ES2738349T3 - Liquid cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid cartridge (30) comprising: a front surface (140); an upper surface (39, 141) facing in an upward direction (54) when the liquid cartridge (30) is installed inside a liquid consuming apparatus, wherein the upward direction (54) is an opposite direction to the direction of the force of gravity; a liquid outlet portion (34) facing in a first direction (51) on the front surface (140); a circuit board (64) disposed on the upper surface (39, 141); and a liquid detecting portion (60) for detecting a state of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge (30); and a locking surface (151) provided on the upper surface (39, 141) and configured to contact a locking portion (145) of a cartridge fixing unit (110) of the liquid consuming apparatus in a second direction (52) opposite the first direction; wherein the liquid sensing portion (60) comprises a light access portion (62) configured for access by light traveling from a first point to a second point, and wherein the surface (151) The lock is displaced from the light access portion (62) in the second direction (52), characterized in that the light access portion (62) is displaced from the circuit board (64) in the second direction (52) .

Description

DESCRIPTION

Liquid cartridge

Background of the invention

1, Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge.

2. Description of the related technique

Conventional inkjet recording apparatus known in the art registers an image on a recording medium by expelling the ink retained in an ink container from a nozzle. Some inkjet recording devices are structured so that each time the tinga runs out, a new ink cartridge must be fixed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-19130 discloses a cartridge that can be detachably attached to a cartridge fixing unit. The cartridge incorporates a circuit board that is configured to be electrically connected to a contact mechanism disposed in the cartridge fixing unit. The presence of ink in the cartridge can be detected optically.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-49165 discloses an ink cartridge that can be detachably attached to a cartridge fixing unit. The ink cartridge has a rotating member. When the rotating member fits the cartridge fixing unit, the ink cartridge is fixed to the cartridge fixing unit and kept in the fixed state. The ink cartridge incorporates a detection portion used to optically detect the amount of ink remaining. With the ink cartridge attached to the cartridge fixing unit, the detection portion is detected by an optical sensor disposed in the cartridge fixing unit. The ink cartridge incorporates an integrated circuit board (IC) in which information about the ink cartridge has been stored. When the ink cartridge is attached to the cartridge fixing unit, the IC plate is electrically connected to the contacts arranged inside the cartridge fixing unit.

EP 2607 082 A1 discloses a liquid cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1. Another liquid cartridge is known from US 2011/0234658 A2.

Summary of the invention

In response to the demand for compact inkjet recording devices, it is desirable to reduce the outer dimensions of an ink cartridge without reducing the amount of ink retained in the ink cartridge. Likewise, it is desirable to make the cartridge fixing unit compact. At the same time, it is desirable that the IC plate, the detection portion used to detect the amount of ink remaining and other portions is functional of the ink cartridge contribute to raising the accuracy of the apparatus since the function of each functional portion is used in the most effective way.

The object of the invention is to provide a liquid cartridge in which the function of each functional portion can be effectively used and the positional accuracy of each functional portion can be increased. This objective is achieved by the liquid cartridge having the characteristic of claim 1. The present invention finds its further development in the dependent claims.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a liquid cartridge comprises a front surface, an upper surface facing upwards when the liquid cartridge is installed in a liquid consumption apparatus, an outlet portion of liquid facing a first direction on the front surface, a circuit board disposed on the upper surface and a liquid detection portion to detect a state of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge and a blocking surface disposed on the upper surface and configured to contact a blocking portion of a fixing unit of a cartridge of the liquid consumption apparatus in a second direction opposite to the first direction, in which the liquid detection portion comprises a light access portion configured to an access by the light that moves from a first point to a second point or in which the light access portion is displaced from the circuit board in the second direction, and in which the blocking surface is displaced from the light access portion in the second direction.

Therefore, the circuit board is reliably connected to the contacts. The locking surface arranged at the rear end in the direction of insertion can easily carry out an operation for locking and unlocking, that is, it can easily rotate around the center of rotation. Thus, the functions of the circuit board, the light access portion and the blocking surface are effectively used thereby increasing the positional accuracy.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may be configured to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation within the cartridge fixing unit, in which the locking surface is configured to contact the blocking portion in the second direction when the liquid cartridge is in the first orientation, and the blocking surface is configured to be disposed below the blocking portion when the liquid cartridge is in the second orientation.

Therefore, the angle of rotation can be reduced.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light access portion may be arranged closer to the blocking surface in the first direction than to the circuit board in the first direction. This allows the liquid cartridge to be designed so that the distance between the circuit board and the light access portion is extended.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the upper edge of the light access portion is disposed closer to the blocking surface of the circuit board in the upward direction.

Therefore, the light access portion may be arranged in a position as high as possible, allowing the internal space of the liquid cartridge to be easily secured.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the blocking surface may be disposed above the light access portion in the upward direction.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the circuit board, the light access portion and the blocking surface can cross a virtual plane parallel with the first direction and the direction upwards.

Therefore, the cartridge can be made compact.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light access portion may be disposed above the circuit board in the upward direction.

Therefore, even if chips are generated from the circuit board, detection by the light access portion is less affected.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may comprise an intermediate wall disposed between the circuit board and the light access wall, and the intermediate wall includes a concrete surface extending in a third direction that crosses the first direction and the direction upwards.

Therefore, the intermediate wall can block a path through which the chips generated from the circuit board travel to the light access portion.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light access portion may comprise a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, wherein each surface between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface extends in the first direction and cross the upper surface.

Therefore, a liquid state of the liquid cartridge can be detected through the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, a dimension of the first lateral surface of the light access portion in the upward direction may be smaller than a dimension of the first lateral surface of the access portion of light in the first direction, and a dimension of the second lateral surface of the light access portion in the upward direction is smaller than a dimension of the second lateral surface of the light access portion in the first direction.

Therefore, the dimension of the light access portion in the upward direction and in the downward direction can be reduced.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, a dimension of the concrete surface of the intermediate wall in the third direction may be greater than the distance between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface of the access portion of light in the third direction.

Therefore, the intermediate wall can block the path through which the chips generated from the circuit board move more towards the light access portion.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, a dimension of the intermediate wall in the first direction may be greater than a dimension of the intermediate wall in the third direction.

Therefore, the distance from the circuit board to the light access portion is extended. This makes it harder for chips to reach the access portion of light.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the intermediate wall may be arranged closer to the light access portion than to the circuit board in the first direction.

Therefore, chips generated from the circuit board can be easily blocked by the intermediate wall.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid detection portion may be configured to change a state of light that travels from the first point to the second point and that accesses the access portion of light according to an amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge.

Therefore, the amount of liquid stored in the ink cartridge can be detected.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light access portion may be configured to allow light that moves from the first point to the second point to pass through it, and the portion of Liquid sensing may comprise a light attenuation portion, a portion of which is configured to be located in the light access portion, in which the portion of the light access portion is configured to change a state of the light passing through the light access portion depending on whether an amount of the liquid stored in the cartridge is less than a specific amount or not. The whole of the light dimming portion may dim the light, or at least the portion of the light dimming portion may dimming the light and other portions of the light dimming portion may not dim the light.

Therefore, the amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge can be detected based on the state of the light through the light access portion with the position of the sensor arm.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the portion of the light attenuation portion may be disposed above the circuit board when the amount of liquid stored within the liquid cartridge is greater than or equal to the specific amount This makes it more difficult for the chips to reach the height at which the light passes through the light access potion to detect the amount of liquid stored in the cartridge.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the intermediate wall may extend upward in the upward direction beyond the portion of the light dimmer portion when the amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge It is greater than or equal to the specific quantity. This position of the intermediate wall makes it difficult for the chips generated from the circuit board to reach a position where the light attenuation portion is detected by the sensor.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may comprise a chamber configured to store the liquid inside, in which the light dimmer portion is a sensor arm configured to rotate about a geometric axis of the chamber, and when the sensor arm rotates, the portion of the sensor arm changes the state of the light passing through the light access portion.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light access portion may be made of a transparent material, which defines a continuous internal space with the caramel, and projections in the upward direction with respect to the upper surface.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may be provided with a recess that is displaced from the circuit board in the second direction. Therefore, the chips generated from the IC 64 plate remain in the recess. This makes it harder for chips to spread. Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may comprise a main body defining a chamber and a cover covering the main body, and in which the light access portion may be arranged on the main body and protrudes through an exterior of the cover through an opening formed through the cover.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the circuit board may be overlapped with the liquid outlet portion seen in the upward direction. This allows the liquid cartridge to be designed so that the distance between the circuit board and the light access portion is extended.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may comprise a positioning surface configured to block the movement of the liquid cartridge in the upward direction and in a downward direction.

Therefore, the positional accuracy of the circuit board can be increased with respect to the contacts.

The positioning surface may be disposed above the liquid outlet portion and below the circuit board in the upward direction.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the positioning surface may face the downward direction and be overlapped with the circuit board seen in the upward direction. Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid detection portion may comprise a prism disposed below the circuit board, in which the prism may be configured to reflect light according to the quantity of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge, and in which the light access portion is configured to reflect the light that moves from the first point towards the prism or reflects the light reflected in the prism towards the second point.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, a dimension of the circuit board in the first direction may be smaller than a dimension of the circuit board in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and in the direction upwards.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the circuit board may comprise a plurality of electrical contact surfaces separated and aligned in the third direction facing the upward direction.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light access portion may be configured for access by the light moving from the first point to the second point in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the direction up.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light access portion may be disposed on the upper surface.

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light dimming portion may comprise a first light dimming portion, and the liquid cartridge may comprise a second light dimming portion above the plate circuit

Optionally, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the circuit board is displaced from the liquid outlet portion in the upward direction at a first distance, in which the light access portion displaced from the liquid outlet portion in the upward direction at a second distance greater than the first distance.

With the liquid cartridge according to the present invention, the functions of a circuit board, a liquid detection portion and a blocking surface are effectively used thereby increasing the positional accuracy.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the internal structure of a printer incorporating a cartridge fixing unit.

Fig. 2 is a front view illustrating the outer shape of the cartridge fixing unit.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view illustrating the exterior shape of an ink cartridge viewed from the front and from above.

Fig. 3B is a perspective view illustrating the outer shape of the ink cartridge seen from the front and from the bottom.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view illustrating the outer shape of the ink cartridge viewed from the rear and from above.

Fig. 4B is a perspective visa illustrating the outer shape of the ink cartridge viewed from the rear and from below.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the ink cartridge.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the ink cartridge.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge fixing unit, indicating a state in which the ink cartridge is put into operation to be inserted into the cartridge fixing unit .

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge fixing unit, indicating a state in which a second projection is in contact with a slide.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and cartridge fixing unit, indicating a state in which an ink feed unit begins to enter a guide and a bar begins to enter a recess arranged in the front cover.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge fixing unit, indicating a state in which an ink needle has entered an ink feed opening of the ink supply unit. ink.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge fixing unit, indicating a state in which the ink cartridge is located inside the cartridge fixing unit.

Fig. 12 is a side view of the ink cartridge when it is in a second orientation, illustrating a relationship of a force when the user presses an upper portion of a rear surface.

Fig. 13 is a side view of the ink cartridge when it is in the second orientation, illustrating a relationship of a force when the user presses a lower portion of the back surface.

Fig. 14 is a side view of the ink cartridge when it is in a first orientation, illustrating a relationship between a virtual arc and a blocking surface.

Fig. 15A is a plan view of the ink cartridge seen below. Fig. 15B is a rear view of the ink cartridge seen forward.

Fig. 16A is a perspective view of a variant of a liquid level sensing portion, illustrating a state in which the ink of a holding chamber is reduced. Fig. 16B is a perspective view of the variant of the liquid level sensing potion illustrating a state in which the retention chamber is filled with ink.

Description of the preferred embodiment

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings at relevant points. The embodiment described below is just an example to understand the present invention; it should be appreciated that the embodiment can be modified appropriately without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. In the description that follows, an address in which an ink cartridge 30 is inserted into a cartridge fixing unit 110 will be defined as an insertion address 51 (an example of a first address), and a direction opposite to the insertion direction 51, that is, an address in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge fixing unit 110, will be defined as a withdrawal address 52 (an example of a second address). Although in this embodiment the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52 are horizontal, this is not a limitation; the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52 may not be horizontal. The direction of the force of gravity will be defined as a direction 53 down, a direction opposite to the direction of the force of gravity will be defined as a direction 54 up. Orthogonal directions with respect to the insertion direction 51 and the downward direction 53 will be defined as a right address 55 and a left address 56 (an example of a second address). Specifically, in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been inserted in a fixed position in the cartridge fixing unit 110, that is, in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is in a fixed orientation (a example of a first orientation and a feed orientation), when the ink cartridge 30 is seen in the withdrawal direction 52, a direction extending to the right will be defined in the right direction 55 and a direction extending towards the left will be the left 56 address. The insertion address 51 may be designated as a forward address 57 and the withdrawn address 52 will be designated as a reverse address 58.

Overview of a printer 10

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the printer 10 registers an image by selective ejection of ink droplets on a registration sheet according to an inkjet registration procedure. The printer 10 (an example of a liquid consumption apparatus) includes a recording head 21, an ink supply unit 100, and an ink tube 20 interconnecting the registration head 21 and the ink feeding unit 100 . The ink feed unit 100 includes a cartridge fixing unit 110 (an example of a printing unit fixation). In the cartridge fixing unit 110, the ink cartridge 30 (an example of a liquid cartridge) can be fixed. The cartridge fixing unit 110 has an opening 112 on one of its surfaces. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110 through the opening 112 in the insertion direction 51 and is removed from the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the removal direction 52.

The ink (an example of a liquid) that can be used in the printer 10 is retained in the ink cartridge 30. In a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are interconnected with the ink tube 20. A secondary reservoir 28 is disposed within the registration head 21. The secondary reservoir 28 temporarily retains the ink that must be fed through the ink tube 20. The registration head 21 selectively ejects selectively, from nozzles 29, the ink fed from the secondary reservoir 28, in accordance with an inkjet registration procedure. In particular, an excitation voltage is selectively applied from the head control circuit board disposed within the recording head 21 to each piezoelectric device 29A provided in correspondence with a nozzle 29.

The printer 10 includes a feed tray 15, a feed roller 23, a pair of transport rollers 25, a platen 26, a pair 27 of discharge rollers and a discharge tray 16. A registration sheet is fed by the feed roller 23 from the feed tray 15 to a transport path 24, after which the registration sheet is transported by the pair 25 of transport rollers on the deck 26. The head Registration 21 selectively ejects ink towards the registration sheet that passes on deck 26. Thus, an image is registered on the registration sheet. After having passed the plate 26, the registration sheet is unloaded by the pair 27 of unloading rollers to the unloading tray 16 arranged at the downstream end of the transport path 24.

100 ink feed unit

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the ink feed unit 100 is disposed within the printer 10. The ink feed unit 100 feeds ink to the recording head 21 included within the printer 10. The feed unit 100 of ink incorporates the cartridge fixing unit 110 to which the ink cartridge 30 can be attached. Fig. 1 illustrates a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been fixed to the cartridge fixing unit 110, that is, in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is in the fixed orientation (first orientation and feeding orientation).

Cartridge fixing unit 110

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the cartridge fixing unit 110 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30, which correspond to the color cyan, magenta, yellow and black, inside a housing 101. In addition to the housing 101, The cartridge fixing unit 110 includes an ink needle 102, a sensor 103, four contacts 106, a slide 107 and a locking portion 145 for each ink cartridge 30, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7. Housing 101

The housing 101, which covers the cartridge fixing unit 110, is quadrangular in shape and has an upper surface defining the upper part of the internal space of the housing 101, a lower surface defining the bottom, a rear surface that links the top and bottom and the opening 112, which is formed in a position in which the opening 112 faces the rear surface in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 and can be exposed to the surface of the user interface of the printer 10, the user facing the surface when the user uses the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the housing 101 and removed therefrom through the opening 112. When the upper edge and the lower edge of the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into guide grooves 109 formed on the upper surface and on the bottom surface, the ink cartridge 30 is guided in the direction 51 for insertion and in the removal direction 52 of Fig. 7. In the housing 101, three plates 104, which partition the internal space into four spaces, which are elongated vertically. An ink cartridge 30 is housed within each of these spaces partitioned by the plates 104.

102 ink needle

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, the ink needle 102 (an example of a liquid feed tube), which is made of a tubular resin, is disposed in a lower portion of the back surface of the housing 101. The ink needle 102 is disposed in one position, on the rear surface of the housing 101, in which the ink needle 102 corresponds to the ink feed portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110. The ink needle 102 protrudes from the back surface of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52.

A cylindrical guide 105 is disposed around the ink needle 102. The guide 105 protrudes from the rear surface of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52. The protrusion end is open. The ink needle 102 is arranged in the center of the guide 105. The guide 105 is shaped so that the ink feed portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 advances inward.

In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, that is, in the process of moving the ink cartridge 30 to the fixed position, the feed portion 34 of Ink from ink cartridge 30 enters guide 105 (see Fig. 10). When the ink cartridge 30 continues to be inserted inside the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, the ink needle 102 is inserted into an ink feed opening 71 formed in the ink feed portion34. In this manner, an ink feed valve 70 is opened in the ink feed portion34. As a result, the ink needle 102 and the ink feed portion 34 are linked together. Next, the ink retained in a retention chamber 36 formed within the ink cartridge 30 flows from within the ink tube 20 connected to the ink needle 102 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 formed in the feed portion 34 of ink and in the internal space of the ink needle 102. The end of the ink needle 102 may be flat or pointed.

Sliding 107

An opening 111 is formed below the lower surface of the lower guide groove 109 within the housing 101 and in a position close to the rear surface to extend in the insertion direction 51 (or removal direction 52). A slider 107 is disposed within the opening 111. The slider 107 protrudes above through the opening 111 from below the lower surface of the lower guide groove 109. The slide 107 fits with a guide rail 113 disposed in a lower portion of the housing 101, and can be moved into the opening 111 in the insertion direction 51 and in the removal direction 52, along the guide rail 113 . An extension spring 114 extends between the slide 107 and the housing 101. When the slide 107 is pulled, the extension spring 114 generates a pushing force in the removal direction 52. In a state in which an external force is not applied on the slide 107, therefore, the slide 107 is located at the end of the guide rail 113 in the withdrawal direction 52. When an external force is applied on the slider 107 in that position in the insertion direction 51, the slider 107 can move inside the opening 111 in the insertion direction 51 along the guide rail 113.

In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, that is, in the process of moving the ink cartridge 30 to the fixed position, a second projection 86 formed on the Ink cartridge 30 advances in the insertion direction 51 along the lower guide groove 109 and is in contact with the slider 107 (see Fig. 8). When the ink cartridge 30 continues to be inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge 30 is pushed against the second projection 86, causing the slider 107 to move in the insertion direction 51 against the force push spring extension 114. The slider 107 applies a pushing force on the ink cartridge 30 in the withdrawal direction 52. The slide 107 and the extension spring 114 are an example of a thrust member.

Lock portion 145

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, the blocking portion 145 extends in the left 56 direction and in the right direction 55 of the housing 101 in proximity to the upper surface of the housing 101 and close to the opening 112. The blocking portion 145 is a shaped member of bar that extends in the left direction56 and in the right direction55. The blocking portion 145 is, for example, a metal cylinder. Both ends of the locking portion 145 in the left 56 direction and in the right direction 55 are fixed to the walls defining both ends of the housing 101 in the left 56 and right 55 directions. Therefore, the locking portion 145 does not rotate relatively relative to to the housing 101, and also does not cause another relative movement. The locking portion 145 extends in the left 56 and right 55 directions through the four spaces within which four ink cartridges 30 can be accommodated. In each space in which the ink cartridge 30 is housed, there is a space around the lock portion 145. Thus, the ink cartridge 30 can access the blocking portion 145 towards the upward direction 54 or towards the withdrawal direction 52. The lock portion 145 keeps the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the fixed position. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110 and is rotated towards a fixing orientation, the ink cartridge 30 engages with the blocking portion 145. The locking portion 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 within the cartridge fixing unit 110 against a force against which the slider 107 presses the ink cartridge 30 in the withdrawal direction 52 and a force with which a helical spring 78 disposed within the ink cartridge 30 presses the ink cartridge 30 in the withdrawal direction 52.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, four contacts 106 are disposed on the upper surface of the housing 101 near its rear surface. Although not illustrated in detail in these drawings, the four contacts 106 are separated from each other in the left 56 and right 55 directions. In the ink cartridge 30, the four contacts 106 are located in correspondence with four electrodes 65, which will be described. later with reference to Figs. 3A and 4A. Each contact 106 is composed of a conductive and elastic material; the contact 106 is deformable in the direction 54 upwards. Four sets of four contacts 106 are arranged in correspondence with four ink cartridges 30 that can be housed inside the housing 101. There is no limitation on the number of contacts 106 and the number of electrodes 65; An indeterminate number of contacts 106 and electrodes 65 can be used.

Each contact 106 is electrically connected to a computational unit with an intermediate electrical circuit between them. The computing unit includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). The computing unit can be configured as a control unit for the printer 10. When the contact 106 and its corresponding electrode 65 are electrically connected to each other, a voltage Vc is applied to the electrode 65, the electrode 65 is grounded, or is It supplies electrical power to electrode 65. Due to the electrical connection between contact 106 and its corresponding electrode 65, it is possible to access the data stored in the integrated circuit (CI) in the ink cartridge 30. An output from the electrical circuit is introduced into the computer unit.

125 bar

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, a bar 125 is disposed on the rear surface of the housing 101 in a position above the ink needle 102. The bar 125 protrudes from the rear surface of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52. The cross section of the bar 125 in an orthogonal direction with the withdrawal direction 52 is in the form of an inverted U as an upper half of a cylindrical shape. A rib protrudes from the position above the bar 125 in the direction 52 of removal. When the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110 that is, the ink cartridge 30 being in the fixed position, the bar 125 is inserted into a recess 96 formed below an IC plate 64 inside the cartridge 30 ink Sensor 103

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, a sensor 103 is disposed on top of the housing 101. The sensor 103 has a light emitting portion and a photosensitive portion. The light emitting portion is arranged to the right of the photosensitive portion in the right direction55 or to the left of it in the left direction56 with a space between them. After completing the fixing of the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge fixing unit 110, a light access portion 62 disposed in the ink cartridge 30 is located between the light emitting portion and the photosensitive portion. In other words, the light emitting portion and the photosensitive portion are arranged facing each other in a state in which, among them, the light access portion 62 of the ink cartridge 30 inserted within the cartridge fixing unit 110 is located .

The sensor 103 emits a different detection signal depending on whether the light emitted from the light emitting portion has been received by the photosensitive portion. When, for example, the photosensitive portion could receive the light emitted from the light emitting portion (that is, the light reception intensity of the photosensitive portion is less than a predetermined intensity) the sensor 103 emits a low level signal , level that is lower than a threshold level. When the photosensitive portion could receive the light emitted from the light emitting portion (that is, the light reception intensity of the photosensitive portion is equal to or greater than the predetermined intensity), the sensor 103 emits a high level signal, level that is equal to or greater than the threshold level.

A positioning member 108 extends above the guide 105 and below the bar 125 in the left 56 and right 55 directions of the housing 101. The positioning member 108 protrudes from the rear surface of the housing 101 in the direction 52 withdrawal. The dimension of the positioning member 108 by which it protrudes from the rear surface of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52 is smaller than the dimension of the guide 105 by which it protrudes from the rear surface of the housing 101 in the direction 52 Withdrawal The upper surface 115 of the positioning member 108 is in contact with the lower surface 89 of a first projection 85 in the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110.

30 ink cartridge

The ink cartridge 30 illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B to Fig. 6 is a container in which the ink is retained. A space formed in the ink cartridge 30 is the retention chamber 36 (an example of a liquid retention chamber). The retention chamber 36 is composed of an internal frame 35 located on a rear cover 31 and a front cover 32, which form the outer profile of the ink cartridge 30. The internal frame 35 is an example of a main body. The rear cover 31, the front cover 32 and the internal frame 35 are an example of a housing.

The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 is illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B to Fig. 6 and Figs. 15A and 15B is an orientation taken when the ink cartridge 30 is in the fixed orientation (first orientation). The ink cartridge 30 has a front surface 140, a rear surface 41, upper surfaces 39 and 141 and lower surfaces 42 and 142 described below. In the orientation of the ink cartridge 30 Illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B to Fig. 6, a direction extending from the rear surface 41 towards the front surface 140 corresponds to the insertion direction 51 and the forward direction 57, a direction extending from the front surface 140 towards the rear surface 41 corresponds to the withdrawal direction 52, a direction extending from the upper surfaces 39 and 141 to the lower surfaces 42 and 142 corresponds to the retracting direction 53, and a direction extending from the surfaces 42 and 142 lower towards upper surfaces 39 and 141 corresponds to an ascending direction 54. With the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the front surface 140 is facing towards the insertion direction 51 and towards the forward direction 57, the rear surface 41 is facing towards the removal direction 52, the lower surfaces 42 and 142 are facing the reverse direction 53, and the upper surfaces 39 and 141 are facing the upward direction 54.

As illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B to Fig. 6, the ink cartridge 30 is formed with the rear cover 31, which has a substantially rectangular parallelepipedic shape, the front cover 32, which includes the front surface 140 and the internal frame 35, which defines the retention chamber 36. The rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 are combined with each other, forming the outer profile of the ink cartridge 30. The internal frame 35 is located inside the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 combined. The ink cartridge 30 is flat taken together; the dimension in the right and 56 left directions is small, and the dimension in the descending and ascending directions 53 and the dimension in the forward and reverse directions 57 are larger than the dimension in the right and 56 left directions . The front surface 140 is a surface, of the front cover 32, which faces in the insertion direction 51 (the advance direction 57) when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110. The rear surface 41 is a surface, of the rear cover 31, which faces in the reverse direction 52 (58) when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110. That is, the rear surface 41 is arranged in front of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32 with the retention chamber 36 interposed therebetween.

31 rear cover

As illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B and in Figs. 4A and 4B, the rear cover 31 is formed as a box with lateral surfaces 37 and 38 that are separated from each other in the left and right directions 55, the upper surface 39 facing the upward direction 54, and the surface 42 facing lower towards the downward direction 53, the upper surface 39 and the lower surface 42 extending from the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 51. The rear cover 31 has an opening facing the forward direction 57. The internal frame 35 is inserted into the rear cover 31 through the opening. That is, the rear cover 31 covers the rear of the inner frame 35. With the inner frame 35 inserted, the lower surface 42 is arranged in front of the upper surface 39 with the retention chamber 36 interposed between them. The rear surface 41 has an upper portion 41U and a lower portion 41L. The upper portion 41U is located above the lower portion 41L in the upward direction 54. The lower portion 41L is located below the upper portion 41U in the downward direction 53. In other words, the lower portion 41L is located from the upper portion 41U in the forward direction 57. Both the upper portion 41U and the lower portion 41L are a flat surface; they cross each other, but they are not orthogonal to each other. The lower portion 41L is inclined with respect to the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 so that the lower portion 41L approaches the lower surface 42, the lower portion 41L approaches the front surface 140. To invite the user to push the ink cartridge 30, a sheet is adhesively bonded to the upper portion 41U, as illustrated in Fig. 15B, to indicate PUSH or other character string, a symbol, for example an arrow, an indicative figure of thrust with a finger, or the like.

As illustrated in Figs. 3A and 4A, a projection 43 is formed on the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31. The protrusion 43 extends in the forward direction 57 and in the reverse direction 58 from the center of the upper surface 39 in the right direction 55 and in the left direction 56. A surface, of the projection 43, which is facing in the reverse direction 58 is a blocking surface 151. The blocking surface 151 extends in the descending and ascending directions 54. With the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the blocking surface 151 may be placed in contact with the blocking portion 145 in the address 52 withdrawal. When the blocking surface 151 is arranged in contact with the blocking portion 145 in the removal direction 52, the ink cartridge 30 is held within the cartridge fixing unit 110 against a force with which the ink cartridge 30 it is pushed by the extension spring 114 by the slide 107 and a force with which the ink cartridge 30 is pushed by the helical spring 78.

A reinforcing surface 152 extends across the blocking surface 151 to continue to the end of the blocking surface 151 in the right direction. A reinforcing surface 153 extends across the blocking surface 151 so that it continues to the end of the blocking surface 151 in the left direction 56. The reinforcing surface 152 extends in the forward direction 57 to form an acute angle with respect to a virtual surface that includes the blocking surface 151 and extends in the descending and ascending directions 53 and in the right direction. The reinforcing surface 153 extends in the forward direction 57 to form an acute angle with respect to a virtual surface that includes the blocking surface 151 and extends in the descending and ascending directions 53 and in the left direction 56. Due to the reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153, the resistance of the projection 43 is increased, reducing the risk of damage to the blocking surface 151. Since the reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153 do not extend beyond the blocking surface 151 in the reverse direction 58, they are not in contact with the blocking portion 145. Even if the blocking surface 151 slides on blocking portion 145, therefore, the presence of reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153 does not increase the sliding resistance.

On the projection 43, a horizontal surface 154 is provided that extends from the locking surface 151 in the forward direction 57. The horizontal surface 154 extends in the right and left 56 directions and in the forward and reverse directions 57. An inclined surface 155 is arranged and extends from the horizontal surface 154 in the forward direction 57. The inclined surface 155 is facing in the upward direction 54 and in the forward direction 57. Thus, the inclined surface 155 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is observed in the downward direction 53, and is also visible when the ink cartridge 30 is displayed in the backward direction 58. Since the blocking surface 151 continues up to the inclined surface 155 through the horizontal surface 154, a boundary between the blocking surface 151 and the horizontal surface 154 does not become a pointed convex profile. In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110, the blocking portion 145 is gently guided by the inclined surface 155 and by the horizontal surface 154 beyond the blocking surface 151 in the direction 58 recoil while locking portion 145 is in contact with inclined surfaces 155 and horizontal 154.

A reinforcing surface 156 that crosses the blocking surface 151 to continue to the end of the inclined surface 155 in the right direction 55. A reinforcing surface 157 extends across the blocking surface 151 so that it continues to the end of the inclined surface 155 in the left direction 56. The reinforcing surface 156 extends in the downward direction 53 to form an acute angle with respect to a virtual surface that includes the inclined surface 155 and which extends in the right direction 55. The reinforcing surface 157 extends in the downward direction 53 to form an acute angle with respect to a virtual surface that includes the inclined surface 155 and which extends in the left direction 56. Due to the reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157, the resistance of the projection 43 is increased, reducing the risk of damage to the inclined surface 155. Since the reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157 do not extend beyond the inclined surface 155 in the upward direction 54, they are not in contact with the blocking portion 145. Therefore, the presence of the reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157 does not increase the sliding resistance during the sliding of the inclined surface 155 on the blocking portion 145.

On the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31, a handling portion 90 moves from the locking surface 151 in the reverse direction 58. At the rear end of the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31, a subsurface surface 91 is formed below other portions of the upper surface 39 in the downward direction 53. The handling portion 90 is disposed above the subsurface surface 91 with a space between them. The handling portion 90 is shaped like a flat plate so that the handling portion 90 protrudes beyond the shoulder 43 in the upward direction 54 from the vicinity of a boundary between the subsurface surface 91 and the other portions of the upper surface 39 and then it is folded diagonally in the backward and downward directions 58. A rib 94 is disposed between the handling portion 90 and the upper surface 91; the rib 94 continues to the handling portion 90 and to the upper surface 91 and extends in the reverse direction 58. As illustrated in Fig. 15, the dimension of the rib 94 in the right and left 56 directions.

The handling portion 90 has a handling surface 92 that faces in the upward and reverse directions 54. The handling surface 92 and the upper surface 91 are arranged in the same position in the forward direction 57 and in the reverse direction 58. In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is displayed in the downward direction 53, the handling surface 92 and the upper surface 91 are arranged in the same position. The handling surface 92 has a plurality of projections, which, for example, consist of a plurality of edges 93 which extend in the right and left 56 directions, and which are separated at regular intervals in the forward and in the 57 directions. 58 recoil. Because the edges 93 function as a plurality of projections, the user can easily recognize the handling surface 92. Likewise, when the user manipulates the handling surface 92 with a finger, the finger does not easily slide over the handling surface 92.

As illustrated in Fig. 15, when the handling surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is displayed in the downward direction 53, and is also visible when the ink cartridge 30 is displayed in the forward direction 57. In other words, the handling surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is observed in the direction of advance from the upper surface 39 to the lower surface 42, and is also visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from a direction forward from the rear surface 41 to the front surface 140. The handling surface 92 is manipulated by the user when the user removes the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110. The handling portion 90 is fixed to the rear cover 31, for example, by molding together with the rear cover 31, so that the handling portion 90 does not rotate relatively with respect to the rear cover 31, nor does it cause any other relative movement. Therefore, a force applied by the user on the handling surface 92 is transmitted as is to the rear cover 31, without changing the direction. In this embodiment, the handling portion 90 also does not rotate relatively relative to the internal frame 35 and the retention chamber 36, nor does any other relative movement.

Front cover 32

As illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B and in Figs. 4A and 4B, the front cover 32 is constituted in the form of a box that has lateral surfaces 143 and 144, which extend from the front surface 140 in the reverse direction 58 and are separated from each other in the right 55 and left 56 directions and it also has the upper surface 141 and the lower surface 142, which extend from the front surface 140 in the backward direction 58 and are separated from each other in the downward and upward directions 53. The front cover 32 has a facing opening towards the backward direction 58. The internal frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32 through the opening. That is, the front cover 32 covers a front portion of the inner frame 35 that is not covered by the rear cover 31.

In a state in which the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 are combined with each other, that is, the ink cartridge 30 is mounted, the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 forms the upper surface of the ink cartridge 30 together with the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31, and the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 forms the lower surface of the ink cartridge 30 together with the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 31. in particular, when the ink cartridge 30 is located in the fixed orientation (first orientation), the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 extends in the forward and reverse directions 58, and the lower surface 42 of the cover 31 rear is inclined in the downward and reverse directions 53. The lateral surfaces 143 and 144 of the front cover 32 form the lateral surfaces of the ink cartridge 30 together with the lateral surfaces 37 and 38 of the rear cover 31. In a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted, the front surface 140 of the front cover 32, the front surface 140 forming the front surface of the ink cartridge 30 and the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31, the rear surface 41 forming the rear surface of the ink cartridge 30, are separated from each other in the forward and reverse directions 58. The front surface, the rear surface, the top surface, the bottom surface and the side surfaces of the cartridge 30 ink are not necessarily located each in a single plane. That is, the front surface is a surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation is displayed in the reverse direction 58 and the front surface is displaced from the center of the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation in the forward direction 57; the rear surface is a visible surface when the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation is displayed in the forward direction 57 and the rear surface is displaced from the center of the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation in the direction 58 of recoil; The upper surface is a visible surface when the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation is displayed in the downward direction 53 and the upper surface is displaced from the center of the ink cartridge 30 located in the first direction in the upward direction 54; The bottom surface is a surface that is located below the center of the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation in the downward direction 53. This is also true with respect to the lateral surfaces. That is, although in this embodiment the upper surface 39, which is part of the rear cover 31, is located above the upper surface 141, which is part of the front cover 32, this does not constitute a limitation; the upper surfaces 141 and 39 may not be in the same position in the descending 52 and ascending directions 54.

The recess 96, which is recessed in the reverse direction 58, is formed in the upper portion of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. With the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the bar 125 enters the recess 96. Therefore, the cross section of the recess 96 in an orthogonal direction with the forward and reverse directions 58 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the cross section of the bar 125. The recess 96 extends from the front surface 140 in the reverse direction 58. Two recesses 99, which are recessed from the upper surface 141 in the downward direction 53, are located from the IC plate 64 in the reverse direction 58. One of the recesses 99 extends from the IC plate 64 in the right direction 55 and the other extends from the IC plate 64 in the left direction 56. With the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the bar 125 enters a space defined by recess 96.

A hole 97, which passes through the front cover 32 in the reverse direction 58, is formed in a lower portion of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. With the inner frame 35 inserted in the front cover 32, the hole 97 is a hole through which the ink feed portion 34 inside the inner frame 35 is exposed to the outside. Thus, hole 97 is formed to correspond to the position, dimensions and shape of the ink feed portion 34 within the inner frame 35.

The first projection 85 and the second projection 86 are formed on the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The first projection 85 protrudes from the upper end of the front cover 32 in the forward direction 57. The recess 96 is formed at the end of the first projection 85. The end of the first projection 85 forms part of the front surface 140. The lower surface 89 of the first projection 85 is located between the IC plate 64 and the ink of the ink feed portion 34 on the descending surface 89 is in contact with the upper surface 115 of the positioning member 108 within the unit 110 of cartridge fixing. The lower surface 89 is equivalent to a positioning surface.

The second projection 86 protrudes from the front surface 140 in the forward direction 57 at the lower end of the front surface 140 in the forward direction 57 at the lower end of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32, that is, by under the ink feed portion 34. A recess 87, which is open in the forward and descending directions 57, it is formed on the lower surface of the second projection 86. A portion of the recess 87 protrudes from the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 in the descending direction 53. In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110, the slider 107 enters the recess 87 of the second projection 86 and contacts it.

A hole 98 (an example of an opening), which passes through the front cover 32 in the downward direction 53, is formed on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32. With the inner frame 35 inserted in the front cover 32, the hole 98 is a hole through which the light access portion 62 disposed in the inner frame 35 is exposed to the outside. Thus, the hole 98 is formed to correspond to the position, dimensions and profile of the light access portion 62 within the internal frame 35. Although in this embodiment an opening (hole 98) is formed in the front cover 32 so that it is exposed to the light access portion 62 within the inner frame 35 from the upper surface 141, an opening, through the which light access portion 62 is exposed, can be formed within a single element between the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31 or can be formed both in the front cover 32 and in the rear cover 31. Although in this embodiment, the hole 98 is formed so that a portion behind the light access portion 62 is covered with the rear cover 31, the hole 98 can be formed so that the entire access portion 62 of the light is exposed.

The IC plate 64 is disposed on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 and above the first projection 85, that is, above the ink feed portion 34. The IC plate 64 is electrically connected to the four contacts 106 (see Fig. 2) aligned in the right 55 and left 56 directions in the middle part of the ink cartridge 30 that is attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110. In a state in which also the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the IC board 64 is electrically connected to the contacts 106. A dimension of the circuit board 64 in the first direction 51 is less than one dimension of circuit board 64 in the left 56 and right 55 directions.

On the IC plate 64, an IC (not illustrated in each drawing) and four electrodes 65 are mounted. The four electrodes 65 are aligned in the right 55 and left 56 directions. The IC, which is a semiconductor integrated circuit, stores information about the ink cartridge 30, for example the batch number, a date and a manufacturing time, data indicative of the colors of the ink and other information in such a way that the information can be read.

The electrodes 65 are electrically connected to the IC. Each electrode 65 extends in the forward direction 57 and in the reverse direction 58. The four electrodes 65 are separated from each other in the right 55 and left 56 directions. Each electrode 65 is exposed to the upper surface of the IC plate 64 so that it can be accessed. Electrode 65 is an example of an electrical contact surface.

Internal frame 35.

Although not illustrated in each drawing, the inner frame 35 is annularly with a pair of open terminal surfaces in the right 55 and left 56 directions. The pair of open terminal surfaces of the inner frame 35 are sealed with films (not shown), which they form the retention chamber 36 in which the ink can be retained. A front surface 40, which defines the retention chamber 36, faces the rear surface of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32 when the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32. The ink feed portion 34 (an example of a liquid output flow unit) is disposed below the front surface 40.

Portion 34 ink feed

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the ink feed portion 34 is arranged in the lower portion of the front surface 140 so that it protrudes beyond the front surface 140 of the inner frame 35 in the forward direction 57. The ink feed portion 34 has a cylindrical outer shape and protrudes outwardly through the hole 97 formed on the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The ink feed portion 34 has the cylindrical wall 73 in a cylindrical shape that has an internal space and also has a sealing member 76 and a cover 79, which are fixed to the cylindrical wall 73.

The cylindrical wall 73 extends from inside the holding chamber 36 to the outside. The end of the cylindrical wall 73 in the removal direction 52 is open within the retaining chamber 36. The end of the cylindrical wall 73 in the insertion direction 51 is open to the outside of the ink cartridge 30. Thus, the cylindrical wall 73 communicates with the holding chamber 36 and with the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the internal space. That is, the ink feed portion 34 feeds the ink retained in the retention chamber 36 outwardly of the ink cartridge 30 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73. The sealing member 76 and the cover 79 are fixed to the end of the cylindrical wall 73 in the insertion direction 51.

A valve body 77 and the helical spring 78 are housed in the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73. The valve body 77 and the helical spring 78 are used to selectively switch the condition of the portion 34 of ink supply between a state in which ink flows from the holding chamber 36 outwardly of the ink cartridge 30 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 (see Fig. 11) and a state in the that the ink does not flow from the holding chamber 36 outwardly of the ink cartridge 30 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 (see Fig. 6).

When the valve body 77 travels in the forward direction 57 of the recoil 58, the ink feed opening pushes the valve body 77 in the forward direction 57. In a state in which an external force is not applied, therefore, the valve body 77 closes the ink supply opening 71 in the sealing member 76.

The sealing member 76 is disposed at the end of the cylindrical wall 73. The sealing member 76 is a discoid member that has a through hole in the center. The sealing member 76 is composed, for example, of an elastic material such as a rubber material or an elastomer. The through hole, which extends in the forward and reverse directions 58 in the center of the sealing member 76, forms a cylindrical internal surface, which forms the ink feed opening 71. The inner diameter of the ink feed opening 71 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink needle 102. Due to the cover 79 coupled on the outside of the cylindrical wall 73, the sealing member 76 is in contact with the end of the cylindrical wall 73 as a liquid-tight closure.

When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in a state in which the valve body 77 closes the ink supply opening 71, the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply opening 71 ink. The outer circumferential surface of the ink needle 102 is in contact with the inner circumferential surface, which defines the ink feed opening 71, as a liquid-tight closure while the ink needle 102 elastically deforms the member 76 of tightness When the end of the ink needle 102 passes through the sealing member 76 and enters the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73, the end comes into contact with the valve body 77. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110, the ink needle 102 causes the valve body 77 to move in the reverse direction 58 against the pushing force of the helical spring 78. This allows the ink retained in the retention chamber 36 to flow to the end of the ink needle 102 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73. Although not illustrated in each drawing, ink flows from the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 through a hole formed at the end of the ink needle 102 into the internal space of the ink needle 102. Thus, the ink retained in the retention chamber 36 can flow outwardly through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 of the ink needle 102.

The valve body 77, which closes the ink feed opening 71, is not necessarily disposed in the ink feed portion 34. For example, the ink feed opening 71 may be blocked with a film or similar element, in which case when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110, the ink needle 102 breaks the film and the end of the ink needle 102 thus enters the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 through the ink feed opening 71. Alternatively, the ink feed opening 71 can be closed due to the elasticity of the sealing member 76, in which case only when the ink needle 102 is inserted, the ink feed opening 71 expands when it is pressed by the ink needle 102.

Portion 60 of liquid level detection

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the ink cartridge 30 incorporates a liquid level sensing portion 60 (an example of a liquid sensing portion). The liquid level sensing portion 60 has a light access portion 62 and a sensor arm 59 (an example of a light attenuation portion). The internal frame 35 incorporates the light access portion 62, which extends from the upper surface in the upward direction 54. The light access portion 62 is a projection that defines its continued internal space to the holding chamber 36. The light access portion 62 is translucent, making it possible for the light to pass through the light access portion 62 in the right 55 and left 56 directions. In other words, the light access portion 62 is configured to that the light moving from the light emitting portion of the sensor 103 of the printer 10 to the photosensitive portion can be accessed. Specifically, the light access portion 62 incorporates lateral surfaces 66 and 67 (examples of a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface) that expand in the downward and upward directions 53 and in the forward directions 57 and recoil 58. Light that propagates in a direction in which the lateral surfaces 66 and 67 are separated, that is, in the right 55 and left 56 directions, passes through the light access portion 62. A distance of the lateral surface 66 and 67 is less than a dimension of the lateral surface 66 and 67 in the right directions 55 and left 56. A dimension of the lateral surface 66 and 67 in the ascending direction 54 is less than the distance of the lateral surface 66 and 67 in the right 55 and left 56 directions. The light access portion 62 is exposed outwardly through the hole 98 made in the front cover 32. The lateral surfaces 66 and 67 extend above the upper surface 141 in the upward direction 54 through the hole 98 made in the front cover 32. Therefore, the lateral surfaces 66 and 67 cross the upper surface 141.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, a sensor arm 59 (an example of a light dimming portion) is disposed within the retention chamber 36 of the internal frame 35. The sensor arm 59 is supported by a rotation axis 61 which extends in the right 55 and left 56 directions and can rotate around the rotation axis 61.

The sensor arm 59 incorporates a float 63. The float 63 has a specific gravity less than that of the ink retained in the holding chamber 36. In the holding chamber 36, therefore, the float 63 generates a hydrostatic thrust while the float 63 is inside the ink. In a state in which the retention chamber 36 is substantially completely filled with ink, the sensor arm 59 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of Fig. 6 due to the hydrostatic thrust of the float 63. The arm portion 68 59 sensor has entered into the light access portion 62. When the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 is in contact with a wall defining the end of the light access portion 62 in the forward direction 57, the orientation of the sensor arm 59 is maintained. While in this state (an example of a first state), the ink detection portion 60 changes a state of light passing from the emitter to the photosensitive portion. For more detail, the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 cuts the light emitted from the sensor 103 and, if not, would propagate through the light access portion 62 in the right 55 or left 56 directions, and would lead to perform another treatment on light.

Specifically, when the light emitted from the light emitting portion of the sensor 103 reaches one of the right and left surfaces of the light access portion 62, the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 reduces the intensity of the light, which is intended leaving the other right and left surface of the light access portion 62 and reaching the photosensitive portion blurs the predetermined intensity (to which the light is transmitted), for example, to zero. The portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 can completely block the light so that it does not propagate in the right 55 or left 56 directions, it can partially absorb the light, it can dim the light, it can lean in a direction in which the light propagates or it can fully reflect the light to change the state of the light that passes from the emitter to the photosensitive portion.

When the ink of the holding chamber 36 is reduced and the level of the ink liquid falls below the position of the float 63 the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 being arranged in the orientation in which the portion 68 blocks the light which, otherwise, it would propagate through the light access portion 62 and carry out another light treatment, the float 63 falls together with the level of the liquid. Accordingly, the sensor arm 59 rotates in the opposite direction on the clockwise in Fig. 6. Due to this direction clockwise, the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59, after the portion 68 has entered into the light access portion 62, travels through the internal space within the light access portion 62 substantially in the reverse direction 58 and reaches the end of the internal space of the access portion 62 of light in the reverse direction 58, deflecting the portion 68 from a light path extending from the light emitting portion of the sensor 103 to its light receiving section. In this state (an example of a second state), the light provided to propagate from one surface between the right surface and the left surface of the light access portion 62 to the other can pass through the internal space of the portion 62 of light access in this embodiment, and the intensity of the light reaching the photosensitive portion of the sensor 103 is equal to or greater than the predetermined intensity (to which the light is transmitted).

80 intermediate wall

As illustrated in Figs. 3A and 4A, an intermediate wall 80 (an example of a second light attenuation portion) is disposed on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32; The intermediate wall 80 is displaced from the IC plate 64 in the reverse direction 58 and displaced from the hole 98 in the forward direction 57. The intermediate wall 80 protrudes from the upper surface 141 in the upward direction 54. The intermediate wall 80 has a front surface 81 and a rear surface 82 that expand in the right 55 and left 56 directions, side surfaces 83 and 84 that expand in the forward and reverse directions 58, and a surface 88 higher. A dimension D1 (see Fig. 5), of the lateral surfaces 83 and 84 and the forward and reverse directions 58 is larger than a dimension D2 (see Fig. 15A) of the front surface 81 and the surface 82 rear in the right 55 and left 56 directions. That is, the intermediate wall 80 has a thin plate shape in which the dimension in the forward travel directions 57 is larger than the dimension in the right 55 and left directions 56. In this embodiment, with the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the light emitted from the light emitting portion in the sensor reaches one of the side surfaces 83 and 84 of the wall 80 intermediate, the lateral surfaces 83 and 84 reduce the intensity of the light, which is intended to leave the other between the lateral surface and the intermediate wall 80 and reach the photosensitive portion, blur the predetermined intensity (at which the light z is transmitted), for example, steel. That is, the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit is detected by the intermediate wall 80 that is configured to block or dim the light from the emitter towards the photosensitive portion.

The placement of the light access portion 62, the IC plate 64, the intermediate wall 80, the blocking surface 151 and similar elements of the ink cartridge 30.

As illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B to Fig. 6 and Fig. 15A, the IC plate 64 is displaced from the light access portion 62 in the insertion direction 51 (forward direction 57). On the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, the IC plate 64 is disposed closer to the lateral surface 143 located in the right direction 55 than to the lateral surface 144 located in the left direction 56. The center of the IC plate 64 is disposed closer to the lateral surface 66 of the light access portion 62 than to its lateral surface 67 in the left direction 56. The light emitting portion of the sensor 103 faces the lateral surface 67, and the photosensitive portion of the sensor 103 fits the lateral surface 66. Observed in the descending directions 53 and ascending 54, the IC plate 64 is disposed in the same position as the ink feed portion 34. In other words, at least a portion of the IC plate 64 is overlapped with the ink feed portion 34 in the downward and upward directions 54.

The intermediate wall 80 is disposed above the IC plate 64 in the upward direction 54. In the reverse direction 58, the intermediate wall 80 is arranged closer to the light access portion 62 than is the IC plate 64. The intermediate wall 80 extends upward beyond the upper end of the sensor arm 59 , which is in contact with the wall defining the end of the light access portion 62 in the forward direction 57.

The dimension of the surface 82 of the intermediate wall 80 in the right and left directions is greater than a distance between the lateral surfaces 66 and 67 of the light access portion 62.

The light access portion 62 is displaced from the IC plate 64 in the withdrawal direction 52 (displaced from the IC plate 64 in the reverse direction 58). The light access portion 62 is disposed above the IC plate 64 in the downward and upward directions 54. In other words, the internal space of the liquid level sensing portion is disposed above the electrode 65 of the IC plate 64. For more details, with the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110, an area of the light access portion 62 which is the light from which the light emitting portion passes through the light access portion 62 in the right 55 and left 56 directions, it is located above the electrode 65 of the IC board. The blocking surface 151 is displaced from the light access portion 62 in the withdrawal direction 52 (displaced from the light access portion 62 in the reverse direction 58). In the ascending direction 54, the light access potion 62 is disposed closer to the blocking surface 151 than is the IC plate 64. The upper end of the light access portion 62 in the ascending direction 54 it is closer to the blocking surface 151 than is the IC plate 64. With the ink cartridge 30 in the fixed direction, the blocking surface 151 is disposed above the light access portion 62 in the upward direction 54. With the ink cartridge 30 in the fixed orientation, the light access portion 62 is disposed above the IC plate 64 in the upward direction 54. That is, in the upward direction 54, the upper end of the blocking surface 151, the upper end of the light access portion 62 and the upper surface of the IC plate 64 are arranged in higher positions in this order. The IC plate 64, the light access portion 62 and the blocking surface 151 are aligned in the insertion direction 51. In other words, as illustrated in Fig. 15A, the IC plate 64, the light access portion 62 of the liquid and the blocking surface 151 are arranged so that at least part of each of them overlaps in the insertion direction 51 when the ink cartridge 30 is displayed in the downward direction 53.

The dimension of the blocking surface 151 in this embodiment in the downward and upward directions 53 is smaller than the dimension of the light access portion 62 in the downward and upward directions 53. Since, however, the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31 is located above the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, the upper end of the blocking surface 151 is located above the upper surface of the light access portion 62. If, therefore, the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31 and the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 are arranged in the same position in the descending and ascending directions 54, when the dimension of the blocking surface 151 in the direction in the descending and ascending directions 54 is arranged to be larger than the dimension of the light access portion 62 in the descending and ascending directions 54, the upper end of the blocking surface 151 is located above the end upper portion of light access portion 62.

The lower surface 89 is located above the ink feed portion 34 in the upward direction 54 and below the IC plate 64 in the downward direction 53.

Operation in which the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110

A method of fixing the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge fixing unit 110 will now be described.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the ink cartridge 30 in which the cartridge fixing unit 110 has yet to be fixed to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the valve body 77 closes the feed opening 71 of ink of the sealing member 76. This blocks an ink flow from the holding chamber 36 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the housing 101 through the opening 112 of the cartridge fixing unit 110. The upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 is located from the lower portion 41L in the removal direction 52, that is, closer to the user, so that the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the direction 51 insert while pressing the upper portion 41U. The user is invited to push the upper portion 41U because a sheet attached with adhesive on the upper portion 41U indicates PUSH or another string of characters, a symbol, for example an arrow, or an indicative figure of a push with a finger, or elements similar, as described above. The lower portions of the ink cartridge 30, that is, the lower portions of the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31, enter the lower guide groove 109 of the housing 101. The second projection 86 is disposed in a lower portion of the front cover 32. When part of the recess 87 protruding from the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 in the downward direction 53 is placed in contact with the lower surface of the guide groove 109, the front part of the front cover 32 rises and the surface 142 lower inclines with respect to the insertion direction 51. That is, on the lower surface of the guide groove 109, part of the recess 87 of the front cover 32 and part of the lower surface 142 near the lower end are mutually approximate to each other.

When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the recess 87 of the second projection 86 of the front cover 32 is placed in contact with the slide 107. At this time, the user is pushing the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30. This causes the ink cartridge 30 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction of Fig. 8, centered around a contact between the slide 107 and the recess 87 of the second projection 86. Due to this rotation, the surface 142 The lower part of the front cover 32 is separated from the lower surface of the lower guide groove 109, and the upper portion of the ink cartridge 30 is in contact with the upper guide groove 109.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is still inserted in the insertion direction 51 against the pushing force of the extension spring 114 with which the slider 107 is pushed in the removal direction 52, the cover 79 of the ink feed portion 34 begins to enter the guide 105. The recess 96 of the front cover 32 faces the bar 125, and the bar 125 begins to enter the recess 96. The upper surface 115 of the member 108 positioning the cartridge fixing unit 110 begins to enter a space between the first projection 85 on the ink cartridge 30 and the ink supply portion 34.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, when the ink cartridge 30 is still inserted in the insertion direction 51 against the pushing force of the extension spring 114 with which the slide 107 is pushed in the removal direction 52, the cover 79 of the ink feed portion 34 enters the guide 105 and the ink needle 102 enters the ink feed opening 71, causing the valve body 77 to separate from the sealing member 76 against the pushing force of the coil spring 78. In addition to the pushing force of the extension spring 114, which is applied by means of the slide 107, the pushing force of the helical spring 78 is applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the withdrawal direction 52.

The upper surface 115 of the positioning member 108 of the cartridge fixing unit 110 is in contact with the lower surface 89 of the first projection 85 on the front cover 32 and supports the front cover 32 from below. When the IC plate 64 reaches a portion below the contacts 106, the contacts 106 are elastically deformed upwards and the electrodes 65 are thus electrically connected with their corresponding contacts 106. At this time, although the IC plate 64 is pushed in the downward direction 53 by the elastic deformation of the contacts 106, the upper surface 115 of the positioning member 108 supports the front cover 32 from below, so that the IC plate 64 is located exactly over the contacts 106 in the downward directions 53 and up 54. In the process of finalizing the fixing of the ink cartridge 30 with the cartridge fixing unit 110, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 51 with the contacts 106 electrically connected to their corresponding electrodes 65, contacts 106 slide on their corresponding electrodes 65. Due to the sliding of the Contacts 106 on their corresponding electrodes 65, chips from electrodes 65 can be generated.

The projection 43 on the rear cover 31 reaches the blocking portion 145 and the inclined surface 155 slides on the blocking portion 145. When the user presses the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 51, a moment of rotation is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 10. Due to a contact between the inclined surface 155 and the blocking portion 145, however, the ink cartridge 30 rotates clockwise in Fig. 10, against the moment of rotation, centered around the center of the opening 71 of ink supply, in the sealing member 76, in which the ink needle 102 has been inserted, in other words, the center of a portion, of the ink needle 102, with which the inner circumferential surface is in contact of the sealing member 76, the surface defining the ink feed opening 71. The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 illustrated in Fig. 10 is designated as the second orientation.

While the ink cartridge 30 is in the second orientation, the projection surface 151 of the projection 43 is located below the blocking portion 145. While the ink cartridge 30 is in the second orientation, the center of the rotation described above and the IC plate 64 are in the same position in the insertion direction 51. Therefore, the thrust force applied on the IC plate 64 by the contacts 106 does not function as the moment with which the ink cartridge 30 is rotated or is only an extremely small moment. while the ink cartridge 30 is in the second orientation, the bottom surface 42 of the front cover 32 it is in contact with or near the lower surface of the lower guide groove 109, so that, in this embodiment, the lower surface 42 of the front cover 32 is horizontal. While the ink cartridge 30 is in the second orientation, the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 extends from the upper portion 41U in the insertion direction 51.

As illustrated in Fig. 11, when the ink cartridge 30 is still inserted in the insertion direction 51 against the pushing force of the extension spring 114 and the pushing force of the helical spring 78 with which the slide 107 is pushed in the withdrawal direction 52, the inclined and horizontal surfaces 154 of the projection 43 on the rear cover 31 are located closer to the rear surface of the housing 101 than the blocking portion 145 is. Since the moment of rotation has been applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction of Fig. 11 as a result of the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 being pushed in the insertion direction 51 by the user, the inclined surfaces 155 and horizontal 154 are separated from the blocking portion 145. Therefore, the ink cartridge 30 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 11, centered around the center of the ink feed opening 71, in the sealing member 76, in which the needle 102 of ink has been inserted. The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 illustrated in Fig. 11 is designated as the first orientation.

While the ink cartridge 30 is in the first orientation, the blocking surface 151 is facing towards the blocking portion 145 in the withdrawal direction 52. When the ink cartridge 30 rotates from the second orientation to the first orientation, the rear cover 31 is in contact with the blocking portion 145. Due to a shock generated by this contact, the user warns that the pressure of the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 is complete. If the user suppresses the pressure of the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge 30 moves in the withdrawal direction 52 due to the pushing force of the helical spring 78 and the pushing force of the spring 114 of extension exerted through the slide 107. With the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation, the blocking surface 151 faces the block portion 145 in the removal direction 52, so that, when the cartridge 30 of ink is slightly displaced in the withdrawal direction 52, the blocking surface 151 is in contact with the blocking portion 145. Therefore, the ink cartridge 30 remains in the first orientation, restricting the displacement in the withdrawal direction 52. That is, the ink cartridge 30 is in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been placed inside the cartridge fixing unit 110 and has been completely fixed thereto.

In this embodiment, the IC plate 64 is disposed on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, that is, above the ink feed opening 71. Even if, therefore, the ink of the holding chamber 36 flows out of the ink feed opening 71 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge fixing unit 110 or is removed therefrom, the ink that it has flowed out it is difficult for it to adhere to the IC plate 64. With the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge fixing unit 110, the ink cartridge holding chamber 36 is preferably open to the atmosphere. As an example of a structure for causing the retention chamber 36 to open to the atmosphere, an airway formed in the ink cartridge 30 can communicate with the outside. That is, it can be achieved to open to the outside, when the ink feed valve 70 moves after the ink needle 102 has been inserted into the ink feed opening 71. Alternatively, an airway formed in the ink cartridge 30 can be hermetically sealed with, for example, an atmosphere blocking tape. The user can then remove the tape to get the retention chamber 36 to open to the atmosphere through the airway before attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge fixing unit 110.

Next, the operation in which the ink cartridge 30 rotates from the second orientation to the first orientation within the cartridge fixing unit 110 will be described in greater detail.

As illustrated in Fig. 12, the force of gravity applied to the ink cartridge 30 will be designated with the letter G; the pushing force of the extension spring 114 and the pushing force of the helical spring 78 with which the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation is pushed in the withdrawal direction 52 will be designated with the letter F; a distance in the insertion direction 51 between the center M of gravity of the ink cartridge 30 located in the second orientation and the center O of rotation will be designated with the letter L; a distance, along the orthogonal ascending direction 54 with respect to the insertion direction 51, from the lower end of the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30 located in the second orientation with respect to a plane that extends from the center O of rotation, it will be designated as a height H. Therefore, the following equation is completed.

(Thrust force F) x (height H)> (force G of gravity) x (distance L)

In the above equation, the product of force G and distance L is equivalent to the size of the moment at which the ink cartridge 30 is rotated in the clockwise direction in Fig. 12.

When the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, the user needs to press the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 with a force greater than at least the force of push F. That is, if a force with which the user presses the cartridge 30 of ink in the insertion direction 51 is designated by the letter U, the force U needs to be greater than the pushing force F. When the user holds the ink cartridge 30 in a certain position in the insertion direction 51 against the force of thrust F, the thrust force F is equal to the force U. Therefore, when the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110, the force U equivalent to at least the thrust force F is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51. The user presses the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30, that is, a portion of the upper portion 41U above its lower end. It should be assumed from the base here that the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 with the ink cartridge 30 located in the second orientation is substantially orthogonal with respect to the insertion direction 51. Therefore, the moment equivalent to at least the product of the pushing force F and the height H is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 12. Since the equation is completed exposed, the moment occurs in the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 12 in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the direction 51 of insertion. Since the ink cartridge 30 is receiving the pushing force of the extension spring 114 by means of the slider 107 in the second projection 86, that is, it is receiving the pushing force of the extension spring 114 in a position below the center O of rotation, the pushing force of the extension spring 114 also acts as the moment when the ink cartridge 30 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Even if there is no pushing force of the extension spring 114, it will be appreciated that the time in the counterclockwise direction is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the unit 110 of cartridge fixing.

Therefore, as described, when the inclined surface 155 of the projection 43 has slid over the blocking portion 145 and the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 are displaced from the blocking portion 145 in the insertion direction 51, the Ink cartridge 30 changes from the second orientation to the first orientation due to the moment in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 12.

As illustrated in Fig. 14, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first orientation, the upper end of the blocking surface 151 is located outwardly beyond the virtual arc C, whose center is the center O of rotation , the virtual arc C passes through the blocking portion 145. The lower end of the blocking surface 151 is located within the virtual arc C. With the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation, the lower end of the blocking surface 151 is further into the virtual arc C, that is, it is closer to the center O of rotation, than is the upper end of the locking surface 151. Therefore, since the force exerted in the withdrawal direction 52, the blocking portion 145 slides towards the lower end of the blocking surface 151. As a result, in a state in which the blocking portion 145 and the blocking surface 151 are in mutual contact, the ink cartridge 30 is rotated so that it is located in the first orientation.

It should be taken from the base that the user has pushed the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 instead of pushing the upper portion 41U in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the fixing unit 110 of the cartridge. As illustrated in Fig. 13, the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 located in the second orientation crosses a virtual orthogonal first plane P1 with respect to the insertion direction 51 (orthogonal with respect to the drawing sheet of Fig. 13) at an angle a. The length of a perpendicular that extends from the center O of rotation towards a virtual second plane P2 orthogonal with respect to the lower portion 41L (orthogonal with the sheet of the drawing of Fig. 13) at the lower end of the lower portion 41L it will be indicated by the letter N. Therefore, the following equation is completed.

(Thrust force F) x thing x (length N)> (force G of gravity) x (distance L)

In the above equation, the product of the force G of gravity and distance L is equivalent to the size of the moment with which the ink cartridge 30 is rotated in the direction of clockwise in Fig. 12, as in the equation described above.

When the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing unit 110, if the user presses the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 with the force U equivalent to at least the pushing force F, the moment with a resistance equivalent to at least the product of the thrust force component F and the length N, is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction of Fig. 13 Since the above equation is completed, even if the user presses the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51, a moment is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction. Fig. 13,

By removing the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge fixing unit 110, the user presses down the handling surface 92. With the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation, as illustrated in Fig. 15, the handling surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is observed in the downward direction 53, and is also visible when the cartridge 30 ink is observed in the forward direction 57 (insertion direction 51). With the ink cartridge 30 located in the first orientation, the handling surface 92 it faces in the ascending direction 54 and in the withdrawal direction 52. Therefore, when the user manipulates the handling surface 92 to remove the ink cartridge 30 located within the cartridge fixing unit 110, a force is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the downward and insertion directions 51. Due to a force exerted in the insertion direction 51, the blocking surface 151 is separated from the blocking portion 145. Due to a force exerted in the downward direction 53, the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation. A force that the user applies on the handling surface 92 to rotate the ink cartridge 30 from the first orientation to the second orientation is reduced compared to an assumption in which the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation while the blocking surface 151 causes a slide with the blocking portion 145.

When the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation, the blocking surface 151 is located below the blocking portion 145. Next, the ink cartridge 30 is moved inside the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the removal direction 52 by the pushing force of the extension spring 114 and the helical spring 78. In the process of removing the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge fixing unit 110, when the ink cartridge 30 is moved in the removal direction 52 while the contacts 106 remain electrically connected to their corresponding electrodes 65, the contacts 106 are they slide on their corresponding electrodes 65. Due to the sliding of the contacts 106 on their corresponding electrodes 65, chips can be generated from the electrodes 65.

When the ink cartridge 30 is separated from the slide 107, the pushing force that has been exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the withdrawal direction 52 is suppressed, so that an inertial force exerted on the ink cartridge 30 disappears. and ends the displacement of the ink cartridge 30 in the withdrawal direction 52. At this time, at least the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30 is located outwardly beyond the opening 112 inside the housing 101 of the cartridge fixing unit 110, so that the user can hold the cover 31 and can remove the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge fixing unit 110. Effects on this embodiment

With the ink cartridge 30 according to this embodiment, the positional accuracy of the IC plate 64, which is arranged at the front end in the insertion direction 51, is elevated in the cartridge fixing unit 110, of such that the IC plate 64 is reliably connected to the contacts 106. The locking surface 151 disposed at the rear end in the insertion direction 51 can easily carry out an operation for locking and unlocking, that is, It can easily rotate around the center O of rotation. Thus, the functions of the IC plate 64, the light access portion 62 and the blocking surface 151 are effectively used and positional accuracy can be increased.

Given the arrangement of the locking surface 151 at the rear end of the insertion direction 51, the range of rotation of the ink cartridge 30 between the first and second orientations, that is, the angle of rotation, can be reduced.

In the upward direction 54, the light access portion 62 is disposed closer to the blocking surface 151 than is the IC plate 64. This allows the ink cartridge 30 to be designed so that the distance between the Ci 64 plate and the light access portion 62 is extended. Therefore, it is possible to ensure a considerable space used for the displacement of the ink supply valve 70 in the ink supply portion 74 and a large space used for the rotation of the sensor arm 59. In particular, although the sensor arm 59 in the light access portion 62 of the ink cartridge 30 according to this embodiment is arranged so that the sensor arm 59 is substantially displaced in the insertion direction 51 and is located in the first state or in the second state, since, in the withdrawal direction 52, the light access portion 62 is disposed closer to the blocking surface 151 than is the IC plate 64, a ample space for the movement of the sensor arm 59 from the second to the first state. Since the upper end of the light access portion 62 is closer to the blocking surface 151 than is the IC plate 64, the light access portion 62 may be arranged as high as possible. , allowing the internal space of the retention chamber 36 to be easily secured.

Since the IC plate 64, that the light access portion 62, and that the blocking surface 151 cross a virtual plane parallel with the insertion direction 51 and with the ascending direction 54, the ink cartridge 30 can be achieved Be compact In particular, in this embodiment, the direction in which the sensor arm 59 moves is also in the insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge 30 can be achieved to be compact both in the downward direction 53 and in the direction 54 upward.

When the ink cartridge 30 is in the fixing orientation, the light access portion 62 is disposed above the IC plate 64, so that the chips generated due to the relative sliding between the IC plate 64 and the contacts 106 are difficult to adhere to the light access portion 62. Therefore, even if the chips are generated from the IC plate 64, detection by the light access portion 62 is less affected.

Since the intermediate wall 80 is disposed between the IC plate 64 and the light access portion 62, the intermediate wall 80 restricts a path through which said chips generated from the IC plate 64 move towards the Access portion 62 of light.

Since the light access portion 62 incorporates the lateral surfaces 66 and 67, a state of the amount of ink remaining in the retention chamber 36 can be detected by means of the lateral surfaces 66 and 67.

Since the dimension of the lateral surface 66 in the ascending direction 54 is greater than the dimension of the lateral surface 66 in the insertion direction 51, and that a dimension of the lateral surface 67 of the light access portion 62 in the ascending direction 54 is smaller than one dimension of the lateral surface 67 of the light access portion 62 in the insertion direction 51, the light access portion 62 in the descending directions 53 and ascending 54 is reduced.

Since the dimension of the rear wall 82 of the intermediate wall 80 in the right and left directions is greater than a distance between the first side surface 66 and the second side surface 67 of the light access portion 62 that the intermediate wall can further restrict the path through which the chips generated from the IC plate 64 move towards the light access portion 62.

Since the dimension of the intermediate wall 80 in the forward direction 57 of the recoil 58 is greater than its dimension in the right direction 55 and left 56, the distance from the IC plate to the portion 62 is prolonged. This makes it more difficult for the chips to reach the light access portion 62.

Since, in the removal direction 52, the intermediate wall 80 is arranged closer to the light access portion 62 than is the IC plate 64, the chips generated by the C ⁱ 64 plate can easily be restricted by intermediate wall 80.

Since the liquid level sensing portion 60 is configured to change a state of light passing from the first point to the second point and accessing the light access portion 62 according to a quantity of the liquid stored in The ink cartridge 30, the amount of liquid stored in the ink cartridge 30 can be detected.

Ado that the light access portion 62 is configured so that the light moving from the first point to the second point passes through it, the liquid sensing portion 60 also comprises a sensor arm 59, a portion 68 of the which is configured to be located in the light access portion 62, so that the portion 68 of the light dimmer portion 59 is configured to change a state of the light passing through the light access portion 62 Depending on whether the amount of the liquid stored in the cartridge 30 is less than or not a specific amount, the amount of liquid stored in the ink cartridge 30 can be detected based on the state of the light by the access portion 62 of light with arm position 59 sensor.

Since the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 is disposed above the circuit board 64 when the amount of liquid stored in the cartridge 30 is greater than or equal to the specific amount, it is more difficult for the chips to reach the height at which The light passes through the light detection portion 62 to detect the amount of liquid stored in the cartridge 30.

Since the intermediate wall 80 extends upwardly beyond the sensor arm 59, which is in contact with the wall defining the end of the light access portion 62 in the forward direction 57, the intermediate wall 80 is located between the CI 64 plate and the 59 sensor arm. This placement of the intermediate wall 80 makes it difficult for the chips generated from the IC plate 64 to reach a position where the sensor arm 59 is detected by the sensor 103.

The center of the IC plate 64 is disposed closer to the lateral surface 66 of the light access portion 62 than to the lateral surface 67. The light emitting portion in the sensor 103 is facing the lateral surface 67, and the photosensitive portion located in the sensor 103 is facing the lateral surface 66, as described above. A distance along which the chips generated from the IC plate 64 travel to the lateral surface 67 is greater than a distance along which the chips move to the lateral surface 66. The light emitted from the light emitting portion of the sensor 103 has become blurred to a greater extent when the light exits the lateral surface 66 of the light access portion 62 than when the light enters the lateral surface 67 of the portion 62 of light access. Therefore, the possibility of the displacement of the chips towards the lateral surface 67 is less than the possibility of the displacement of the chips towards the lateral surface 66. On the lateral surface 66, therefore, even if the chips have been displaced to the light access portion 62, a detection result of the sensor 103 is less affected.

Seen in the descending and ascending directions 54, the geometric axis of rotation 61 of the sensor arm 59 overlaps the light access portion 62. Thus, a portion, of the light access portion 62, which is used for the rotation of the sensor arm 59 is reduced in the downward and upward directions 54. By therefore, the dimension of the IC plate 64 in the descending and ascending directions 54 is reduced. As a result, the internal space in the light access portion 62 can be saved.

Since, on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, the recess 99 is offset from the IC plate 64 in the removal direction 52, the chips generated from the IC plate 64 remain in the recess 99. This It makes it difficult for chips to disperse.

Seen in the descending directions 53 and ascending 54, the IC plate 64 overlaps with the ink feed portion 34. This allows the ink cartridge 30 to be designed so as to extend a distance between the IC plate 64 and the light access portion 62.

The positioning surface 89 is arranged to be placed in front of the downward direction 53 in a position where, viewed in the downward direction 53, the positioning surface 89 and the IC plate 64 overlap. Therefore, the positional accuracy of the IC plate 64 can be increased with respect to the contacts 106.

Since a lower surface 89 of the first projection 85 configured to restrict the movement of the ink cartridge 30 in the upward and downward directions 53, and that the lower surface 89 of the first projection 85 is disposed upwardly with respect to the portion 34 of ink outlet in the upward direction 54 and arranged downwardly with respect to the circuit board 64 in the upward direction 54 the IC board 64 is precisely located on the contacts 106 in the downward and upward directions 54.

The ink cartridge 30 comprises the sensor arm portion 59 as the first light attenuation portion and the intermediate wall 80 as the second light attenuation portion and the first light attenuation portion and the second light attenuation portion are arranged by above the circuit board 64. This allows the sensor to detect the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 and the sensor 103 to detect the state of the liquid in the ink cartridge 30 that is disposed in an upper area of the unit 110 cartridge fixing. This allows both sensors to be arranged on the same electrical circuit board. The situation of a common electrical circuit board contributes to the reduction of cost and space compared to a situation in which, respectively, two electrical circuit boards are arranged for the two sensors.

Variant

In the embodiment described above, an aspect has been indicated in which, when the sensor arm 59 is rotated within the light access portion 62, the state of the light passing in which the light passes through the light access portion 62 is modified. However, a change in the state of the passage in which the light passes through the light access portion 62 can be achieved using a different procedure than that of the sensor arm 59. For example, light attenuation as a change in a state in which the light passes through the light access portion 62 can be achieved using a portion of light attenuation that is movable due to a change in the level of the liquid existing in the liquid retention chamber or using a lateral surface of the light attenuation portion to completely block the light. Alternatively, the light attenuation portion can absorb some of the light, can refract the light or can fully reflect the light to dim the light. Another procedure can be used. The user can visually verify the detection of the liquid level to retain the amount of liquid that remains in the liquid retention chamber.

For example, the liquid level sensing portion may include a light guide path as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-313447. In this case, the incident part 67 or the emission part 68 in the publication is equivalent to the light access portion. The liquid level sensing portion may comprise a reflective member and a prism. That is, the access portion of the liquid can be used as a reflective member. Figs. 16A and 16B are a perspective view of the vicinity of a liquid detection portion within an ink cartridge; A cross section of a head portion of a reflective member 800 is illustrated. Although not illustrated in Figs. 16A and 16B, an IC plate is disposed on the upper surface 414 of the ink cartridge and at the head part of the reflective member 800 and the reflective member 800 is disposed behind and above the IC plate as part of the portion of light access. As illustrated in Fig. 16A, the reflective member 800 is disposed a certain distance above the upper surface 414 of the ink cartridge. The reflective member 800 incorporates reflective portions 801 and 802 that are constituted, for example, of aluminum foil and, therefore, can reflect the light. The upper surface 414 is constituted by a member through which the light can pass. A prism 390 is formed at the upper end of the retention chamber 36. Prism 390 is disposed below circuit board 64. Prism 390 is configured to reflect the light according to the amount of liquid stored in the ink cartridge 30, and the reflective member 800 is configured to reflect the light that it travels from the emission portion towards the prism (390A) or reflect the light in the prism (390B) towards the photosensitive portion.

In Fig. 16B, the retention chamber 36 is completely filled with ink. When the ink is in contact with surfaces 390A and 390B of prism 390, which are facing the retention chamber 36, the light (indicated by a dotted line in Fig. 16B) emitted from the light emitting portion on sensor 103 in the The right direction 55 is reflected in the descending direction 53 on the reflective Proposition 801, passes through the surface 390A of the prism 390 and enters the holding chamber 36. If the ink inside the holding chamber 36 is reduced and is not in contact with surfaces 390A or 390B of prism 390, as illustrated in Fig. 16A, the light, which has been emitted from the light emitting portion of the sensor 103 and reflected in the descending direction 53 on the reflecting portion 801, is reflected in the right direction 55 on the surface 390A of the prism 390, propagates in the prism 390, is reflected in the ascending direction 54 on the surface 390B and it reaches the reflective 802 portion. The light reflected on the reflective portion 802 reaches the photosensitive portion of the sensor 103. As described above, the intensity of the light received by the sensor 103 varies depending on the amount of ink remaining in the holding chamber 36, therefore a reduction of the amount of the remaining light can be detected on the basis of a detection signal from the sensor 103. Also in this variant, since the reflective portions 801 and 802 are arranged above the IC plate, it is possible to prevent chips generated from the IC plate from adhering to the 801 and 802 reflective portions.

A light access portion can be defined as follows. On the basis that there is a position A and a position B aligned in the right 55 and left 56 directions. When the light, for example, visible light or infrared light that moves in the right 55 or left 56 directions is emitted from position A, the light reaches position B with an intensity of l. When the light access portion is located between position A and position B and the amount of liquid stored in chamber 36 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, the light emitted from position A and moving in the directions right 55 or left 56 reaches one of the right side and left side surfaces of the light access portion. When this happens, the light coming from the other of the right side and left side surfaces of the light access portion reaches position B with an intensity less than one half of I, for example, with an intensity of zero. On the other hand, when the light access portion is located between position A and position B, and the amount of liquid stored in the chamber 36 is less than the predetermined amount, the light emitted from position A and moving in the right 55 and left 56 directions it reaches the right side or left side surfaces of the light access portion. When this happens, the light leaving one of the two surfaces or right side or left side of the light access portion reaches position B with an intensity greater than or equal to one half of l.

For example, the light emitting portion of sensor 103 is located in position A, and the light receiving portion (photosensitive portion) of sensor 103 is located in position B. When the light receiving portion of sensor 103 It is composed of a phototransistor for example, the value of the phototransistor collector current is C when the phototransistor receives the light with the intensity of l. When the light access portion is located between position A and position B and the amount of liquid stored in chamber 36 is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount, the light emitted from position A and moving in the directions right 55 and left 56 reaches one of the surfaces between the right side surface and the left side surface of the access portion. When this happens, the light coming out of the other between the right side surface and the left side surface of the light access portion reaches position B with an intensity that is less than half of L, which causes the value of the phototransistor collector current is less than one half of C, for example, it is zero. On the other hand, when the light access portion is located between position A and position B and the amount of liquid stored in the chamber 36 is less than the predetermined amount, the light emitted from position A and moving in the right 55 and left 56 directions reach a surface between the surface of the right side and the surface of the left side of the light access portion. When this happens, the light that leaves the other surface between the one on the right side and the one on the left side of the light access portion reaches the B position with an intensity greater than or equal to half of L, which causes the value of the phototransistor collector current is greater than or equal to one half of C. In the embodiment described above, the lateral surface 66 corresponds to the right lateral surface of the light access portion, and the surface 67 lateral corresponds to the left lateral surface of the light access portion.

The maximum dimension of the light access portion in the right 55 and left 56 directions (in the embodiment described above, the maximum distance between the lateral surface 66 and the lateral surface 67 in the right 55 and left 56 directions) is less than the maximum dimension of the ink cartridge 30 (in the embodiment described above, the maximum distance between the lateral surface 143 or 37 and the lateral surface 144 or 38 in the right 55 and left 56 directions). With this configuration, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion (photosensitive portion) of the sensor 103 can be located close to each other and, therefore, the accuracy of the detection of the amount of liquid is increased.

The light access portion crosses the light that travels in the right 55 and left 56 directions while the electrode 65 is accessed in the upward 53 direction and that is perpendicular to the right 55 and left 56 directions. Therefore, if access electrode 65 via contact 106 in the downward direction 53 and the ink cartridge 30 changes its orientation, the ink cartridge 30 changes its direction in the downward and upward directions 53 but not in the right 55 and left 56 directions. Therefore, when the electrode 65 is accessed, an angle at which the light crosses the light access portion does not change. If you change the angle at which the light crosses the light access portion that change would affect the detection of the amount of liquid. However, because the direction in which the light travels is perpendicular to the direction in which the electrode 65 is accessed, the angle at which the light crosses the light access portion does not change, and thus the detection of the amount of liquid can be reduced.

Although the slide 107 and the extension spring 114 have been disposed within the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the embodiment described above, this arrangement is optional. For example, the cartridge fixing unit 110 may lack the slide 107 and the extension spring 114, and only the helical spring 78 and the ink feed portion 34 can be used to push the ink cartridge 30 by inserting it into the cartridge fixing unit 110 in the removal direction 52.

Although the IC plate 64 and the blocking surface 151 have been arranged on different covers, the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31, in the embodiment described above, the IC plate 64 and the blocking surface 151 may be arranged on the same cover member.

Although the rear surface 82 of the intermediate wall 80 has a Y-shaped portion and the rear Y-shaped surface 82 covers the front of the light access portion 62, in another embodiment, the rear surface 82 of the intermediate wall 80 may incorporate the l-shaped portion, and not the Y-shaped portion. In other words, the dimension of the intermediate wall 80 in the left and right directions may be less than the distance of surfaces 66 and 67. sides of the light access portion.

Although in the above-described embodiment the positioning surface 89 has been disposed within the ink cartridge 30, the positioning surface 89 may not necessarily be incorporated. In a structure in which the positioning surface 89 is not disposed within the ink cartridge 30, there is a risk that, in a state in which the ink needle 102 of the cartridge fixing unit 110 is inserted into the ink feed opening 71, the ink cartridge 30 can rotate in the downward and upward directions 53, centered around a position where the ink needle 102 and the ink feed opening 71 are in mutual contact . Since, in the insertion direction 51, the IC plate 64 is arranged closer to the center described above than is the light access portion 62 and the locking surface 151 however, the IC plate 64 It is less likely to be affected by rotation. Therefore, it is possible to increase the certainty of the contacts between the IC board 64 and the contacts 106, that is, the reliability of the contacts. In a case where the positioning surface 89 is disposed within the ink cartridge 30, the positioning surface 89 may be arranged above or below the ink feed opening 71. In the insertion direction 51, however, the positioning surface 89, preferably, is arranged closer to the IC plate 64 than is the light access portion 62. In this case too, since the IC plate 64 is offset from the light access portion 62 in the insertion direction 51, the reliability of the contacts can be increased.

Although in the embodiment described above, the IC plate 64 has been arranged in the front cover 32 and the blocking surface 151 has been arranged in the rear cover 31, the IC plate 64 and the blocking surface 151 may remain arranged in a single cover between the front and rear covers 32. If the ink cartridge 30 has a single cover member, the IC plate 64 and the locking surface 151, and the positioning surface 89 may be arranged in the cover member

Although the ink has been described as an example of a liquid in the embodiment described above, a pretreatment liquid ejected on a recording sheet in the course of printing before the ink is ejected, for example, can be retained inside the liquid cartridge. Alternatively, the water used to clean the recording head 21 may be retained in the liquid cartridge.

Claims (20)

1. - A liquid cartridge (30) comprising: a front surface (140); an upper surface (39, 141) facing in an ascending direction (54) when the liquid cartridge (30) is installed inside a liquid consumption apparatus, in which the ascending direction (54) is an opposite direction to the direction of the force of gravity; a liquid outlet portion (34) facing in a first direction (51) on the front surface (140); a circuit board (64) disposed on the upper surface (39, 141); Y a liquid detection portion (60) to detect a state of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge (30); Y a blocking surface (151) disposed on the upper surface (39, 141) and configured to contact a locking portion (145) of a cartridge fixing unit (110) for the liquid consumption apparatus in a second direction ( 52) opposite the first direction; wherein the liquid detection portion (60) comprises a light access portion (62) configured for access by the light moving from a first point to a second point, and wherein the blocking surface (151) is displaced from the light access portion (62) in the second direction (52), characterized because the light access portion (62) is displaced from the circuit board (64) in the second direction (52). 2. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to claim 1, wherein the liquid cartridge (30) is configured to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation within the cartridge fixing unit (110) , wherein the blocking surface (151) is configured to contact the blocking portion (145) towards the second direction (52) when the liquid cartridge (30) is in the first orientation, and the surface (151) Lock is configured to be disposed below the blocking portion (145) when the liquid cartridge (30) is in the second orientation. 3. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light access portion (62) is disposed closest to the blocking surface (151) in the first direction (51) than to the circuit board (64) in the first direction (51). 4. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an upper edge of the light access portion (62) is arranged closer to the blocking surface (151) than the circuit board (64) in the upward direction (54). 5. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the blocking surface (151) is disposed above the light access portion (62) in the direction ( 54) ascending. 6. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the circuit board (64), the light access portion (62), and the surface (151) of blocking cross a virtual plane parallel with the first direction (51) and the ascending direction (54). 7. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light access portion (62) is disposed above the circuit board (64) in the direction ( 54) ascending. 8. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an intermediate wall (80) disposed between the circuit board (64) and the light access portion (62) , and the intermediate wall (80) includes a concrete surface (81, 82) that extends in a third direction (55, 56) that crosses the first direction (51) in the upward direction (54). 9. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate wall (80) is arranged closer to the light access portion (62) than to the circuit board (64) in the first address (51). 10. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the liquid detection portion (60) is configured to change a state of the light moving from the first point up to the second point and accessing the light access portion (62) according to an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge (30). 11. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to claim 10, wherein the light access portion (62) is configured to enable the light moving from the first point to the second point to pass through it, and the liquid detection portion (60) further comprises a light attenuation portion (59), a portion (68) of which is configured to be located in the light access portion (62), wherein the portion (68) of the light attenuation portion (59) is configured to change a state of the light passing through the light access portion (62) depending on whether an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge (30) it is less than or not a certain amount. 12. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to claim 11, wherein the portion (68) of the light attenuation portion (59) is disposed above the circuit board (64) when the amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge (30) is greater than or equal to the amount determined. 13. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 11 to 12, further comprising a chamber (36) configured to store inside the liquid, in which the attenuation portion (59) of light is a sensor arm (59) configured to rotate around a geometric axis of the chamber (36), and when the sensor arm (59) rotates, the portion (68) of the sensor arm (59) changes the state of light passing through the light access portion (62). 14. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the light access portion (62) is composed of a transparent material, defines a continuous internal space with the chamber ( 36) and protrudes in the upward direction (54) with respect to the upper surface (39, 141). 15. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to claim 13 or 14, further comprising a main body (35) defining the chamber (36) and a cover (31, 32) covering the body (35) main, and in which the light access portion (62) is disposed on the main body (35), and projects outwardly from the cover (31, 32) through an opening formed through the cover ( 31, 32). 16. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the circuit board (64) is overlapped with the liquid outlet portion (34) seen in the direction (54 ) ascending. 17. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising a positioning surface (89) configured to restrict the movement of the liquid cartridge (30) in the direction (54) ascending and a descending direction (53). 18. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to claim 17, wherein the positioning surface (89) is located above the liquid outlet portion (34) and below the circuit board ( 64) in the upward direction (54). 19. - The liquid cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 17 or 18, wherein the positioning surface (89) faces the descending direction (53) and overlaps with the circuit board ( 64) seen in the upward direction (54). 20. - The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the light access portion (62) is configured to access the light moving from the first point to the second point in a third direction (55, 56) perpendicular to the first direction (51) and the upward direction (54).