ES2313507T3 - INK CARTRIDGE, A MAIN BODY AND A FILLING UNIT. - Google Patents

Abstract

(PROBLEM) To provide a refill unit, which allows the user, to easily install and remove ink cartridges. (MEANS FOR SOLVING) The refill unit 70 comprises a case 75 and an ink cartridge 63 which is housed in the case 75. The case 75 has an opening 88 on its front surface. Case 75 has a door 76, and this door 76 opens and closes said opening 88. Door 76 comprises pullout members 77. When door 76 is opened, the pullout members 77 pull the ink cartridge 63 out from the case 75. When the door 76 is closed, the pullout members 77 extend in the front-back direction and guide the insertion of a new ink cartridge. The pullout members 77 are arrange opposite each other in the width direction of the ink cartridge 63. The widthwise dimension of the pullout members 77 is set to be smaller than the width dimension of ink cartridge 63.

Description

Ink cartridge, a main body and a filling unit

The present invention relates to a cartridge of ink, a main body and a filling unit of an apparatus of inkjet registration.

Background of the invention

The inkjet recording device ejects ink droplets from a recording head on paper of registration transferred for the purpose of registering an image in Registration paper Generally, ink is previously stored in an ink tank of the cartridge type (ink cartridge) and ink is supplied to the registration head from the cartridge from ink. Therefore, if the residual amount of the ink stored in the ink tank, the ink cartridge has to be replaced by a new one (for example, consult the patent documents 1 to 5). Generally, the ink cartridge will housed in a box mounted on the injection injection device ink.

Ink cartridges include a cart type and a guy out of the car. Cartridge type ink cartridge is mounted on a car where the registration head is mounted and that can alternate along a direction perpendicular to a paper transfer address. A box is mounted on the cart and ink is supplied to the registration head from the ink cartridge housed in the box.

On the other hand, in the case of using the cartridge of ink of the type outside the car, a box, which contains the ink cartridge, is arranged somewhere in the apparatus of Inkjet registration other than car. That is, the ink cartridge and box are previously structured as a unit and the unit is arranged somewhere in the apparatus of Inkjet log. Therefore, ink is supplied to the registration head from the box that houses the ink cartridge by means of an ink supply tube and the like. The unit is Name a filler unit in this application.

The filling unit box has Usually a door. The door is closed when the ink cartridge in the box. Consequently, the cartridge Ink is housed and kept safely in the box. It has been arranged an ink supply needle inside the box. The needle of Ink supply is introduced into the ink cartridge when the Ink cartridge is housed in the box. The ink present in the ink cartridge is supplied to the registration head by the ink supply needle, the ink supply tube and analogues When the ink cartridge is replaced by a new one, the door is opened and the ink cartridge is removed from the box (by For example, see Patent document 6).

[Patent Document 1] Patent Publication Japanese number 11-348303

[Patent Document 2] Patent Publication Japanese number 10-109427

[Patent Document 3] Patent Publication Japanese number 2004-345246

[Patent Document 4] Patent Publication Japanese number 2005-219416

[Patent Document 5] Patent Publication Japanese number 2005-96446

[Patent Document 6] Patent Publication Japanese number 6-106730

EP 0 478 244 A shows an ink cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1.

EP 10 109 427 A shows a main body according to the preamble of claim 4.

Summary of the Invention

It is desired that the ink cartridge be replaced easily and in a short time by a user of the recording device Inkjet That is, it is necessary that the ink cartridge used is easily removed from the box and inserted Easily a new ink cartridge in the box.

An object of the present invention is provide a filler unit, a main body for a refill unit used in the refill unit and a cartridge ink for the filling unit that allow easy insertion / removal of the ink cartridge to / from a box by a Username.

1. Ink cartridge for refill unit

In order to achieve the aforementioned object an ink cartridge according to claim 1 is provided.

2. Main body for a filling unit

To achieve this object, the body is provided main for a filler unit of claim 4.

In the main body for a unit of refilling, the ink cartridge may be housed in the portion of housing, and the ink cartridge is removed from the portion of Accommodation as follows. When the ink cartridge is removed from the box, first the door opens. When the door is moved from the closed position to the open position, the element of Traction pulls the ink cartridge into the hole. Consequently, a user can remove the ink cartridge from the housing portion through the hole. When the cartridge of ink is housed in the housing portion, the ink cartridge it is introduced into the housing portion of the hole while the door is open. Then, the ink cartridge, to be enter in the housing portion, it is previously supported by the traction element. Then, the ink cartridge will inserted into the housing portion, being guided by the element traction

According to the main body for a unit of padding of claim 4, when the door is moved from the closed position to the open position, the traction element You can safely remove the ink cartridge into the hole. Also, when a new ink cartridge is introduced into the portion hole housing, the ink cartridge is supported and guided safely by the traction element. Therefore the Ink cartridge can be replaced more easily.

According to the main body for a unit of padding of claim 4, given that the distance between the pair of tensile elements is equal to or less than a width of ink cartridge, the door is designed in a compact size, which reduces a unit body size for a unit of filling.

According to the main body for a unit of refill of claim 5, since the ink cartridge is you can enter and remove from the housing portion on the side front of the unit body for a filling unit by a user, the ink cartridge can be replaced more easily. When the door is moved to the open position, the portion curved is rotated so that the ink cartridge is ejected from the unit body and the curved portion functions as the element of guide. Therefore, the structure of the tensile element is simple, which reduces the manufacturing cost of the unit body for a filling unit.

3. Filling unit

To achieve this object, unity is facilitated of filler of claim 6.

The used ink cartridge is replaced following the steps below. When the ink cartridge used It is removed from the box, the door opens. When the door is moved from a closed position to an open position, an element of Traction pushes the ink cartridge into the hole. Accordingly, the user can remove the ink cartridge from the hole. Next, a new ink cartridge is inserted into a portion of hole housing. So, the door is in the open position and the new ink cartridge, to be enter in the housing portion, it is previously supported by the traction element. Then, the ink cartridge will inserted into the housing portion, being guided by the element traction

According to the filling unit, when the door is moved from the closed position to the open position, the element of traction can safely pull the ink cartridge towards the hole. Also, when a new ink cartridge is inserted into the housing portion of the hole, the ink cartridge is supported and guided safely by the traction element. By Therefore, the user can replace the ink cartridge easily.

Depending on the filling unit, each of the traction elements is received in the groove formed in the ink cartridge. In addition, since the distance between the pair of tensile elements is equal to or less than a width of the cartridge ink, the tensile elements received in the cartridge Ink does not protrude from the ink cartridge. Therefore the door It is designed in a compact size, which reduces the size of the filling unit

Depending on the filling unit, since the cartridge of ink can be introduced and removed from the portion of housing on the front side of the filling unit by a user, the ink cartridge can be replaced more easily. When the door is moved to the open position, the curved portion it is rotated so that the ink cartridge is ejected from the filling unit The curved portion also functions as a guide element. Therefore, the structure of the element of traction is simple, which reduces the manufacturing cost of the filling unit

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, since the ink cartridge is ejected from the box by the element of traction when the door is moved from the closed position to the open position, the ink cartridge is easily removed from the box. Also, when the door is open, a new cartridge ink is guided by the tensile element so that it is housed in the box. Consequently, a new one is easily introduced ink cartridge in the box. That is, when an operator opens simply the door, the used ink cartridge is ejected from the box, and the operator can easily insert a new cartridge Ink in the box while the door is open. Consequently, the ink cartridge can be replaced from quite easy way.

Brief description of the drawings

(Figure 1) Figure 1 is an exterior view in perspective of a multifunction device according to an embodiment of The present invention.

(Figure 2) Figure 2 is a drawing that illustrates schematically the internal structure of a device multifunction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 3) Figure 3 is a drawing that illustrates schematically the internal structure of the scanner part of a multifunction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 4) Figure 4 is a drawing that illustrates schematically the internal structure of the printer part of a multifunction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 5) Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the filling unit according to an embodiment of the present invention

(Figure 6) Figure 6 is a sectional view cross section along VI-VI in Figure 5.

(Figure 7) Figure 7 is a side view of the main parts of the main unit body of a unit filler according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 8) Figure 8 is a sectional view cross section of the main unit body of a filler unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 9) Figure 9 is a view in exploded perspective of the door of a filling unit according to An embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 10) Figure 10 is a view in exploded perspective of the door of a filling unit according to An embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 11) Figure 11 is a sectional view cross section of a filling unit according to an embodiment of the present invention

(Figure 12) Figure 12 is an enlargement of the main parts of figure 11.

(Figure 13) Figure 13 is a side view of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 14) Figure 14 is a view in perspective of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention

(Figure 15) Figure 15 is a drawing that schematically illustrates the hitch structure of the cartridge ink, box, and ejection element according to an embodiment of the present invention

(Figure 16) Figure 16 is a drawing that schematically illustrates a modified example of the structure of ink cartridge hitch, box, and eject element according An embodiment of the present invention.

(Figure 17) Figure 17 is a drawing that schematically illustrates another modified example of the structure ink cartridge hitch, box and eject element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Best embodiments of the invention

The present invention is described in detail at continued based on preferred embodiments with reference to the appropriate drawings.

Figure 1 is an exterior perspective view of a multifunction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The multifunction device 10 is an MFD (multifunction device) integrally including a part of printer 11 on the bottom and a scanner part 12 on the top, and has several functions such as a function of printer, a scanner function, a copier function, and a fax function The multifunction device 10 is connected mainly to a computer not illustrated, and records images and texts on registration paper, which serves as the means of registration, in based on image data and text data transmitted from the computer. In addition, the multifunction device 10 may be connected to an external device such as a digital camera to record image data from the digital camera on paper register. In addition, the multifunction device 10 includes the part slot described later 61, and allows to record data from image or analogs stored in a storage medium in the Registration paper installing various types of media storage such as a memory card in this part of slot 61.

The distinctive features of the device multifunction 10 according to the present embodiment are that said part of printer 11 is constituted as a recording device of inkjet and has on the front surface of the device a filler unit 70 that previously saves the ink that is supplied to the recording head that ejects drops of ink, and the point that this filling unit 70 has a structure that facilitates the operation of introduction and extraction of the ink cartridge, so that the user of this device multifunction 10 can perform the operation very simply and quickly Ink cartridge replacement. Since the present invention is implemented in the form of the filling unit 70 which is incorporates in the multifunction device 10 described below, it is not necessary to state that the device configuration Multifunction 10 can be modified in design as appropriate without changing the essentials of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a drawing that illustrates schematically the internal structure of said device multifunction 10. Figure 3 is a drawing illustrating schematically the internal structure of said scanner part 12 (the portion represented by the dotted line in Figure 2).

As depicted in Figure 2, the part of scanner 12 includes a document platform 13 that works as an FBS (desktop scanner) and a document cover 15 arranged above. Document cover 15 includes a mechanism Automatic document feed (named below "ADF") 14, and is attached to the rear surface of the document platform 13 by hinges to allow opening and closing. Thus, document cover 15 opens and close by turning it in the direction of arrow 16 in relation to the document platform 13. In the present embodiment, the document platform 13 is included in the device box multifunction 10, and document cover 15 constitutes part of the upper surface of the multifunction device 10.

Document platform 13 also serves as the frame of the scanner part 12. As depicted in Figure 3, a contact glass plate 20 is arranged in the roof 19 of the document platform 13. In addition, a unit of image reading 18 is arranged within the platform of documents 13. Documents are placed between the cover of document 15 and contact glass plate 20. The unit of image reading 18 reads the document image by lowering the plate contact glass 20 along the contact glass plate 20, that is in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in figure 3.

The document reading unit 18 includes a CIS unit 21, a guide shaft 22, a roller unit 23 and a belt drive mechanism, not illustrated. At the moment embodiment, the document reading unit 18 includes a CIS (contact image sensor), but you can naturally use a optical image reduction sensor such as a CCD (device load coupling) instead of a CIS. The CIS 21 unit includes a thin cuboid box 43, and this box 43 is mounted on a carriage 24 and is supported by him. The guide shaft 22 is mounted on a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the same drawing. This guide shaft 22 passes through the lower end portion 25 of said carriage 24. Namely, the CIS unit 21 is supported by this guide shaft 22, and slide being guided at the same time by the shaft guide 22. Said belt drive mechanism includes a timer belt (not shown) driven by a motor, by example. A portion of this timer belt is coupled to the lower end portion 25 of said carriage 24. Thus, when the belt drive mechanism is driven, carriage 24 is moves together with the timer belt, and as a result, the CIS 21 unit passes under the contact glass plate twenty.

Said roller unit 23 is arranged in both ends of the CIS unit 21. This roller unit 23 touches the bottom surface 26 of the contact glass plate 20. In addition, this roller unit 23 rolls in the direction of movement of the carriage 24 on the rear surface 26 of the plate of contact glass 20 when carriage 24 moves. In others terms, this roller unit 23 contributes to the smooth movement of the CIS unit 21. In addition, the roller unit 23 also It plays the role of a spacer, which maintains a distance constant between the CIS unit 21 and the document that rests on the contact glass plate 20.

As shown in Figure 1, the cover of document 15 includes said ADF 14. This ADF 14 is configured to allow continuous feeding of a document up to preset number of sheets in document tray 47 through paper ejection tray 46. The mechanism for feeding continuously the document is incorporated into the cover of document 15. Since ADF 14 has a known structure, it will omit your detailed description. ADF 14 can also be outside of the present embodiment.

Figure 4 is a drawing depicting schematically the internal configuration of the printer part 11 (the part indicated with a dotted line in figure 2). The direction perpendicular to the paper surface in figure 4 is the width address of the multifunction device 10, which matches the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in figure 2.

As depicted in Figure 2 and Figure 4, the printer part 11 includes an image registration part 28 which has a frame constituted by said document platform 13, and an inkjet registration head 27 (a simply called "registration head 27"). In other words, in the present embodiment, the part of printer 11 consists of an injection recording device from ink.

As depicted in Figure 4, the part of printer 11 includes said filler unit 70. This unit of padding 70 is contained in document platform 13, that is, on the side of the front surface 71, as depicted in the Figure 1. In the present embodiment, the filling unit 70 is able to accommodate and retain four ink cartridges. The cartridges of ink contain ink of the colors black, yellow, magenta and cyan The inks of the various colors contained in these cartridges ink are designed to be supplied to said head of registration 27 via an ink tube (supply tube). The Illustration of the ink tube has been omitted in Figure 4.

The document platform 13 that constitutes the frame of the printer part 11 has an opening cover and closure 72 on said side of the front surface 71. This opening and closing cover 72 opens and closes a hole 73 disposed at an end portion of this front surface 71. Specifically, the opening and closing cover 72 can rotate between a position where the filling unit 70 exposes through said hole 73 leaning forward as depicted in the Figure 1, and a position where said hole 73 is closed to contain the filling unit 70.

In addition, the document platform 13 is provided with a hole 42 in the middle of its front surface, and a paper supply tray 29 is disposed within this hole 42 (see Figure 4). As shown in Figure 4, the registration paper fed from the paper supply tray 29 is ejected to a paper ejection tray 32 disposed in said hole 42 after the image has been registered in the manner described below. . A separating tilting plate 30 is disposed on the inner side of said paper supply tray 29 (on the right side in Figure 4). This separating rocker plate 30 separates the sheets of registration paper stacked in the paper supply tray 29 and guides them up. A paper feed path 31 has been formed that goes upward from the separating rocker plate 30. The paper feed path 31 extends upward and then bends to the left, extending from the side of the rear surface of the multifunction device 10 next to the front surface. In addition, the paper feed path 31 passes through the image registration part 28 and the paper eject tray 32. Therefore, the registration paper housed in the paper supply tray 29 is guided to the Image registration part 28 by the paper feed path 31 such that it makes a U-turn from the bottom up. After the image registration part 28 has performed the image registration on the registration paper fed through the paper feed path 31, the registration paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 32. The image tray paper ejection 32 and said paper supply tray 29 are not shown in the
Figure 1.

As illustrated in Figure 4, it has been arranged a paper supply roller 34 on top of the tray paper supply 29. Paper supply roller 34 separates the registration paper stacked in the paper supply tray 29 from sheet to sheet and feeds it to the feed path of paper 31. The structure of the paper supply roller 34 is known. In the present embodiment, the supply roller of paper 34 is pivotally supported on the tip of an arm of paper supply 35. This paper supply arm 35 is above in order to go up and down approaching and moving away from the paper supply tray 29. The paper supply roller paper 34 is coupled to an engine by a mechanism of drive transmission not illustrated. This mechanism of drive transmission can be set based on coupling of a plurality of gears. The drive of said engine causes its driving force to be transmitted to the paper supply roller 34, making the roller paper supply 34 turn. Paper supply roller Rotary 34 feeds the recording paper to the path of paper feed 31.

The paper supply arm 35 is supported on a base end shaft 36 and is able to rotate around the shaft end-of-base 36. As a result, the paper supply arm 35 is able to raise and lower with the base end shaft 36 as the sliding center This paper supply arm 35 is pushed into the paper supply tray 29 by means of a clutch paper supply not illustrated, spring, etc, when paper supply tray 29 is installed, and it remove upwards during the introduction or removal of the paper supply tray 29. The downward rotation of the arm of paper supply 35 makes the paper supply roller 34 pivotally supported on its tip press against the registration paper surface in the supply tray paper 29. When the paper supply roller 34 rotates in this state, the friction between the surface of the supply roller of paper 34 and the recording paper feeds the paper sheet of registration in the position superior to said tilting plate of separation 30. The sheet of fed registration paper touches the tilt plate 30 with its leading edge and is guided up and fed to the feeding path of paper 31. When the sheet of registration paper in position top is pulled out by paper supply roller 34, the sheet of registration paper immediately below can be pulled out jointly due to the effects of friction and electricity static However, this sheet of registration paper stops at come into contact with the swivel plate 30.

The paper feed path 31, outside of the places where the image registration part 28 and similar, it is delimited by an outer guide surface and a inner guide surface that look at each other with a separation preset In this multifunction device 10, the surface of outer guide consists of the inner wall surface of the frame of the printer part 11 composed of the platform documents 13, while the inner guide surface is it consists of the surface of a guide element arranged within said frame. In addition, feed rollers can be arranged, particularly in places where the feeding path of Paper 31 curves. Although feed rollers are not shown  in said figure, feed rollers can be arranged rotatably with the direction of the travel width of paper feed 31 (the direction perpendicular to the surface of the paper in figure 4) as the direction of the central axis of rotation. The feed rollers are mounted so that their  surface is exposed to said outer guide surface or the inner guide surface. The provision of these rollers of feeding causes the registration paper to be fed smoothly in contact with the guide surface even in places where the Paper feed path 31 is curved.

Said part of image register 28 is arranged down from where the feed path of paper 31 makes a U-turn up. A roller 37 is arranged in front of said registration head 27. The role of fed register is placed on roller 37. The head of register 27 throws ink drops to the disposed registration paper on the roller 37. The registration head 27 is mounted on a car not illustrated. This car moves from one side to the other in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the paper in said drawing by means of a CR engine. The position and alternative operation of the record head 27 are monitored by a carriage encoder not illustrated. The recording head 27 releases ink from each of said colors in the form of ink drops on said paper of registration while moving from one side to the other, registering for it An image on the registration paper.

A drive roller 39 and pressure roller 38 on the upward side of said registration head 27 in the paper feed path 31. The drive roller 39 is rotationally moved by a LF engine not illustrated. Log paper fed along of paper feed path 31 is sandwiched between the drive roller 39 and the pressure roller 38. The rotation of the drive roller 39 makes the role of record be fed down on the feed path of paper 31 and placed on roller 37.

A paper eject roller has been placed 40 and a pressure roller 41 down said head of record 27 in the paper feed path 31. The roller paper ejection 40 is rotationally moved by the LF engine, moving said drive roller 39. Namely, the roller of paper ejection 40 is moved synchronously with the roller drive 39 by means of a locking mechanism not illustrated. The paper ejection roller 40 and the roller pressure 41 wall record paper on which they have thrown ink drops, and the rotation of the eject roller of paper 40 causes said registration paper to be fed towards down on the paper feed path 31.

Said pressure roller 38 is driven elastically towards the drive roller 39 in order to compressing said drive roller 39 with a pressure preset Therefore, when the registration paper enters between the drive roller 39 and the pressure roller 38, the pressure roller 38 wall cooperative registration paper with the drive roller 39 while elastically removing the width of the registration paper. Since the registration paper is grabbed by the drive roller 39 and the pressure roller 38 in this way, the rotational force of the drive roller 39 is reliably transmitted to the registration paper. Also said pressure roller 41 is disposed in the same way in relation to said paper ejection roller 40. Hereby embodiment, since the pressure roller 41 exerts pressure against the registration paper in which the registration has been completed, the surface of the roller has been shaped like a spur with the in order not to degrade the image registered on the registration paper.

Registration paper sandwiched between the drive roller 39 and pressure roller 38 is fed  intermittently on roller 37 the spacing width preset The registration head 27 moves forward and / or back to each line feed of the registration paper to perform image registration successively from the edge front of the registration paper. The registration paper on which has made the image registration is sandwiched between the roller paper ejection 40 and pressure roller 41 facing its edge Forward. In other words, the registration paper is fed intermittently the width of a preset line spacing intercalating at the same time on its leading edge side by the paper ejection roller 40 and the pressure roller 41 and in its exit edge side by the drive roller 39 and the pressure roller 38, and image registration is carried out by the registration head 27 when the paper is fed from this way. Once an image has been registered in the region preset registration paper, the eject roller paper 40 moves rotationally continuously and the paper of interleaved registration between paper eject roller 40 and the pressure roller 41 is ejected to the ejection tray of paper 32.

As shown in Figure 1, a panel of control 45 is mounted on the upper inclined surface of the document platform 13 constituting the frame of the part of printer 11. This control panel 45 is a device for control the printer part 11, the scanner part 12 and analogues Several control keys 56 to 58, a glass screen liquid 59 and the like are arranged on its upper surface 44. In addition, a controller (not shown), which controls the drive the printer part 11 and the scanner part 12 and the operation of the multifunction device 10 together, is arranged at the bottom of the document platform 13.

As shown in Figure 2, a plate of control 54 is arranged under this control panel 45 (within the document platform 13). The various keys of control 56 to 58 arranged in control panel 45 are connected to the control board 54 via a flat cable not illustrated. This control board 54 is connected to said controller, which processes the instructions of said keys of control 56 to 58 and controls the device drive multifunction 10.

The user of the multifunction device 10 Enter the desired instructions using the various keys control 56 to 58 of control panel 45. The multifunction device 10 receives this input and performs the preset operation. How explained above, you can connect a computer personal or similar to this multifunction device 10. In this case, multifunction device 10 can also operate according to instructions transmitted by a scanner exciter, printer driver or the like from the personal computer, in addition to the instructions on the control panel 45.

As shown in Figure 1, said part slot 61 is arranged on the front surface of the multifunction device 10. Can install media storage, such as several compact memory cards, in this part of slot 61. Compact memory cards can store image data; image data is read in the compact memory card installed in slot part 61, and the information about this image data appears on the screen of liquid crystal 59. Any image displayed on the screen liquid crystal 59 can be registered on registration paper by the printer part 11. To do this, the entry is carried out by said control panel 45.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the filling unit 70. Figure 6 is a sectional view cross section along VI-VI in Figure 5.

This filling unit 70 includes a body of main unit 74 and an ink cartridge 63 that can be installed and remove from main unit body 74.

The main unit body 74 includes a box 75 in which it is inserted and from which the cartridge is removed from ink 63, a door 76 arranged in the box 75, and an element of ejection 77 arranged in door 76.

The box 75 is made for example of resin, and in It generally has a substantially cuboid shape. A camera of housing 78 (retention part) in which the housing is housed and retained ink cartridge 63, is delimited inside box 75 (see Figure 6). In the present embodiment, box 75 has four accommodation chambers 78, in which they are introduced and of which they take out said four ink cartridges 63. The shape of the surface  inside wall of each housing chamber 78 corresponds to the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the cartridge ink 63. Thus, each ink cartridge 63 is reliably retained in the box 75 without slack.

Box 75 includes a bottom plate part 80, a pair of side plate portions 81 arranged at the sides left and right of the bottom plate portion 80, and a plate of roof 82 arranged so that it extends between the parts of side plate 81, and is equipped with dividing wall parts (not illustrated) that serve to delimit said chambers of housing 78. The dividing wall parts are arranged according to the number of ink cartridges 63 housed in box 75. Naturally, these dividing wall parts don't have to arrange in order to completely delimit each chamber of housing 78, and can be formed in the form of nerves that divide adjacent housing chambers 78 in the bottom plate portion 80 at least. The bottom plate part 80, the plate parts sides 81, the roof plate portion 82 and the walls Dividers are preferably formed integrally.

Push rods not shown are provided on the back surface of the box 75. Each of these stems of push extends towards the accommodation chambers 78, and it Insert into an air intake valve 85 (see Figure 7, Figures 13 to 14) disposed in the ink cartridge 63 when place an ink cartridge 63 inside box 75. This allows air enters the ink cartridge 63 through the valve air intake 85, so that the ink inside the cartridge Ink 63 is fed gently to the registration head 27. In addition, as shown in Figure 6, a sensor connector of liquid level 86 is disposed on the rear surface of the box 75. This liquid level sensor connector 86 is connected to a liquid sensor level 87 arranged in the ink cartridge 63 when ink cartridge 63 is installed in box 75. Liquid level sensor connector 86 is connected to said controller, and the controller monitors constantly the amount of ink remaining in each ink cartridge 63.

The upper surface of said plate part lower 80 constitutes the positioning surface 98 on which place the ink cartridge 63. The height position of this placement surface 98 is set such that, when the ink cartridge 63 has been inserted in said chamber of housing 78, the ink supply tube not illustrated is insert the ink supply valve 115 of the cartridge ink 63, said push rod is introduced into the valve of air intake 85 of ink cartridge 63 (see Figure 14), and said liquid level sensor connector 86 engages the level of liquid sensor 87 of ink cartridge 63.

A rib 124 is provided in said part of ceiling plate 80, thereby increasing the rigidity of the box 75. The roof plate portion 80 includes a tilting arm 123. The Figure 7 is a side view of the main body parts of main unit 74, and schematically illustrates the relationship between the opening / closing of the door 76 and the sliding of the arm tilting 123.

This swing arm 123, as depicted in said figure, has been formed together in approximately the form of L, and has a first arm 125 and a second arm 126. A shaft of support 127 is arranged in the boundary zone between the first arm 125 and the second arm 126, and the swing arm 123 is supported rotatably on this support shaft 127. A tension spring 128 it is mounted between the first arm 125 and the roof plate part 82. As a result, the swing arm 123 is driven constantly elastically so that it turns towards the right, that is, assume the position represented by the line of two points and stroke in said figure. Since the swing arm 123 is elastically driven in this way, you can switch to the position represented by the continuous line when it receives a force in the direction to the left that opposes such force elastic The swing arm 123 is made so that it engages the upper surface 122 of the ink cartridge 63 and allow the ink cartridge 63 is forced out of said chamber of accommodation 78 as described below.

As depicted in Figure 5 and Figure 6, holes 88 have been made in the front surface 79 of the box 75. These holes 88 have been formed so that they correspond to each of the accommodation chambers 78. In other words, said housing chambers 78 are arranged in box 75 as a continuation of hole 88, and said four ink cartridges 63 are designed to be introduced and removed from the cameras of housing 78 through these holes 88 on the side of the front surface 79.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view. of the main unit body 74 in the state where said door 76 is open. Figure 9 and Figure 10 are seen in broken perspective of this door 76.

Said door 76 opens and closes said hole 88. A door 76 has been placed in each of the hole 88, and is designed to change position between a position where the hole 88 is closed (closed position) as depicted in the Figure 6, and a position where hole 88 is open (position open) as shown in figure 8. When door 76 is in a closed position, ink cartridge 63 is retained fixedly in said housing chamber 78. When the door 76 is in an open position, ink cartridge 63 can be easily insert or remove from said housing chamber 78.

As depicted in Figure 5 and Figure 6, door 76 includes a door main body 89, an element push retainer 90 arranged above, a locking element 91 and a lock release lever 92, all molded from resin. As depicted in figure 6, figure 9 and figure 10, the main door body 89 has been formed in the form of thin rectangular plate. The outer shape of the main body of door 89 matches the shape of said hole 88. It has formed a rotational axis part 94 at the lower end part 93 of the main door body 89. This part of rotational axis 94 It has been integrally formed with the main door body 89. This rotational axis part 94 is supported in the lower part of the front surface 79 of the box 75, as shown in the Figure 6. Specifically, a support part 95 has been formed in the front end part of the bottom plate part 80 of the box 75, and said rotational shaft part 94 is mounted rotatably in said support part 95. As a result, the main body of door 89 is able to raise and close said hole 88 as depicted in figure 6, as well as lowering and opening said hole 88 as shown in figure 8.

Said ejection element 77 is arranged in the lower end portion 93 of the main door body 89. This ejection element 77 has been integrally formed with the main door body 89. The ejection element 77 has been substantially L-shaped and has an extension part 96 and a curved part 97. The extension part 96 has been arranged continuously with said lower end portion 93. As is depicted in figure 6, the extension part 96 extends backward from said lower end portion 93 when the Door 76 is in the closed position. In addition, the curved part 97 the rear edge of said extension part 96 continues and extends upwards, forming an angle of approximately 90º. When door 76 is in a closed position, the leading edge of said curved part 97 protrudes upward above said installation surface 98. The main door body 89 rotates with said rotational axis part 94 as the center of rotation, thereby causing said ejection element 77, formed in L-shape, also rotate around said rotational axis part 94, as depicted in Figure 6 and Figure 8. How to will explain in detail later, this kind of rotation of the eject element 77 makes the ink cartridge 63 be ejected from said housing chamber 78.

As depicted in Figure 8, when said Door 76 changes to an open position, the curved part 97 of said ejection element 77 rotates counterclockwise around the rotational axis part 94. Here, the rotation of the part curved 97 causes its outer wall surface 110 to change from a substantially vertical state (see figure 6) to a state substantially horizontal (see figure 8). The length of the extension part 96 of the ejection element 77 is set to a preset dimension, so that when the curved part 97 has turned, its outer wall surface 110 is placed slightly above placement surface 98 of box 75, that is substantially as an extension of said surface of placement 98, and extends in the direction Front rear. When said door 76 is in an open position, this outer wall surface 110 It works as a guiding surface that guides the ink cartridge 63 on the positioning surface 98 within said chamber of accommodation 78. In other words, said ejection element 77, In addition to working as an element to remove the ink cartridge 63 of said housing chamber 78, also functions as a guide element for inserting the ink cartridge 63 into said accommodation chamber 78.

In the present embodiment, each body main door 89 is provided with two extraction elements 77. Namely, the extraction elements 77, as depicted in Figure 10, are arranged opposite each other in the direction of the width of the main door body 89. The provision of a pair of extraction elements 77 in this way allows the pair of extraction elements 77 support the ink cartridge 63 between them in the wide direction. Also, in the present realization, the spacing (width dimension) d1 between extraction elements 77 (see Figure 9) is smaller than the width dimension d2 of ink cartridge 63 (see figure 14). The effect of defining dimensions d1 and d2 in this way will be explained later.

As depicted in figure 6, figure 8, Figure 9 and Figure 10, the thrust retainer 90 is attached to the inner surface of the main door body 89. Tabs 146 are arranged on both side surfaces of the push retaining element 90, and parts of tongue housing 147 in the main door body 89. Said tabs 146 have been arranged protruding from the lateral surface of the thrust retainer 90. Said tongue housing parts 147 are made up of grooves that are extend in the front-back direction of main door body 89. Said tabs 146 are mounted slidably in said tongue housing parts 147, of so that the thrust retainer 90 is supported by a way to move it in the direction front-rear relative to the main body of door 89. In other words, the thrust retention element 90 is able to switch between an outstanding position where it elevates from the inner surface of the main door body 89 (see figure 8) and a retired position where it has been removed towards the main door body 89 of the outstanding position (see figure 6). As shown in Figure 10, a spring helical 99 is located between the thrust retaining element 90 and the main body of door 89. Thus, the element of thrust retention 90 is constantly pushed elasticly to assume that outstanding position, as represented in Figure 8

As depicted in Figure 6, when the door 76 assumes a closed position, the retention element of Push 90 touches the front surface of the ink cartridge 63, and is moved to said retired position when pushed relatively by the ink cartridge 63. Thus, the ink cartridge 63 receives the elastic force of said helical spring 99 through of the push retaining element 90 and is pushed back, of  so that the ink cartridge 63 is retained in a placed state in relation to box 75. Therefore, the ink leakage from ink supply valve 115 ink cartridge 63.

In the present embodiment, the element of Push retainer 90 has been formed in the form of a flat plate. The wall surface 84 of this push retainer 90 (the surface facing the front surface of the cartridge ink 63 when door 76 is in a closed position) has formed as a flat surface, and a pair of protrusions 141 and 142 on wall surface 84, as depicted  in figure 5 and figure 10. Thus, when the door 76 is in a closed position, these projections 141 and 142 touch and press against the front surface of the ink cartridge 63. These projections 141 and 142 are arranged with a separation preset in the direction of the width of the door 76. Thus, when door 76 is in a closed position, said projections 141 and 142 contact the two sides of the connecting part 143 of the ink cartridge 63 without pushing retainer 90 come into contact with the connecting part 143.

The locking element 91 is attached to the part upper end of the main door body 89. The element Locking 91 includes a main shaft part 132, a part of key 133 protruding inward to the box 75 continuously from the upper end of the main shaft part 132, and a seat portion 109 protruding out of the box 75 of continuously from the lower end of the shaft part main 132.

The locking element 91 is supported so that can be advanced and removed vertically in relation to the body main gate 89. A sliding rail is planned 101 extending vertically in the upper end portion of the main door body 89. In addition, a sliding slot 102 extending vertically in the main shaft part 132 of locking element 91 (see the figure 9). Said slide rail 101 is introduced into said sliding slot 102, thereby allowing the element Locking 91 slide freely up and down.

Tabs 144 are arranged in both lateral surfaces of said main shaft part 132. These tabs 144 protrude out from the main shaft part 132. When the locking element 91 is mounted on the body main door 89, said tabs 144 are housed in tongue housing parts 145 arranged on the shaft part main 132 (see figure 10). These hosting parts of tab 145 are made up of grooves that extend a length preset in the vertical direction. So, when the element of lock 91 slides up or down said tabs 144 contact the interior wall surface of said parts of tongue housing 145, thereby preventing slippage vertical of the locking element 91. When the blocking element 91 slides up relative to the main door body 89, the locking element 91 assumes a position that protrudes towards above the upper end of the main door body 89. Also, when the locking element 91 slides down with in relation to the main door body 89, the blocking element 91 assumes a retired position to the main door body 89. The sliding range of the locking element 91 corresponds to the length of said tongue housing parts 145.

As shown in Figure 10, a spring helical 100 is interposed between the locking element 91 and the main door body 89. Thus, the locking element 91 is constantly and elastically driven so that it protrudes towards above the main door body 89. In addition, the surface upper 103 of the key portion 133 of the locking element 91 it constitutes a surface inclined downwards. Like this depicted in figure 8 and figure 6, when door 76 changes from an open position to a closed position, said surface upper 103 of the locking element 91 contacts the edge part top 130 of hole 88 of box 75 (see Figure 8), and when door 76 returns to the closed position, the element lock 91 is relatively lowered by said edge portion upper 130 and retracts inward to the main door body 89. Once door 76 has completely changed position to in a closed position, the locking element 91 protrudes again of the main door body 89 and said key part 133 hook with box 75 (see figure 6). Specifically, the key portion 133 of the locking element 91 fits into a hole locking element 83 (see figure 5 and figure 11) arranged in box 75. Since the blocking element 91 is constantly and elastically driven by said coil spring 100 so that it protrudes from the main body of door 89, which has assumed a closed position, the door 76 is retained in said position.

As depicted in figure 9 and figure 10, the lock release lever 92 has been shaped rectangular plate and is attached to the top of the outer surface 105 of the main door body 89. A support pin 106 is disposed at the end portion lower lock release lever 92. In addition, the door main body 89 is provided with a support hole of pin 107. Said support pin 106 fits into said pin holder hole 107, so that the lever of lock release 92 can rotate around the pin support 106. Specifically, the lock release lever 92 is able to change position rotationally between a position substantially parallel to the outer surface 105 of the main body of door 89 rising as depicted in the Figure 6, a position where it is inclined approximately 45º (degrees) (see figure 11) and a position where it is substantially horizontal (see figure 12). When the lever lock release 92 is substantially parallel to the outer surface 105 of the main door body 89, the lock release lever position 92 is defined as "vertical position", the position of the release lever lock 92 when inclined approximately 45º is defined as "neutral position" and the lever position of lock release 92 when substantially horizontal it defined as the "lying position". One has been marked or recorded arrow on the upper surface 151 of the release lever lock 92. This clarifies the operating direction of the lever lock release 92.

The lower end surface 108 of the lock release lever 92 has been shaped preset This lower end surface 108 constitutes an eccentric, which causes the locking element 91 to slide vertically when the position of the release lever of lock 92 change. The shape of said lower end surface 108 is not limited in particular, and can be any way to condition that it causes said blocking element 91 to slide as described later when the release lever is turned on lock 92.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view. of the filling unit 10 representing the way of operation of the lock release lever 92. Figure 12 is a enlargement of the main part of figure 11.

The lower end surface 108 of the lock release lever 92 constitutes an eccentric, such as It has been explained above. When the locking element 91 is mounted in the locking hole of locking element 83 of the box 75, that is, when door 76 is in a closed position in relation to the box 75, the lock release lever 92 is able to experience rotational displacement centered around of said support pin 106 (see Figure 9 and Figure 10) in the area between said vertical position and neutral position. In the present embodiment, the position of the center of gravity of the lock release lever 92 is set such that always move to the neutral position, that is, to the position represented in figure 11, by its own weight.

When the lock release lever 92 is has moved to the neutral position, said end surface upper 108 touches the seat portion 109 of the locking element 91. In this state, as shown in Figure 11, the lever lock release 92 tries to turn further right under your own weight In other words, the release lever of lock 92 tries to turn in the direction where the element pushes Locking 91 down. However, since the element of lock 91 is constantly and elastically driven up by said coil spring 100, the locking element 91 is not displaced solely by the effect of the lever weight of lock release 92, so that the lock element 91 protrudes upward from the upper end of the main body of door 89 and maintains a hooked position with the hole of locking element socket 83.

However, as depicted in Figure 12, if this lock release lever 92 is forcibly turned over to the right, for example, if the operator trying to replace the ink cartridge 63 manipulates and rotates the release lever of lock 92, then lock release lever 92 will will move up to the vertical position. When the lever lock release 92 move up to position vertical, said lower end portion 108 moves rotationally around said support pin 106, pushing down said seat portion 109 of the element of lock 91. Accordingly, the lock element 91 moves down against the elastic force of said helical spring 100  and is moved to a position removed from the main body of door 89. Once the locking element 91 changes to this position, the door lock 76 is released and the door 76 is released You can change from a closed position to an open position.

Since the locking element 91 is subjected constantly at the elastic force of said helical spring 100, once the rotational force acting on the lock release lever 92, in other words, once the operator lets go of the lock release lever 92, the blocking element 91 assumes a position of maximum projection of the main body of door 89. Here, the release lever of lock 92 is forcibly displaced to said vertical position. TO know, as shown in figure 8, when door 76 is in an open position, the lock release lever 92 assumes a position where it is essentially contained within the main body of door 89. Therefore, as depicted in Figure 1, Figure 5 and Figure 8, when replacing the cartridge ink 63, lock release lever 92 assumes a state where it is essentially contained within the main body of door 89, thus allowing door 76 to rotate around the rotational axis part 94 to a substantially horizontal state, thereby allowing the operator to easily replace the ink cartridge 63. In addition, the two protrusions 141 and 142 arranged on the wall surface 84 of said element of thrust retention 90, in cooperation with a guide part described later between the curved parts 97, also act as a guide when installing an ink cartridge 63 in the camera housing 78. Namely, by inserting an ink cartridge 63 into the accommodation chamber 78, the operator only has to place the lower surface of the ink cartridge 63 over the projections 141 and 142 and put the leading edge part of the ink cartridge 63 between the curved portions 97, and then pushing the cartridge of ink 63 towards the housing chamber 78. Also, when removing the ink cartridge 63 of housing chamber 78, the operator you just have to throw it out until the surface bottom of ink cartridge 63 moves between curved parts 97 on projections 141 and 142.

In the present embodiment, since the lever lock release 92 is arranged in said neutral position when door 76 is in a closed position in relation to the box 75, that is, since the lock release lever 92 tilts towards the operator, there is the advantage that the operator You can easily manipulate the lock release lever 92. Now, since the filling unit 70 is arranged in the front surface 71 of multifunction device 10, as depicted in figure 1, if the lock release lever 92 is arranged in said neutral position, that is. Nap leaning forward, a large space would have to be secured inside multifunction device 10 to accommodate the unit of padding 70. Therefore, padding unit 70 would have to place further into the edge of the hole 73, and thus it is possible the external dimensions of the device must be increased multifunction 10.

However, in the present embodiment, when door 76 is in a closed position in relation to box 75, lock release lever 92 is able to rotate freely between said neutral position and the vertical position, so that the filling unit 70 can be placed near the edge of said hole 73. This is because, although the filling unit 70 it is arranged at the edge of hole 73, when it is closing the opening / closing cover 72, the interior wall surface of the opening / closing cover 72 touches said lever of lock release 92, and when the opening / closing cover 72 is completely closed, lock release lever 92 it is moved to said vertical position being pushed to it time for the opening / closing cover 72. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a compact design of the device is possible multifunction 10.

Figure 13 is a side view of the cartridge ink 63. Figure 14 is a perspective view of the cartridge of ink 63.

The ink cartridge 63 is used to store the ink previously, as explained above, and It includes a main cartridge body 111 and the ink it contains. In the present embodiment, the filling unit 70 houses four 63 ink cartridges, storing each ink cartridge 63 inks cyan, magenta, yellow and black, respectively. The structure of the ink cartridges, as is clear from figure 1 and Figure 5, is such that the ink cartridge 63 containing ink black is somewhat larger in the thickness direction compared to 63 ink cartridges of other ink colors. This is because that, in general terms, the demand for black ink is higher and It is consumed in greater quantity. The structure of the cartridges of 63 ink containing inks of colors other than black is the same.

The main cartridge body 111 consists of resin. In the present embodiment, the main cartridge body 111 has generally been formed in a thin-walled cuboid, delimiting inside the ink housing space that It contains ink. This main cartridge body 111 is composed of two tray-shaped elements 112 and 113, and these two elements 112 and 113 are joined by welding or other fastening means known. Said joint part 143 has been formed by the union of the main cartridge body 111.

Said air intake valve 85 is located on the rear surface 114 of the main cartridge body 111. In the present embodiment there is a check valve on the inside of the air intake valve 85. When the ink cartridge 63 is housed in said box 75, a push rod arranged in said box 75 is inserted into said air intake valve 85, whereby said check valve opens. In addition, an ink supply valve 115 is disposed on the rear surface 114 of the main cartridge body 111. When the ink cartridge 63 is housed in said box 75, an ink supply tube disposed in said box 75 is connected to said ink supply valve 115, and ink is supplied to said recording head 27 by this ink supply tube. In addition, said liquid sensor level 87 is arranged on said rear surface 114. The structure of this liquid sensor level 87 is not particularly limited, and a sensor can be used.
known.

Coupling slots 116 are provided in the lower surface of the main cartridge body 111. The hitch slots 116, as shown in figure 14, have been provided as recesses in the corner parts in the boundary between the lateral surfaces and the lower surface of the body of main cartridge 111. These hitch slots 116, as represented in said figure, extend in the direction longitudinal of the main cartridge body 111. Hereby embodiment, the hitch slots 116 have been placed symmetrically on the left and right sides of the body of main cartridge 111 (see figure 5). As depicted in Figure 13, the hitch slots 116 include a part of shallow groove 118 that opens at the rear surface 114 of the main cartridge body 111 and extends continuously  from the rear surface 114 towards the front surface 117, a limit slot part 119 that continues from the slot part shallow 118 and gradually increases in groove depth (the vertical dimension in said figure), and a groove part deep 120 that continues from the boundary slot part 119. The deep groove part 120 does not continue to the front surface 117 of the main cartridge body 111, so that a end surface 121 on the front surface side 117 of the deep groove part 120. In other words, the groove of hitch 116 extends in the direction of introduction and removing ink cartridge 63 a and box 75, and it is connected to the rear surface 114 but not the surface front 117 of the main cartridge body 111, and has a end surface 121 that extends vertically. The edge front of the curved part 97 of said ejection element 77 comes into contact with this end surface 121 as it describe later.

A slot 149 has also been formed in the upper surface 122 of the main cartridge body 111. This slot 149, as shown in figure 14, has been lowered to the corner of the lateral surface and upper surface boundary 122 of the main cartridge body 111. This slot 149, as represents in the same figure, extends in the direction longitudinal of the main cartridge body 111, and is connected to the front surface 117 and the rear surface 114 of the body of main cartridge 111. In addition, a recessed portion 134 is disposed on the upper surface 122 of the cartridge body main 111. This recessed part 134 has been formed substantially V-shaped, and has an inclined surface forward 135 and a backward inclined surface 136. As is represented in figure 6 and figure 7, said swing arm 123 is arranged in box 75 that houses the ink cartridges 63, and this tilting arm 123 is constantly driven and elastically rotationally clockwise by a spring of tension 128.

When an ink cartridge 63 is inserted in said box 75, as shown in figure 7, first, the part rear end of the upper surface 148 of the body of main cartridge 111 contacts the second arm 126 of the arm swingarm 123. When the ink cartridge 63 continues to enter the box 75, the swing arm 123 turns to the left, assuming the position represented by the continuous line in said figure. When the ink cartridge 63 is inserted further, the arm swingarm 123 turns to the right, guided at the same time by said backwardly inclined surface 136, and engages said part lowered 134. When the ink cartridge 63 enters the box further 75, the second arm 126 of the swing arm 126 rotates towards the left being guided at the same time by said surface leaning forward 135 and assumes the position indicated by a continuous line in said figure. In addition, to the introduction of ink cartridge 63 in box 75, ink cartridge 63 slides relative to the swing arm 123, and is placed in a position shifted a preset distance to the right from the position represented by a continuous line in said figure, by what ink cartridge 63 is completely installed in the box 75. The preset distance in this case is the distance L1 represented in figure 8.

Figure 15 is a drawing that illustrates schematically the hook structure of the ink cartridge 63,  the box 75, and the ejection element 77 of the door 76. The Figure 15 (a) represents the hitch structure of the part bottom of ink cartridge 63 and bottom of box 75, while Figure 15 (b) represents the hitch structure of the ink cartridge 63 and the ejection element 77.

As depicted in Figure 15 (a), when ink cartridge 63 has been installed in box 75, a part of partition wall 137 arranged in box 75 hooked with a groove hitch 116 of ink cartridge 63. When the cartridge ink 63 has been installed in box 75, partition wall 137 arranged on the side of the ceiling plate portion 82 of the box 75 also hooks with a slot 149 arranged on the side of the upper surface 122 of the ink cartridge 63. Here, the lower surface 155 of the ink cartridge 63 is placed in the bottom plate portion 80. As a result, ink cartridge 63 it is housed and retained in a state placed in box 75 (see figure 6). Also, when the ink cartridge 63 is housed in the box 75, as shown in figure 15 (b), the surface lower 155 of ink cartridge 63 is placed in the body main door 89, and the curved part 97 of the element of ejection 77 enters the latch slot 116. When the door 76 opens from this state, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the ejection element 77 rotates, and said curved part 97 pushes end surface 121 of hitch groove 116 forward (on the left in figure 7).

The hook structure of the ink cartridge 63, the box 75, and the ejection element 77 of the door 76 is not limited to the previous structure. Figure 16 is a drawing schematically illustrating a modified example of the ink cartridge hitch structure 63, the box 75, and the ejection element 77 of the door 76. Figure 16 (a) represents the hitch structure of the lower part of the ink cartridge 63 and the lower part of the box 75, while
after Figure 16 (b) depicts the hook structure of the ink cartridge 63 and the ejection element 77.

The difference between the hitch structure represented in said figure and the hitch structure represented in figure 15 previously mentioned is that in the hitch structure shown in figure 15, when the ink cartridge 63 is installed in box 75, the surface lower 155 of ink cartridge 63 is placed in the part of lower plate 80 (see figure 15 (a)) and in the main body of door 89 (see Figure 15 (b)), while in the hitch structure shown in figure 16, when the ink cartridge 63 is installed in box 75, the surface lower 155 of ink cartridge 63 does not contact the plate part lower 80 and the upper wall surface 156 of said groove of hitch 116 touches said part of partition wall 137 (see Figure 16 (a)). Here, as depicted in Figure 16 (b), the lower surface 155 of the ink cartridge 63 does not contact the main body of door 89 while said surface upper wall 156 is placed in the curved part 97 of the ejecting element 77 and the curved part 97 enters the groove hitch 116. Also in this modified example, the cartridge Ink 63 is housed and retained in box 75 in a placed state. When door 76 is opened, as shown in Figure 6 and the Figure 7, the ejection element 77 rotates, and said curved part 97 pushes end surface 121 of hitch groove 116 forward (on the left in figure 7).

In addition, Figure 17 is a drawing illustrating schematically another modified example of another structure of ink cartridge hitch 63, box 75, and the element of ejection 77 of door 76. Figure 17 (a) represents the hook structure of the bottom of the ink cartridge 63 and the bottom of the box 75, while Figure 17 (b) represents the hook structure of the ink cartridge 63 and the ejection element 77.

The difference between the hitch structure represented in said figure and the hitch structure represented in figure 15 previously mentioned is that in the hitch structure represented in said figure 15, when the ink cartridge 63 is installed in box 75, the surface lower 155 of ink cartridge 63 is placed in the part of lower plate 80 (see figure 15 (a)) and in the main body of door 89 (see Figure 15 (b)), while in the hitch structure shown in figure 17, the cartridge ink 63 is provided with a groove 138 in its lower surface 155. This slot 138 extends in the same direction as said engagement slot 116. A protrusion 139 has formed, which engages with this slot 138, in the main body of door 89. This projection 139 also extends in the same direction as said hitch slot 116, and is designed to engage with said slot 138. When the ink cartridge 63 is installed in the box 75, the bottom surface 155 of the ink cartridge 63 is placed on the bottom plate part 80 and on the main body of door 89, and the curved part 97 of the ejection element 77 enters in hitch slot 116.

When door 76 opens from this state, as depicted in figure 6 and figure 7, the element  of ejection 77 rotates, and said curved portion 97 pushes the surface end 121 of the engagement slot 116 forward (to the left in figure 7). Here, since said overhang 139 is arranged in the main body of door 89, the projection 139 hook the slot 138 arranged in the ink cartridge 63. So so much, when door 76 opens, ink cartridge 63 is stably ejected from box 75 without falling aside. The operation of removing the ink cartridge 63 can be carried out Therefore more smoothly.

In multifunction device 10 according to present embodiment, the spent ink cartridges are replaced as follows.

To remove an ink cartridge 63 from multifunction device 10, as shown in figure 1, the operator first opens the opening / closing cover 72. With this, the filling unit 70 is exposed on the front surface of the multifunction device 10. In addition, in the present embodiment, as explained above, when the cover of opening / closing 72, the lock release lever 92 of the filling unit 70 moves to the neutral position, and scales towards the front surface of the multifunction device 10 as It is illustrated in that figure. Therefore, the operation of opening the door 76 of the filling unit 70 and the operation of removing the Ink cartridge 63 are extremely simple for the operator.

In this state, the operator opens the door 76 of the filling unit 70. Specifically, the operator puts a finger on lock release lever 92 and push up towards him, causing the lock release lever 92 to Move to an upright position. As a result, the element of door lock 91 76 slides down, and the key part 133 (see Figure 12) of the locking element 91 is released from the Locking hole of locking element 83 of door 76. The operator can open door 76 by simply pushing the lever lock release 92 towards itself.

When door 76 changes one position closed to an open position, as shown in figure 8, the ejection element 77 rotates around the shaft part rotational 94 and the curved part 97 contacts the surface of end 121 of the ink cartridge 63 and pushes left into the drawing (from the front in figure 1). As a result, the ink cartridge 63 is taken to the hole 88, being ejected forward of hole 88 of box 75 a distance preset L1. Thus, the operator can easily grab the 63 ink cartridge and is able to simply take it out of the hole 88.

Next, a new cartridge is inserted 63 in the housing chamber 78 of the box 75 through said hole 88. Here, door 76 is in an open position and the ink cartridge 63 to be inserted in said housing chamber 78 is previously placed on the outer wall surface 110 of the curved part 97 of said ejection element 77 and is introduces into said housing chamber 78, being guided thereto time for the outer wall surface 110. In particular, in the present embodiment, since said retention element of thrust 90 is arranged in the door 76, a temporary is placed new ink cartridge 63 on projections 141 and 142 that are arranged on the wall surface 84 of the retaining element of thrust 90 and is guided on the outer wall surface 110 of said curved part 97, sliding at the same time along these protrusions 141 and 142. With the new ink cartridge 63 installed in box 75, the operator moves door 76 again to A closed position. When door 76 changes to a position closed, said push retaining element 90 contacts the front surface 117 of the ink cartridge 63, and when the door 76 has completely assumed the closed position, said thrust retaining element 90 elastically impels the cartridge ink 63 inward to the housing chamber 78 of the box 75. At the same time, the key portion 133 of said element of lock 91 engages the locking hole of locking element 83 arranged in box 75 and door 76 is retained in a position closed.

Thus, in the present embodiment, when the operator opens the door 76 of the filling unit 70, the spent ink cartridge is automatically ejected, and the operator can easily install a new ink cartridge in the box 75 while door 76 remains open. In other terms, The ink cartridge replacement operation is extremely simple.

In the present embodiment, as depicted in figure 7, a tilting arm 123 is arranged in the part of roof plate 82 of box 75, and when the ink cartridge 63 said distance L1 is expelled from the box 75, said arm tilting 123 pushes on the forward inclined surface 135. Namely, the elastic force of tension spring 128 acts on the forward inclined surface 135 of the cartridge body main 111 through the swing arm 123, which pushes elastically the ink cartridge 63 towards said hole 88. By therefore, when said door 76 opens as described above and the ink cartridge 63 is ejected through the hole 88 of the box 75 by said ejection element 77, at at the same time, said rocker arm 123 turns to the right in said figure, pushing said inclined surface forward 135 towards said hole 88. As a result, the swing arm 123 hooks the recessed portion 134 formed between said surface inclined forward 135 and said inclined surface toward back 136 and the second arm 126 of the swing arm 123 contacts said backwardly inclined surface 136. Namely, the arm swingarm 123 is retained in said recessed portion 134.

Swing arm 123 that rotates and engages with said lowered portion 134 makes the ink cartridge 63 be ejected more than the box 75 a distance L2. Therefore the ink cartridge 63 is ejected by said hole 88 said distance (L1 + L2), which has the advantage of making the grab the ink cartridge 63 by the operator and power remove it more easily from box 75.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it has been arranged a pair of extraction elements 77, which match the ink cartridge 63 disposed in the housing chamber 78 in the width direction (see figure 15). So, the cartridge of ink 63 is ejected through said hole 88 being at the same time placed in the wide direction by the elements of extraction 77. Then, as depicted in Figure 7 and the Figure 8, the curved part 97 of the extraction elements 77 is arranged substantially horizontally so that continue smoothly from the placement surface 98 on which the ink cartridge 63 is placed, so that when it is inserted a new ink cartridge through said hole 88 in the housing chamber 78, simply placing the new cartridge of ink temporarily on the outer wall surface 110 of the curved parts 97, the new ink cartridge is fixedly supported by extraction elements 77 and is guided in said state on said placement surface 98. Therefore, it is even more Easy to perform cartridge replacement operation ink.

In addition, since each ejection element 77 hooks a hook groove 116 recessed in the cartridge ink 63 and since the width dimension d1 (see figure 9) of the pair of extraction elements 77 is smaller than the dimension of width d2 of the ink cartridge 63 (see Figure 14), said extraction elements 77 do not protrude from the ink cartridge 63. Making said dimension d1 smaller than said dimension d2, said Door 76 can be designed more compactly, allowing as result implement the miniaturization of the filling unit 70 and therefore the multifunction device 10.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the filling unit 70 is arranged on the front surface 71 of the multifunction device 10, and the operator is capable of insert and remove the ink cartridge 63 from the refill unit 70 on the front surface side, thereby making the operation of replacing the ink cartridge 63. Also, as is depicted in figure 8, when door 76 changes to a open position, the curved part 97 of said elements of extraction 77 rotates and pushes on the end surface 121 of the ink cartridge 63, so that ink cartridge 63 is ejected from box 75 and curved parts 97 also they constitute elements that guide the introduction of a new ink cartridge. Therefore, the structure of the elements of extraction 77 that functions as guiding elements is extremely simple, which has the advantage of keeping the costs of manufacture of the filling unit 70.

Reference Explanation

63:

ink cartridge

70:

filling unit

74:

unit main body

75:

box

76:

door

77:

ejection element

78:

housing chamber

79:

front surface

88:

hole

89:

door main body

93:

bottom end part

94:

rotational shaft part

95:

support part

96:

extension part

97:

curved part

98:

placement surface

106:

support pin

107:

pin holder hole

111:

main cartridge body

116:

hitch slot

117:

front surface

118:

shallow groove part

119:

limit slot part

120:

deep groove part

Claims (8)

1. An ink cartridge (63) for use in a ink printer, including: a main cartridge body (111) that have: a front surface (117), a rear surface (114) in front of the front surface (117), a lateral surface (112, 113) that connects with the front surface (117) and the rear surface (114), a bottom surface that connects with the front surface (117), the rear surface (114) and the lateral surface (112, 113); an ink supply valve (115) arranged on the rear surface (114); an upper surface (122) in front of the lower surface, which connects with the front surface (117), the rear surface (114) and the lateral surface (112, 113); Y a pair of upper slots (149) formed in the boundary of a lateral surface (112, 113) and the surface upper (122) and extending from the front surface (117) to the rear surface (114); characterized by: a pair of engagement slots (116) formed respectively at each boundary between the lateral surface (112, 113) and the lower surface and extending from the rear surface (114) to end surfaces (121) of the latch grooves (116) formed on the front surface (117); where each hitch slot (116) includes a shallow groove part (118) that is opens on the rear surface (114); a boundary slot part (119) that continues from the shallow groove part (118) and gradually increases in a vertical direction; and a deep groove part (120) that continue from the boundary slot part (119). 2. The ink cartridge according to claim one, where a recessed part (134) is arranged in an upper surface (122) of the main cartridge body (111) substantially V-shaped and having a surface tilted forward (135) and a tilted surface back (136). 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2 where the ink supply valve (115) has formed adjacent to a lower surface of the cartridge body main (111), a level sensor connector being arranged of liquid (86) on the rear surface (114) in one direction vertical above the ink supply valve (115) and an inlet valve of air (85) on the rear surface (114) above the connector liquid level sensor (86). 4. A main body (74) for a unit of Fill (70) of an ink printer, including: a box (75) that has a hole (88) and a housing portion that communicates with the hole (88), where the housing portion is configured to accommodate a cartridge of ink (63) according to one of claims 1 to 3, and the hole (88) is configured such that the ink cartridge (63) is can enter and remove from the housing portion through the hole (88); a door (76) arranged in the box (75) and set to change its position between an open position and a closed position, where when the hole (88) is open, the ink cartridge (63) can be inserted and removed from the portion of housing through the hole (88) and the hole (88) is closed when the door (76) is in the closed position; Y a pulling element (77) arranged in the door (76) configured to remove the ink cartridge (63) housed in the housing portion towards the open side when the door (76) moves from the closed position to the position open, where the traction element (77) is configured to function as a guiding element that guides the ink cartridge (63) during the introduction of the ink cartridge ink (63) to the housing portion when the door (76) is in the open position; where the traction element (77) includes a pair of traction elements arranged in order to sandwich a ink cartridge (63) housed in the housing portion in a ink cartridge width address (63) when the door (76) is in the closed position, and where the distance between the pair of tensile elements is less than a cartridge width of ink (63). 5. The main body according to claim 4, where the hole (88) is arranged on a front surface of the box (75), where a lower end of the door (76) is Rotationally supports on a lower portion of the surface front (71), where the pulling element (77) is arranged in the lower end of the door (76) and the pulling element (77) has been formed in an L-shape including an extended portion (96), which extends backwards from the lower end of the door (76) when the door (76) is in the closed position, and a curved portion (97), which is connected to the extended portion (96) and extends upwards. 6. A filler unit (70) of a printer of ink, including: an ink cartridge (63) according to one of the claims 1 to 3 and a main body (74) according to the claim 4 or 5. 7. The filling unit according to claim 6, where the tensile element (77) of the body main (74) is configured to engage the surface of end (121) of the ink cartridge (63) to pull the cartridge ink (63). 8. The filling unit according to claim 6 or 7, including a swing arm (123), the swing arm being configured (123) to hook a recessed part (134) of the ink cartridge (63) to push the ink cartridge (63).