessed portion, and the lower terminal is disposed in the second recessed portion.
The ink cartridge according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the ink cartridge chip is installed on a chip rack, the chip rack is installed on the side portion of the housing, the accommodation portion is further configured to accommodate the chip rack, and the chip rack is capable of moving relative to the housing, or the chip rack is capable of rotating and moving relative to the housing.
The ink cartridge according to claim 28, wherein an abutting portion is disposed on the chip rack, and an elastic element is clamped between the abutting portion and the housing.
The ink cartridge according to claim 28, wherein connecting rods are disposed on two sides of the chip rack, an installation groove is provided on the housing, the connecting rod is inserted in the installation groove, and a groove wall of the installation groove that is used to support movement of the connecting rod has a projection distance in a direction perpendicular to an installation direction of the ink cartridge and toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge.
The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein a first projection area of the installation groove in an axial direction perpendicular to the connecting rod is larger than a second projection area of the connecting rod in the axial direction perpendicular to the connecting rod.
The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the connecting rod is capable of rotating in the installation groove and moving along an extension direction of the groove wall of the installation groove.
The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein a preset angle exists between the groove wall of the installation groove that is used to support movement of the connecting rod and the installation direction of the ink cartridge, and the bottom of the installation groove extends toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge.
The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the groove wall of the installation groove for movement of the connecting rod is perpendicular to the installation direction of the ink cartridge.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 30 to 34, wherein the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip form an engagement body, and in a process of separating the ink cartridge from the installation portion, the engagement body rotates, and forms displacement in the direction toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge and perpendicular to the installation direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion.
The ink cartridge according to claim 33 or 34, wherein an installation channel is further disposed on the housing, one end of the installation channel is in communication with the installation groove, and the other end of the installation channel has an opening in communication with space outside the housing.
The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the connecting rod is located between the ink cartridge chip and an elastic element.
The ink cartridge according to claim 37, wherein the first chip rack is disposed below the second chip rack, and a lower surface of the first chip rack toward the exterior of the ink cartridge is a slope.
The ink cartridge according to claim 28, wherein the accommodation portion comprises a first accommodation portion and a second accommodation portion, the second accommodation portion is disposed above the first accommodation portion, the first accommodation portion is configured to accommodate a front end, toward the exterior of the ink cartridge, of an engagement body formed by the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip, the second accommodation portion is configured to accommodate a rear end, toward the interior of the ink cartridge, of the engagement body formed by the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip, a limiting portion is further disposed above the accommodation portion, the second accommodation portion is disposed inside the limiting portion, and the limiting portion is configured to limit upward movement of the rear end of the engagement body formed by the chip rack and the ink cartridge chip.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 23 to 39, wherein in a process of installing the ink cartridge in the installation portion, the ink cartridge chip forms displacement in the direction toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge and perpendicular to the installation direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion; or
in a process of separating the ink cartridge from the installation portion, the ink cartridge chip forms displacement and is capable of rotating in the direction toward the inner portion of the ink cartridge and perpendicular to the installation direction in which the ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion.
An ink cartridge that can be installed in an installation portion, comprising the ink cartridge chip according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
An ink cartridge that can be installed in an installation portion, comprising the ink cartridge chip according to any one of claims 11 to 16.