ES2771525T3 - Liquid cartridge and system for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section (110) in a forward direction (51) perpendicular to a gravitational direction (53) in a vertical posture, the section having fixing the cartridge (110) a liquid supply tube (102) extending in the front-to-rear direction (51, 52), the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) comprising: in the posture vertical liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430), a cartridge body (130, 134, 330, 530) having a liquid storage chamber (32, 33, 190) configured to store liquid inside ; and a liquid supply portion (34) defining a liquid passage (35) therein, the liquid supply portion (34) being configured to supply the stored liquid in the liquid storage chamber (32, 33 , 190) to an exterior through the liquid passage (35) in the forward direction (51), the liquid supply portion (34) comprising: a front end face (79A) facing forward, the passage extending liquid (35) in the front-to-back direction (51, 52) and opening forward at the front end face (79A); an outer peripheral surface extending rearwardly from the front end face (79A); and at least one guide (175) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the liquid supply portion (34) and extending in the front-to-rear direction (51, 52), each of the at least one being configured guide (175) to be guided by the corresponding at least one projection (105) provided in the cartridge attachment section (110) and extending in the front-to-rear direction (51, 52) during attachment of the delivery tube liquid (102) to the liquid supply portion (34) at the time of attachment of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) to the cartridge attachment section (110), each having the at minus one projection (105), a surface (196) and another surface (197) that crosses the surface (196), each of the at least one guide (175) including: a first guide portion (176) extending in the front-to-back direction (51, 52) and configured to be in contact with the one surface (196); and a second guide portion (177) extending in the front-to-back direction (51, 52) and configured to be in contact with the other surface (197), wherein the at least one guide (175) includes the least one guide slot (175), wherein the first guide portion (176) includes a first guide surface (176) extending in the front-to-rear direction (51, 52), wherein the second guide portion ( Guide (177) includes a second guide surface (177) that extends in the front-to-back direction (51, 52) and intersects the first guide surface (176), characterized in that the at least one Guide (175) comprises a plurality of guide grooves (175), the plurality of guide grooves (175) including a first guide groove (175A), a second guide groove (175B), a third guide groove (175C). ) and a fourth guide slot (175D), wherein, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430), the first guide slot (17 5A) is positioned opposite the fourth guide groove (175D) with respect to the liquid passage (35) in a first direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction (51, 52), and where, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430), the second guide groove (175B) is positioned opposite the third guide groove (175C) with respect to the liquid passage (35) in a second direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction (51, 52) and the first direction.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Liquid cartridge and system for it

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to a liquid cartridge including: a housing having a liquid storage chamber; and a liquid supply portion configured to supply liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to an exterior. The present disclosure also relates to a configured liquid cartridge system and a liquid consuming device.

Background of the technique

A printer is known in the art that includes a print head configured to eject ink supplied from an ink cartridge through nozzles. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-185650 discloses an ink cartridge configured to be attached to a cartridge attachment section provided in the main body of a printer. Another example is given in CN 101310986. In a state where the ink cartridge is fixed to the cartridge fixing section, an ink needle provided in the cartridge fixing section is inserted into a supply tubular portion. of ink provided in the ink cartridge. In this way, ink can be supplied from the ink cartridge to a recording head through the ink needle. The cartridge fixing section is provided with a hollow cylindrical guide portion at a position around the ink needle. During the process of fixing the ink cartridge to the cartridge fixing section, the hollow cylindrical guide portion guides the tubular ink supply portion. Accordingly, the ink needle is inserted into an interior space of the ink supply portion.

List of references

Patent bibliography

PTL1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-185650

Summary of the invention

Technical problem

When the hollow cylindrical guide portion guides the tubular ink supply portion, an outer peripheral surface of the ink supply portion contacts an inner peripheral surface of the guide portion. By virtue of this contact, the ink supply portion is held in position with respect to the guide portion. However, if the positioning of the ink supply portion is performed by contact between the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply portion and the inner peripheral surface of the guide portion, the ink supply portion may wobble with with respect to the guide portion since an area of the peripheral surface used to position the ink supply portion is extensive. If the ink supply portion wobbles from the guide portion during the fixing of the ink cartridge to the cartridge fixing section, the ink needle may collide with the ink supply portion, so that the ink attached to the tip end of the ink needle can adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply portion. In this case, a user's hand may be contaminated by the ink adhered to the ink supply portion when the ink cartridge is separated from the cartridge fixing section.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a liquid cartridge capable of suppressing wobbling of a liquid supply portion relative to the liquid supply tube when the liquid supply portion is guided to a portion. guide of a cartridge fixing section.

Solution to the problem

(1) To achieve the above object as well as others, according to one aspect, the disclosure provides a liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge fixing section in a forward direction perpendicular to a gravitational direction in a vertical posture. The cartridge fixing section has a liquid supply tube that extends in a front to back direction. The liquid cartridge includes: in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, a cartridge body and a liquid supply portion. The cartridge body has a liquid storage chamber configured to store liquid within it. The liquid supply portion defines a liquid passage therein. The liquid supply portion is configured to supply the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to an exterior through the liquid passage in the forward direction. The liquid supply portion includes: a front end face, an outer peripheral surface, and at least one guide. The front end face faces forward. The liquid passage extends in the front-to-back direction and is open forward at the front end face. The outer peripheral surface extends rearward from the face of front end. The at least one guide is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the liquid supply portion and extends in the front to back direction. Each of the at least one guide is configured to be guided by the corresponding at least one projection provided in the cartridge attachment section and extend in the front-to-rear direction during attachment of the liquid supply tube to the portion of the cartridge. liquid supply at the time of fixing the liquid cartridge to the cartridge fixing section. The projection has one surface and another surface that crosses the surface. Each of the at least one guide includes: a first guide portion and a second guide portion. The first guide surface extends in the front to back direction and is configured to be in contact with a surface. The second guide surface extends in the front to back direction and is configured to be in contact with the other surface.

According to the structure described above, the at least one guide is guided by the corresponding projection during insertion of the liquid supply tube into the liquid supply portion. That is, the guide provided in the liquid supply portion serves as a reference surface for positioning the liquid supply portion. In this case, an area of the reference surface used to position the liquid supply portion may be smaller compared to a case where the outer circumferential surface of the liquid supply portion functions as the reference surface. In this way, the liquid supply portion can be positively guided towards the liquid supply tube to allow the liquid supply tube to be inserted into the liquid passage without the liquid supply portion colliding with the supply tube. of liquid.

(2) According to the structure described above, the at least one guide includes at least one guide groove. The first guide portion includes a first guide surface that extends in the front to back direction. The second guide portion includes a second guide surface that extends in the front to back direction and intersects the first guide surface.

(3) According to the structure described above, the at least one guide groove includes a plurality of guide grooves. The plurality of guide grooves include a first guide groove, a second guide groove, a third guide groove, and a fourth guide groove. In the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, the first guide groove is positioned opposite the fourth guide groove with respect to the passage of the liquid in a first direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. In the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, the second guide groove is positioned opposite the third guide groove with respect to the passage of liquid in a second direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and the first direction.

According to the structure described above, the liquid supply portion is formed with four of the guide grooves. Accordingly, the liquid supply portion can be safely guided into the liquid supply tube.

(4) Preferably, each of the at least one guide is open in a direction perpendicular to the first guide portion and a direction perpendicular to the second guide portion.

According to the structure described above, each of the first guide portion and the second guide portion is open. That is, the guide does not have a surface facing the first guide portion and the second guide portion. Therefore, the interference between the liquid supply portion and the projection can be restricted, even if the liquid cartridge enters the cartridge fixing section or is pulled out of the cartridge fixing section with the liquid cartridge inclined at relation to the cartridge fixing section. (5) Preferably, the at least one guide includes four guide grooves. Each of the four guide grooves has a leading edge that is open at the leading end face of the liquid supply portion. The front edge of each of the four guide grooves forms a substantially L-shape on the front end face of the liquid supply portion in a front view. The front end face has a generally rectangular shape when in front view. The front edges of the four guide grooves are provided at four respective corner portions of the rectangular shaped front end face of the liquid supply portion.

According to the structure described above, each of the guide grooves is formed in each corner of the plug. Accordingly, the outer shape of the plug can be simplified compared to a case where the guide groove is provided in a central portion of each of an upper surface, a lower surface, a left surface and a right surface of the plug. .

(6) Preferably, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, the liquid supply portion includes a protrusion protruding in a direction that crosses the front to back direction. The protrusion has an upper end surface and a lower end surface. At least one of the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the boss serves as one of the at least one guide.

(7) Preferably, the liquid supply portion includes a sealing portion formed with a through hole configured to communicate the liquid passage with an exterior of the liquid supply portion and allow the liquid supply tube to extend through its through. The sealing portion is configured to seal a gap provided between the liquid supply tube that extends through the through hole and the liquid passage. The sealing portion has a front end. In the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, the first guide portion has a rear end positioned rearwardly from the front end of the sealing portion.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the rear end of the first guide portion is positioned rearward from the front end of the sealing portion. Since the first guide portion is guided by the projection during fixing of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge fixing section, the position of the sealing portion can be stabilized. Therefore, the liquid supply tube can be inserted safely in the passage of liquid.

(8) Preferably, the at least one guide groove includes a particular guide groove. The particular guide groove further has a third guide surface positioned rearward with respect to the first guide surface and sloped with respect to the front-to-back direction in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge. According to the structure described above, since the third guide surface is inclined relative to the front-to-back direction, a space is provided between the third guide surface and the cartridge fixing section. Therefore, the interference between the liquid supply portion and the projection can be restricted, even if the liquid cartridge enters the cartridge fixing section or is pulled out of the cartridge fixing section with the liquid cartridge inclined at relation to the cartridge fixing section.

(9) Preferably, the third guide surface is continuous with the first guide surface of the particular guide groove.

According to the structure described above, the guiding of the liquid supply portion to the liquid supply tube can be performed uniformly.

(10) Preferably, the cartridge body includes: in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, a first bottom wall and a second bottom wall. The second bottom wall is positioned back and down relative to the first bottom wall. The second bottom wall has a sloped bottom surface with respect to the front to back direction so that its rear end is positioned upward relative to its front end. The bottom surface of the second bottom wall and the front to back direction define an angle. In the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, the liquid supply portion is positioned downward relative to the first bottom wall and forward relative to the second bottom wall. In the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, the particular guide groove is open in a direction perpendicular to the third guide surface. The third guide surface is sloped with respect to the front-to-rear direction so that its rear end is positioned upward relative to its front end. The third guide surface and the front to back direction define an angle greater than the angle defined by the bottom surface of the second bottom wall and the front to back direction.

According to the structure described above, the interference between the third guide surface and the projection can be avoided even if the liquid cartridge is fixed and separated from the cartridge fixing section with the inclined posture of the liquid cartridge so that the bottom surface of the second bottom wall abuts the cartridge fixing section.

(11) Preferably, the cartridge body is pivotally movable relative to the cartridge attachment section. The cartridge body includes an engagement portion configured to engage the cartridge attachment section by pivotal movement of the cartridge body relative to the cartridge attachment section. According to the structure described above, the cartridge body is pivotally moved to tilt during the attachment of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge attachment section and the separation of the liquid cartridge from the cartridge attachment section. However, the interference of the liquid supply portion against the projection can be restricted even if the cartridge body is tilted by the pivoting movement as described above.

(12) Preferably, the liquid supply portion includes: a sleeve, a sealing portion, and a plug. The sleeve extends from the body of the cartridge. The sleeve has a hollow configuration that defines an interior space that serves as a liquid passage. The sealing portion is formed with a through hole configured to communicate the passage of liquid with an exterior of the liquid supply portion and to allow the liquid supply tube to extend therethrough. The plug is configured to cover the sleeve with the sealing portion interposed between the plug and the sleeve to retain the sealing portion. The plug has an outer peripheral surface that serves as the outer peripheral surface of the liquid supply portion in which at least one guide is provided.

(13) Preferably, the cartridge body includes: a circuit board and a top wall on which the circuit board is provided. In the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge, the at least one guide includes a guide and another guide. Each of the guide and the other guide are provided in a position facing away from the circuit board in a widthwise direction perpendicular to a top to bottom direction and the front to back direction. The guide and the other guide are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the circuit board in the width direction.

According to the structure described above, each of the guide and the other guide contact the corresponding projection at an outward position of the circuit board in the left-to-right direction during fixing of the liquid cartridge to the section of cartridge fixing and liquid cartridge separation from the cartridge fixing section. Therefore, the inclination in the width direction of the circuit board can be restricted during fixing or detaching of the liquid cartridge.

(14) Preferably, the liquid supply portion includes a plug and an absorber. The plug has an interior space. The absorber is provided in the interior space of the plug and is configured to absorb liquid.

According to the structure described above, the absorber can absorb the filtered liquid from the liquid supply portion. Therefore, the flow of the filtered liquid from the liquid supply portion to the outside of the liquid cartridge can be reduced.

(15) Preferably, the cap has a circumferential edge portion that defines an opening configured to communicate the interior space of the cap with an exterior of the cap. The absorber includes a first absorber disposed adjacent the circumferential edge portion defining the opening.

Liquid filtered from the liquid supply portion flows out of the liquid cartridge through the opening. According to the structure described above, the first absorber can absorb the liquid that passes through the opening.

(16) Preferably, the absorber includes a second absorber positioned below the liquid passage in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge.

Most of the filtered liquid from the liquid supply portion flows downward due to gravitational force. In accordance with the structure described above, the second absorber is arranged in the interior space of the plug in a downward position relative to the passage of liquid. Therefore, the liquid leaked from the liquid supply portion and flowing downward can be absorbed by the second absorber. (17) Preferably, the cap has an inner peripheral surface defining the interior space and a circumferential edge portion defining an opening configured to communicate the interior space of the cap with an exterior of the cap. The inner peripheral surface of the plug is formed with a groove extending from the circumferential edge portion defining the opening to the second absorber.

Furthermore, according to the structure described above, the filtered liquid from the liquid supply portion can be directed to the second absorber through the slot.

(18) In accordance with another aspect, the disclosure provides a configured system of the liquid cartridge and the liquid consuming device. The liquid consuming device includes the cartridge fixing section. The cartridge fixing section includes: the liquid supply tube and the at least one projection. The liquid supply tube is connected to the liquid supply portion of the liquid cartridge in a state in which the liquid cartridge is fixed to the cartridge fixing section. The at least one projection has one surface and the other surface perpendicular to the surface. The at least one projection is configured to guide the at least one liquid cartridge guide during attachment of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge attachment section.

Advantageous effects of the invention

The liquid cartridge according to the present disclosure can suppress the wobbling of the liquid supply portion with respect to the liquid supply tube when the liquid supply portion is guided to the guide portion of the cartridge fixing section. .

Brief description of the drawings

[fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating an internal structure of a printer 10 provided with a cartridge attachment section 110 to which an ink cartridge 30 is removably attached according to one embodiment ;

[fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge attachment section 110 according to the embodiment viewed from a rear side thereof;

[fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing section of the cartridge 110 and the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment, illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been fully fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110;

[fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment seen from a front side thereof;

[fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment viewed from a rear side thereof;

[fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a left side view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment;

[fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment; [fig. 8A] Fig. 8A is a perspective view of a first inner cap 131 of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment viewed from a lower side thereof;

[fig. 8B] Fig. 8B is a perspective view of the first inner cap 131 seen from an upper side thereof;

[fig. 9A] Fig. 9A is a perspective view of a second inner cap 132 of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment viewed from a lower side thereof;

[fig. 9B] Fig. 9B is a perspective view of the second inner cap 132 seen from an upper side thereof;

[fig. 9C] Fig. 9C is a cross-sectional view of a labyrinth path 143 formed in the second inner cap 132 taken along a line C-C in Fig. 9B;

[fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment;

[fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment taken along a line XI-XI in Fig. 6;

[fig. 12] Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of an ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment viewed from a front side thereof;

[fig. 13A] Fig. 13A is a perspective view of a cap 79 of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment viewed from a rear side thereof; [fig. 13B] Fig. 13B is a perspective view of cap 79 viewed from a front side thereof;

[fig. 14] Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment taken along a line XIV-XIV in Fig. 6;

[fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the attachment section of the cartridge 110 and a left side view of the ink cartridge 30 during a process of attachment of the ink cartridge 30 to the attachment section of the cartridge 110 of agreement with the performance;

[fig. 16] Fig. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing section of the cartridge 110 and the ink cartridge 30 during the process of fixing the ink cartridge 30 to the fixing section of the cartridge 110 according to the embodiment ;

[fig. 17] Fig. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge attachment section 110 and the ink cartridge 30 during the process of attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment section 110 according to the embodiment , illustrating a state in which the ink supply portion 34 has been connected to an ink needle 102 but a valve body 161 has not yet moved to its open position;

[fig. 18] Fig. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the attachment section of the cartridge 110 and a left side view of the ink cartridge 30 during the process of attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the attachment section of the cartridge 110 of according to the embodiment, illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has pivotally moved within the cartridge fixing section 110;

[fig. 19] Fig. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing section of the cartridge 110 and the ink cartridge 30 during the process of fixing the ink cartridge 30 to the fixing section of the cartridge 110 according to the embodiment , illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been pivotally moved within the cartridge fixing section 110 in accordance with the embodiment;

[fig. 20] Fig. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing section of the cartridge 110 and a left side view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the embodiment, illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is has fully attached to cartridge attachment section 110;

[fig. 21] Fig. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view of ink cartridge 30 illustrating a variation of cartridge housing 130;

[fig. 22] Fig. 22 is a left side view of ink cartridge 30 illustrating a variation of light blocking plate 67;

[fig. 23] Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a 30K ink cartridge, in which black ink is stored, according to a variation of the ink cartridge 30 seen from a front side thereof;

[fig. 24] Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the 30K ink cartridge according to the variation taken along a line XXIV-XXIV in Fig. 23;

[fig. 25] Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the 30K ink cartridge according to the variation taken along a line XXV-XXV in Fig. 23;

[fig. 26A] Fig. 26A is a bottom view of a first inner cap 1131 in accordance with a first variation of the first inner cap 131;

[fig. 26B] Fig. 26B is a bottom view of a first inner cap 2131 in accordance with a second variation of the first inner cap 131;

[fig. 26C] FIG. 26C is a bottom view of a first inner cap 3131 according to a third variation of the first inner cap 131;

[fig. 27A] Fig. 27A is a perspective view of an ink cartridge 230 according to a first modification of the ink cartridge 30 viewed from a front side thereof;

[fig. 27B] Fig. 27B is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 430 according to a second modification of the ink cartridge 30 viewed from a front side thereof; and

[fig. 28] Fig. 28 is a view for description illustrating a state in which guide portions 575 are guided by corresponding projections 105.

Description of the achievements

With reference to Figs. 1 to 22, an ink cartridge 30 according to an embodiment and a printer 10 to which the ink cartridge 30 can be detachably attached will be described, wherein like parts and components are designated with the same reference numerals for avoid duplicating the description. In the embodiment, a combination of the ink cartridge 30 and the printer 10 constitutes a system 1.

In the following description, a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into a cartridge fixing section 110 of the printer 10 is defined as a "forward direction 51" while a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge attachment section 110 is defined as a "rearward direction 52". The forward direction 51 and the backward direction 52 are opposite each other. As will be described later, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge fixing section 110 in a horizontal direction. Therefore, both the forward direction 51 and the backward direction 52 are considered directions parallel to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the gravitational direction. Furthermore, a direction perpendicular to the forward direction 51 or the backward direction 52 is defined as a "downward direction 53". A direction opposite to the downward direction 53 is defined as an "upward direction 54". A direction perpendicular to the forward direction 51 and the downward direction 53 is defined as a "right direction 55". A direction opposite to the right direction 55 is defined as a "left direction 56". The right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are also parallel to the horizontal plane.

Therefore, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is capable of being used or operated by the printer 10, downward direction 53 is coincident with a direction of a gravitational force acting on the ink cartridge 30 (ie, gravitational direction), and the upward direction 54 is coincident with a direction opposite to the gravitational direction. Therefore, in a state that the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110 and can be used by the printer 10, an outer surface of a main lower wall portion 42 (described later) of a cartridge housing 130 (described below) faces downward, that is, faces in the gravitational direction. Furthermore, in this state, the forward direction 51 and the backward direction 52 are perpendicular to the gravitational direction.

Also, the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are defined as directions perpendicular to the forward direction 51 and the down direction 53. More specifically, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110 and can be used by the printer 10, the right direction 55 is a right direction and the left direction 56 is a left direction when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from a back side of it.

It is to be noted that a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110 or a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is capable of being operated by the printer 10 implies a state of the ink cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 has been fully inserted into a fixing position in the cartridge fixing section 110. In the fixing position, an ink needle 102 provided in the cartridge fixing section 110 is inserted in an ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 to be coupled to the ink supply portion 34, and an integrated circuit board 64 (described later) provided in the ink cartridge 30 is in contact with the contacts 106 (described below) provided in the cartridge fixing section 110. Hereinafter, a posture of the ink cartridge 30 in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the section An attachment of the cartridge 110 or a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is capable of being operated by the printer 10 will be referred to as an "operating posture". The operating posture of the ink cartridge 30 will also be referred to as the "upright posture". Also,

the forward direction 51 and the backward direction 52 may be referred to collectively as the "front to back direction". The upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 may collectively be referred to as the "top-down direction". The right direction 55 and the left direction 56 may be collectively referred to as the "left-to-right direction". Also,

In the following description, an expression "forward-facing" means "oriented in a direction containing a forward component, an expression" rearward-facing "means" oriented in a direction containing a backward component. "Furthermore, an expression "oriented downward" means "oriented in a direction containing a downward component" and an expression "oriented upward" means "oriented in a direction containing an upward component." For example, a sentence "A front surface oriented forward "denotes that the front surface may be oriented in the forward direction, or the front surface may be oriented in an inclined direction relative to the forward direction, as long as the direction contains a forward component.

<Printer overview 10>

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the printer 10 is an image printing apparatus configured to selectively eject ink drops onto the printing sheets to print images thereon based on an ink jet printing system. Printer 10 is, for example, an ink jet printer. The printer 10 includes a print head 21, an ink supply device 100, and ink tubes 20 that connect the print head 21 to the ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 includes the fixing section of the cartridge 110. The cartridge attachment section 110 can removably house a plurality of ink cartridges 30. The cartridge attachment section 110 has an opening 112 on one side thereof. Through the opening 112, each of the ink cartridges 30 can be inserted into the cartridge fixing section 110 in the forward direction 51 and removed from the cartridge fixing section 110 in the rearward direction 52. In the In embodiment, four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to the respective four colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and black may be housed in the cartridge fixing section 110 of the ink supply device 100. For explanatory purposes, in the description that follows and In the drawings, only one ink cartridge 30 is assumed to be attached to the cartridge attachment section 110, unless otherwise specified.

The ink cartridge 30 stores liquid therein. Specifically, the ink cartridge 30 stores ink therein that can be used for printing operations performed on the printer 10. When the ink cartridge 30 has been fully attached to the cartridge attachment section 110, the ink cartridge 30 is connected to the print head 21 through the corresponding ink tube 20. The print head 21 has a plurality of (four in the embodiment) buffer chambers 28 corresponding to the plurality of ink cartridges 30. Each buffer chamber 28 is adapted for temporarily storing ink supplied from the corresponding ink cartridge 30 through the corresponding ink tube 20. The print head 21 also includes a plurality of nozzles 29 through which the ink supplied from the respective buffer chambers is selectively ejected 28. More specifically, the print head 21 is provided with a control board of the head ezal (not illustrated) and a plurality of corresponding piezoelectric elements 29A in exact correspondence with the plurality of nozzles 29. The head control board is configured to selectively apply drive voltages to the plurality of piezoelectric elements 29A to selectively eject ink from the nozzles 29. In this way, the print head 21 is configured for consuming ink stored in each ink cartridge 30 which is attached to the cartridge attachment section 110.

Printer 10 includes a sheet feed tray 15, a sheet feed roller 23, a pair of conveyor rollers 25, a platen 26, a pair of discharge rollers 27, and a sheet discharge tray 16. Sheet feed 23 feeds print sheets from the sheet feed tray 15 into a transport path 24. The print sheets conveyed to the transport path 24 are then received by the pair of conveyor rollers 25. The pair of conveyor rollers 25 conveys the print sheets onto the platen 26. The print head 21 selectively ejects ink onto the print sheets as the print sheets pass over the platen 26, whereby images are printed on the print sheets. The pair of discharge rollers 27 receives the printing sheets that have passed over the platen 26 and discharges the printing sheets into the sheet discharge tray 16 disposed further downstream in the transport path 24.

<Ink supply device 100>

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the ink supply device 100 is provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 is configured to supply ink to the print head 21. The ink supply device 100 includes the cartridge attachment section 110, a plurality of (four in the embodiment) reservoirs 103, and the plurality of (four in the embodiment) ink tubes 20. The ink cartridges 30 may be removably attached to the cartridge section. cartridge attachment 110. It should be noted that Fig. 1 illustrates a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been fully attached to the cartridge attachment section 110. That is, in Fig. 1, the cartridge The ink cartridge 30 is its attached state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been fully attached to the cartridge attachment section 110. In other words, the ink cartridge 30 illustrated in Fig. 1 is in its above-described operational posture. .

<Cartridge fixing section 110>

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the cartridge attachment section 110 includes a housing 101, a plurality of (four in the embodiment) ink needles 102, a plurality of (four in the embodiment) projection plates 111, a plurality of (four in the embodiment the embodiment) optical sensors 113 and a plurality of sets (four sets in the embodiment) of contacts 106. As described above, the four types of ink cartridges 30 corresponding to four ink colors, that is, cyan, magenta, yellow and black can be removably mounted on the cartridge fixing section 110. The four ink needles 102, the four projection plates 111, and the four optical sensors 113 are provided in exact correspondence with the four ink cartridges 30. Four contacts 106 are provided for an ink cartridge 30. Accordingly, four sets of four contacts 106 are provided, that is, a total of 16 (sixteen) contacts 106 for the four ink cartridges 30. The four ink tanks 103 and the four ink tubes 20 are provided in exact correspondence with the four ink cartridges 30.

<Accommodation 101>

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 101 constitutes a receiving means for the attachment section of the cartridge 110. The housing 101 has a generally box-like shape defining an internal space. Housing 101 has an inner top surface 57, an inner bottom surface, a right side inner surface 107, a left side inner surface 108, an inner end surface 59, and opening 112. The inner top surface 57 defines the portion. top of the internal space of the housing 101. The bottom interior surface defines the bottom of the internal space of the housing 101. The interior surface of the right side 107 defines the right portion of the internal space of the housing 101. The interior surface of the left side 108 defines the left part of the internal space of the housing 101. The inner end surface 59 connects the upper inner surface 57, the lower inner surface, the inner surface of the right side 107 and the inner surface of the left side 108. The aperture 112 is formed in the housing 101 at a position facing the inner end surface 59 at the front to back direction. The aperture 112 may be exposed to a user interface surface of the printer 10 that a user can look at when operating the printer 10.

Each ink cartridge 30 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 101 through the opening 112. The housing 101 has a bottom formed with a plurality of (four in the embodiment) guide slots 109 to guide insertion and removal of the cartridges. ink cartridge 30 relative to the housing 101. The movements of the respective ink cartridges 30 in the front-to-back direction (ie, in Fig. 2, a direction perpendicular to the surface of the sheet) are guided by the grooves corresponding guide plates 109 as the lower end portions of the ink cartridges 30 are inserted into the corresponding guide grooves 109. The housing 101 has three plates 104 (Fig. 2) that divide the internal space into four individual spaces, each elongated in the direction from top to bottom. Each of the four spaces divided by the plates 104 can receive one of the four corresponding ink cartridges 30.

<Ink needle 102>

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, each ink needle 102 has a hollow tubular shape and is disposed in a lower end portion of an end wall (ie, a wall having the inner end surface 59) of the housing 101. On the wall of the housing 101, the ink needles 102 are arranged at positions corresponding to the corresponding ink supply portions 34 of the ink cartridges 30 housed in the cartridge fixing section 110. Each ink needle 102 protrudes backwardly from the inner end surface 59 of the housing 101 and is open at its distal end (ie, the rear end). Incidentally, each ink needle 102 may have a flat-shaped tip or a pointed tip.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of projections 105 are formed on the inner surface of the right side 107, the inner surface of the left side 108, and the plates 104 of the housing 101. The projections 105 are provided on the housing 101 in the vicinity of the ink needles 102. In this embodiment, four projections 105 are provided for each ink needle 102. More specifically, when viewed in an insertion direction the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the section cartridge attachment 110 (that is, in the forward direction 51), the four projections 105 are respectively positioned on an upper right side, an upper left side, a lower right side and a lower left side with respect to each needle. ink 102. Specifically, the four projections 105 include a projection 105A, a projection 105B, a projection 105C, and a projection 105D. The projection 105A is arranged on the upper right side with respect to the ink needle 102. The projection 105B is arranged on the upper left side with respect to the ink needle 102. The projection 105C is arranged on the lower right side with respect to to the ink needle 102. The projection 105D is arranged on the lower left side with respect to the ink needle 102. Hereinafter, the four projections 105A, 105B, 105C and 105D will also be referred to collectively "105 projections". As illustrated in Fig. 15, the projections 105 extend in the front to back direction.

Each projection 105 has a first guide surface 196 and a second guide surface 197. In Fig. 2, for the sake of simplicity, reference signs 196 and 197 appear only on the first guide surfaces 196 and the second guide surfaces. guide 197 of projections 105A, 105B, 105C and 105D positioned in the rightmost space of housing 101.

The first guide surface 196 is a plane extending in the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction. The second guide surface 197 is a plane extending in the front to back direction and the top to bottom direction. The second guide surface 197 is connected to the first guide surface 196. Incidentally, the first guide surface 196 and the second guide surface 197 need not be connected to each other.

The first guide surface 196 of the projection 105A and the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105C are opposed to each other and are spaced from each other in the up-down direction. The first guide surface 196 of the projection 105B and the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105D are opposed to each other and are spaced from each other in the up-down direction. The second guide surface 197 of the projection 105A and the second guide surface 197 of the projection 105B are opposed to each other and are spaced from each other in the direction from left to right. The second guide surface 197 of the projection 105C and the second guide surface 197 of the projection 105D are opposed to each other and are spaced from each other in the left-to-right direction.

It is to be noted that the projections 105 need not be positioned on the upper right side, the upper left side, the lower right side and the lower left side with respect to each ink needle 102. The projections 105 can be positioned on a left side , a right side, an upper side and a lower side with respect to each ink needle 102. Furthermore, three or less projections 105, or five or more projections 105 may be provided for each ink needle 102.

<Projection plate 111>

As illustrated in Fig. 3, a projection plate 111 is provided in each of the four spaces of the housing 101 in which one of the four ink cartridges 30 can be accommodated. Accordingly, four plates are provided projection 111 in housing 101, with one in each of the four cartridge housing spaces. Specifically, the projection plates 111 each protrude, in the respective cartridge housing spaces, downwardly from the inner upper surface 57 of the housing 101 at positions near the opening 112. Each projection plate 111 has a dimension in the direction from left to right less than a separation distance between a pair of walls 114 that constitute a protruding portion 43 (see Fig. 4, described below) of the ink cartridge 30. Furthermore, the projection plate 111 is located between the pair of walls 114 in the left-to-right direction when the ink cartridge 30 has been inserted into the cartridge fixing section 110. During the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing section 110, the plate of projection 111 advances towards a space between the pair of walls 114 of the protruding portion 43 of the ink cartridge 30. When the ink cartridge 30 has been completely fixed the cartridge fixing section 110, the projection plate 111 is positioned between the pair of walls 114 in the direction of left to right, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Projection plate 111 has a bottom surface 111A capable of abutting a lever 163 of a valve mechanism 135 (see Fig. 3, described below) .

<Contact 106>

As illustrated in Fig. 3, a set of four contacts 106 (only one contact is shown in Fig. 3) is disposed in each of the four cartridge housing spaces of housing 101. Specifically, the The set of four contacts 106 is disposed on the inner upper surface 57, in each cartridge housing space of the housing 101, in a front position of the projection plate 111. The set of four contacts 106 protrudes downward from the surface upper inner 57 towards the cartridge housing space of the housing 101. The four contacts 106 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the left-to-right direction, although not illustrated in the detailed drawings. The four contacts 106 in each set are arranged in positions corresponding respectively to four electrodes 65 (described below, see Fig. 4) provided on each of the ink cartridges 30. Each contact 106 is formed of a material having electrical conductivity and resilience. In this way, the contacts 106 can be resiliently deformable upward. In the embodiment, four sets of the four contacts 106 are provided, each set for each of the four ink cartridges 30 that can be housed in the housing 101. Thus, a total of 16 (sixteen) contacts 106 are provided on the housing 101. However, contacts 106 and electrodes 65 may be provided in any desired number.

Each of the contacts 106 is electrically connected to an arithmetic unit (not shown) of the printer 10 through an electrical circuit. The arithmetic unit can include a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, for example. The arithmetic unit can function as, for example, a printer controller 10. By contacting the four corresponding electrodes 65, the four contacts 106 are electrically connected thereto, respectively. As a result, a voltage Vc is applied to one of the four electrodes 65; another of the four electrodes 65 is connected to ground; a signal indicative of data is transmitted to another of the four electrodes 65, and a synchronization signal is transmitted from the arithmetic unit to the other of the four electrodes 65. Once the contacts 106 have been electrically connected to the corresponding electrodes 65, respectively, the arithmetic unit can access data stored in an integrated circuit of the ink cartridge 30. The output of each of the contacts 106 through the electrical circuit is input to the arithmetic unit.

<Optical sensor 113>

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the four optical sensors 113 are arranged on the upper inner surface 57 of the housing 101. Specifically, each of the optical sensors 113 is arranged, in each cartridge housing space of the housing 101. , in a forward position of the set of four contacts 106. Each of the optical sensors 113 includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The light emitter and the light receiver are opposite each other in the direction from left to right. Specifically, the light emitter is located to the left or to the right of the light receiver with a space in between. When the ink cartridge 30 has been fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110, a light blocking plate 67 (described later, see Figs. 2 and 4) of the fixed ink cartridge 30 is positioned between the light emitter. light and the light receiver of the corresponding optical sensor 113. In other words, the light emitter and the light receiver of the optical sensor 113 are arranged in opposite positions to each other so that the light blocking plate 67 of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment section 110 is positioned between the light emitter and the light receiver.

Each optical sensor 113 is adapted to emit different detection signals depending on whether or not the light receiver has received light emitted in the left-to-right direction from the light emitter. For example, the optical sensor 113 emits a low-level signal when the light receiver cannot receive the light emitted by the light emitter (that is, when an intensity of the light received by the light receiver is less than a value prescribed). On the other hand, the optical sensor 113 emits a high level signal when the light receiver receives the light emitted by the light emitter (that is, when the intensity of the received light is equal to or greater than the prescription value).

<Lock tree 145>

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a locking shaft 145 is provided in the housing 101. The locking shaft 145 extends in the left-to-right direction near the inner upper surface 57 and the housing opening 112. 101. The locking shaft 145 is a bar-shaped member that extends in the left-to-right direction. The locking shaft 145 is made of metal and is shaped like a column, for example. Locking shaft 145 has left and right end portions retained to the walls defining the left and right ends of housing 101. Thus, locking shaft 145 is immovable, eg, non-pivotal, relative to housing 101. The locking shaft 145 extends in the direction from left to right, encompassing the four cartridge housing spaces of the housing 101, in each of which the ink cartridge 30 can be housed. Cartridge housing there is a space around the locking shaft 145. Therefore, a locking surface 151 (described below) of each ink cartridge 30 can access the locking shaft 145 by moving upward or backward.

Here, the term "access" can imply a physical access or a contact (such as, a contact in which the locking shaft 145 contacts the locking surface 151), or an optical access (such as, an exposure of the light blocking plate 67 (described below) to the light emitted by the optical sensor 113). Alternatively, the term "access" may imply electrical access (such as, establishing an electrical connection between the electrodes 65 of the integrated circuit board 64 (described below) and the contacts 106 to allow a current to flow between them when contacts 106 come into contact with electrodes 65. In addition, access can be achieved in the upward or downward direction or in the left-to-right direction. Alternatively, access may be achieved in the front-to-right direction. behind.

The locking shaft 145 is adapted to retain the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment section 110 in the locking position. The ink cartridge 30 engages with the locking shaft 145 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment section 110 and is pivotally moved to the operative position. Furthermore, the locking shaft 145 retains the ink cartridge 30 in the clamping position in the cartridge clamping section 110 against a biasing force of a helical spring 78 (see Fig. 3) of the biasing ink cartridge 30. the ink cartridge 30 to the rear.

<Deposit 103>

As illustrated in Fig. 1, each reservoir 103 is provided in a forward position from housing 101. Reservoir 103 is box-shaped allowing ink to be stored therein. Tank 103 has an atmosphere communication port 124 at its top. Through the communication port with atmosphere 124, the tank 103 opens to the outside. That is, an interior space of the reservoir 103 is open to an atmosphere through the atmosphere communication port 124. In a rear portion of the reservoir 103, the interior space of the reservoir 103 communicates with the interior space of the ink needle 102. Hence, the ink exiting the ink cartridge 30 through the corresponding ink needle 102 is stored in the corresponding reservoir 103. Four ink tubes 20 are connected to the four reservoirs 103, respectively. The ink stored in the interior space of each reservoir 103 is thus supplied to the print head 21 through the corresponding ink tube 20.

<General structure of ink cartridge 30>

The ink cartridge 30 is a container for storing liquid, such as ink, therein. As described above, in the embodiment, four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to the respective four colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and black can be attached to the cartridge attachment section 110. Of the four ink cartridges 30, three ink cartridges 30 corresponding to three colors of cyan, magenta and yellow respectively are identical in structure as illustrated in Fig. 4. The ink cartridge 30 corresponding to a black color differs in structure from the other three cartridges of ink 30 in that the dimension in the left-to-right direction of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to a black color is greater than that of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta and yellow colors. Apart from this difference, the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to a black color is substantially identical to the other three ink cartridges 30 corresponding to the colors cyan, magenta and yellow. The composition of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 is not particularly limited, but the ink may be pigment-based ink having a sedimentary component, for example. Alternatively, the ink can be dye-based ink.

First, the structure of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to the colors cyan, magenta and yellow will be described in detail. With respect to the configuration of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to a black color, only the parts that differ from those of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to the colors cyan, magenta and yellow will be described later as a variation of the ink cartridge 30. It should be noted that hereinafter, the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to a black color will also be referred to as the 30K ink cartridge when it is necessary to distinguish between the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta and yellow and the ink cartridge. ink 30 corresponding to a black color.

The posture of the ink cartridge 30 illustrated in Figs. 4-6 is a posture of the ink cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 is in the operational posture, that is, a posture of the ink cartridge 30 in a state that the ink cartridge 30 can be used in the printer 10 The posture of the ink cartridge 30 illustrated in Figs. 4-6 is also known as "upright posture." The ink cartridge 30 includes a front wall 40, 82, a rear wall 41, 83, an upper wall 39, a lower wall 42, 48, a right side wall 37, 84, and a left side wall 38, 85.

In the operative posture of the ink cartridge 30, the front wall 40, 82 faces forward. In the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11, front wall 40 includes an inner curved surface 117A and an outer curved surface 117B opposite the inner curved surface 117A, and an inner curved surface 118A and an outer curved surface. 118B opposed to inner curved surface 118A.

In the operational posture of the ink cartridge 30, the rear wall 41, 83 faces rearward. In the operational posture of the ink cartridge 30, the top wall 39 faces upward. Furthermore, in the operating posture of the ink cartridge 30, a front end of the upper wall 39 is connected to an upper end of the wall. Front 82 and a rear end of the upper wall 39 is connected to an upper end of the rear wall 83. That is, the upper wall 39 extends in the front-to-back direction between the front wall 40, 82 of the ink cartridge. 30 and the rear wall 41, 83 of the ink cartridge 30.

In the operational posture of the ink cartridge 30, the bottom wall 42, 48 faces downward. The bottom wall 42, 48 extends in the front-to-back direction between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41. In the embodiment, the bottom wall 42, 48 includes the main lower wall portion 42 and a subordinate wall portion bottom 48. A connection wall 49 connects the main bottom wall portion 42 to the subordinate bottom wall 48. In the operative posture, the connection wall 49 is facing forward. In the operating posture of the ink cartridge 30, a front end of the lower wall 42, 48 (that is, a front end of the subordinate lower wall portion 48) is connected to a lower end of the front wall 40. One end A rear end of the bottom wall 42, 48 (that is, a rear end of the main portion of the bottom wall 42) is connected to a bottom end of the rear wall 41. The main portion of the bottom wall 42 connects the bottom end of the rear wall 41 to a lower end of the connecting wall 49. The subordinate lower wall portion 48 connects the lower end of the front wall 40 to an upper end of the connecting wall 49. In the embodiment, as shown illustrated in Figs. 10 and 14, the lower wall subordinate portion 48 includes an inner curved surface 115A and an outer curved surface 115B opposite the inner curved surface 115A, an inner curved surface 116A, and an outer curved surface 116B opposite the inner curved surface 116A, and an inner curved surface 119A and an outer curved surface 119B opposite the inner curved surface 119A.

When the ink cartridge 30 is in the operative position, the right side wall 37, 84 faces to the right. Also, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the operative posture, the left side wall 38, 85 faces to the left.

When the ink cartridge 30 is in the operational posture, a direction from the rear wall 41 towards the front wall 40 coincides with the forward direction 51, and a direction from the front wall 40 towards the rear wall 41 coincides with the direction towards back 52. In addition, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the operational posture, a direction from the upper wall 39 to the lower wall 42, 48 coincides with the downward direction 53 (that is, the gravitational direction), and a direction from the bottom wall 42, 48 towards the top wall 39 coincides with the upward direction 54. Furthermore, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the operating posture, a direction from the left side wall 38 towards the right side wall 37 matches with the direction to the right 55, and a direction from the right side wall 37 to the left side wall 38 coincides with the direction to the left 56. When the ink cartridge 30 is in position operating position, the forward direction 51, the backward direction 52, and the front to back direction coincide with a longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge 30; the downward direction 53, the upward direction 54 and the up-down direction coincide in a height direction of the ink cartridge 30; and the right direction 55, the left direction 56 and the left to right direction coincide in a direction across the width of the ink cartridge 30.

Also, when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment section 110, an outer surface (i.e., front surface) of the front wall 40, 82 faces forward, an outer surface (i.e., rear surface ) of the rear wall 41, 83 is facing rearward, an outer surface (i.e., the bottom surface) of the bottom wall 42, 48 is facing downward, an outer surface (that is, upper surface) of the upper wall 39 facing upward, an outer surface (i.e., the right surface) of the right side wall 37, 84 is facing the right, and an outer surface (i.e., the left surface) of the left side wall 38, 85 it is oriented to the left.

As illustrated in Figs. 4-6, the ink cartridge 30 has a generally flattened rectangular parallelepiped shape so that a dimension of the ink cartridge 30 in the left-to-right direction is small, and a dimension of the ink cartridge 30 in the up-to-right direction. down and a dimension of the ink cartridge 30 in the front-to-back direction are larger than the dimension of the ink cartridge 30 in the left-to-right direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the ink cartridge 30 includes the cartridge housing 130, a first inner cap 131, a second inner cap 132, a semi-permeable membrane 141, a film 133, a film 146, a cap exterior 134, a valve mechanism 135, a support member 150, and the ink supply portion 34.

<Cartridge housing 130>

As illustrated in FIG. 7, cartridge housing 130 has a generally box-shaped shape that opens upward. That is, the cartridge housing 130 has an opening 95 at its upper end. In the embodiment, the cartridge housing 130 is a container made of resin. As illustrated in FIG. 10, a first storage chamber 32 and a second storage chamber 33 are formed within the cartridge housing 130.

As illustrated in Figs. 4-7, the cartridge housing 130 includes the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37, the left side wall 38, the main portion of the bottom wall 42, the portion bottom wall 48 and connecting wall 49. Front wall 40, rear wall 41, right side wall 37, left side wall 38, main portion of bottom wall 42, bottom bottom wall 48 and the connecting wall 49 constitute outer walls of the cartridge housing 130. The rear wall 41 is spaced from the front wall 40 in the front to back direction. The left side wall 38 faces the right side wall 37 in the left to right direction. A gap distance between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 is greater than a gap distance between the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38. The front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37, the left side wall 38, the subordinate portion of the bottom wall 48 and an interior portion of the bottom wall 45 (Fig. 10, described below) define a first storage chamber 32.

Connection wall 49 and front wall 40 constitute the front wall of cartridge housing 130.

In the operating posture of the ink cartridge 30, the front surface of the front wall 40 is a forward-facing surface of the cartridge housing 130, while the rear surface of the rear wall 41 is a surface of the cartridge housing 130. rearward facing. The front surface of the connecting wall 49 is also a forward facing surface of the cartridge housing 130. The right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38 respectively extend in a direction that crosses the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41. The right side wall 37 connects the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the main portion of the lower wall 42, the subordinate portion of the lower wall 48 and the connecting wall 49. In the same way, the left side wall 38 connects the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the main portion of the lower wall 42, the subordinate portion of the bottom wall 48 and the connecting wall 49. In the operating posture of the ink cartridge 30, the outer surface of the right side wall 37 faces to the right while the outer surface of the left side wall 38 faces oriented to the left.

Of the outer walls of the cartridge housing 130, at least the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38 are formed with a light transmitting material that allows visual recognition of the ink. stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 from outside the cartridge housing 130. For example, at least the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38 are made of resin, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, polypropylene, or the like, which contains substantially no colorant. More specifically, through at least the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38, the color of the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32, the color of the stored ink in the second storage chamber 33 and the surface level of the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 can be visually recognized. When there is no or little ink left in the first storage chamber 32, an upper surface 45A (Fig. 10) of the inner bottom wall portion 45 (described below) can be visually recognized from the outside of the ink cartridge 30 to through the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38. The main lower wall portion 42 and the subordinate lower wall portion 48 may also be formed from a transmitting material of light. In other words, the cartridge housing 130 can be made of transparent or semi-transparent resin. In the embodiment, two storage chambers, that is, the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33, constitute a liquid storage chamber of the ink cartridge 30. Rather, the ink cartridge 30 may have a liquid storage chamber constituted by a storage chamber. In this case, the inner bottom wall portion 45 can be dispensed with.

The right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38 extend in the up-down direction and in the front-to-back direction. As illustrated in Fig. 14, the right side wall 37 is sloped with respect to the up-down direction, so that its lower end is positioned more to the left than its upper end. Accordingly, an inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37 is also sloped with respect to the up-down direction, so that its lower end is positioned more to the left than its upper end. The left side wall 38 is sloped with respect to the up-down direction, so that its lower end is positioned further to the right than its upper end. Accordingly, an inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38 is also sloped with respect to the up-down direction, so that its lower end is positioned more to the right than its upper end. Hence, a separation distance in the left-to-right direction between the inner surface 37A and the inner surface 38A gradually decreases in the downward direction 53. In other words, a separation distance in the left-to-right direction between the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37 and the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38 at their lower ends is less than a separation distance in the left-to-right direction between the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37 and the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38 at its upper ends. As long as the inner surface 37A and the inner surface 38A are sloped relative to the up-down direction, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38 may not be sloped and extend in the up-down direction. Alternatively, the right side wall 37, the left side wall 38, the inner surface 37A, and the inner surface 38A need not be sloped relative to the up-down direction.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the main portion of the bottom wall 42 slopes with respect to the front to back direction. Specifically, a lower surface of the main portion of the lower wall 42 is a sloping surface that is sloped relative to the front-to-back direction such that its rear end is positioned higher than its front end. The front end of the main portion of the bottom wall 42 is positioned forward with respect to the locking surface 151 (described below). The rear end of the lower wall main portion 42 is connected to the lower end of the rear wall 41. That is, the lower wall main portion 42 extends forward from the lower end of the rear wall 41. The portion Lower wall subordinate 48 is positioned upward and forward relative to main lower wall portion 42.

As illustrated in Figs. 4-7, an upper end portion of each of front wall 40, rear wall 41, right side wall 37, and left side wall 38 has a mating claw 88 protruding out of the cartridge housing 130 Each coupling claw 88 can be engaged with an opening 86 formed in the outer cap 134. In the embodiment, each of the coupling claws 88 is provided on each of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the wall right side 37 and left side wall 38. That is, a coupling claw 88 is provided on each of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37, and the left side wall 38. However, it is provided may provide more than one engagement claw 88 on each of front wall 40, rear wall 41, right side wall 37, and left side wall 38.

<First inner cover 131>

The first inner cap 131 illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B is adapted to close the opening 95 formed in the upper end of the cartridge housing 130. As illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B, the first inner lid 131 is generally box-shaped, opening upward. The first inner cap 131 includes a bottom wall 136, a peripheral wall 137 that rises from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall 136, and a flange wall 138 that projects outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 137.

The bottom wall 136 has a through hole 46 that penetrates the thickness of the bottom wall 136 in the up-down direction. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the through hole 46 is formed in a rearward position relative to a front-rear center in an air chamber 36 of an air communication passage 72 (described below). An upper surface 136A of lower wall 136 slopes downward toward through hole 46.

The through hole 46 need not be formed in the position specified in Figs. 3 and 10. The through hole 46 may be formed in a forward position with respect to the front-rear center in the air chamber 36. Furthermore, the upper surface 136A need not be sloped as described above.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, the first inner cap 131 is attached to the cartridge housing 130 through the opening 95 formed in the upper end of the cartridge housing 130 from above and is arranged in an interior space. of the cartridge housing 130. The first inner cap 131 is supported by the cartridge housing 130 in the inner space of the cartridge housing 130. More specifically, in a state in which the first inner cap 131 is arranged in the space In the interior of the cartridge housing 130, a bottom surface 138A of the flange wall 138 at a front end portion of the first inner cap 131 is supported by a stepped surface 40B of the front wall 40 of the cartridge housing 130. The stepped surface 40B is formed in an upper end portion of an inner surface (ie, rear surface) of the front wall 40. In addition, a lower surface 138B of the flange wall 138 in a rear end portion of the first inner cap 131 is supported by a stepped surface 41B of the rear wall 41 of the cartridge housing 130. The stepped surface 41B is formed in an upper end portion of an inner surface (ie that is, the front surface) of the rear wall 41. In a state that the first inner cap 131 is supported on the cartridge housing 130, an upper end face 137A of the peripheral wall 137 of the first inner cap 131 and an upper end face 130A of cartridge housing 130 is positioned in the same imaginary plane expanding in the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction.

As illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B, the first inner cap 131 further includes two first ribs 185 and two second ribs 186. The first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 are formed on a lower surface 136B of the lower wall 136. In other words, two are provided assemblies of the first rib 185 and the second ribs 186 on the bottom surface 136B. The first ribs 185 and second ribs 186 serve as guides when the first inner cap 131 is attached to the cartridge housing 130. In addition, the first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 provide rigidity to the cartridge housing 130 when the first lid Interior 131 is attached to cartridge housing 130.

The first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 project downwardly from the bottom surface 136B. The first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 each have a protruding length from the bottom surface 136B equal to each other. In other words, each of the two first ribs 185 and the two second ribs 186 have a lower end in an equal position to each other with respect to the up-down direction.

First ribs 185 and second ribs 186 extend along bottom surface 136B. The first two ribs 185 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the front to back direction. Both second ribs 186 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the front to back direction. The first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 are positioned forward with respect to the through hole 46. Each of the first ribs 185 and the corresponding one of the second ribs 186 are arranged opposite and spaced from each other in the direction from left to right . A gap formed between the first rib 185 and the corresponding second rib 186 can facilitate ink flow when the ink cartridge 30 is filled with the ink.

Each of the first ribs 185 has an extension portion 185A and an inclined portion 185B. Similarly, each of the second ribs 186 has an extension portion 186A and an inclined portion 186B.

In a state in which the first inner cap 131 is supported on the cartridge housing 130, the extension portion 185A of each first rib 185 is in contact with the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37 while the extension portion 186A of each second rib 186 is in contact with the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38. Each extension portion 185A extends to the left from its base end that contacts the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37. Each extension portion 186A extends to the right from its base end that contacts the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38.

The inclined portion 185B extends from a distal end (i.e., the left end) of the extension portion 185A and is inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction such that a left end of the inclined portion 185B is positioned more rearward than a right end of the sloped portion 185B. The inclined portion 186B extends from a distal end (i.e., the right end) of the extension portion 186A and is inclined with respect to the front-to-back direction, so that a right end of the inclined portion 186B is positioned further back than a left end of the sloped portion 186B. That is, the inclined portion 185B extends toward the through hole 46 from the extension portion 185A and is inclined with respect to the front-to-back direction such that a distal end of the inclined portion 185B farthest from the extension portion 185A is positioned closer to the through hole 46 in the left to right direction than a base end of the inclined portion 185B connected to the extension portion 185A to the through hole 46. Similarly, the inclined portion 186B extends towards the through hole 46 from the extension portion 186A and is inclined with respect to the front-to-back direction so that a distal end of the inclined portion 186B furthest from the extension portion 186A is positioned closer to the through hole 46 in the direction from left to right than a base end of the inclined portion 186B connected to the extension portion 186A.

The distal end (i.e., the rear end) of the inclined portion 185B of one of the first ribs 185 is positioned further rearward than the distal end (i.e., the rear end) of the inclined portion 186B of the corresponding one of the second ribs 186 opposing that of first ribs 185 in the left-to-right direction. In the same way, the distal end (i.e., the rear end) of the inclined portion 185B of the other of the first ribs 185 is positioned further rearward than the distal end (i.e., the rear end) of the inclined portion. 186B of the corresponding one of the second ribs 186 which opposes the other of the first ribs 185 in the left to right direction. Thus, the distal end of the inclined portion 185B of each first rib 185 is positioned closer to the through hole 46 than the distal end of the inclined portion 186B of the corresponding second rib 186.

Incidentally, neither the number of the first ribs 185 nor the number of the second ribs 186 is limited to two. Furthermore, the first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 can be formed rearward with respect to the through hole 46. Furthermore, the distal end of the sloped portion 186B of the second rib 186 can be positioned rearward with respect to the distal end of the portion. inclined 185B of the corresponding first rib 185.

<Second inner cover 132>

As illustrated in Figs. 9A and 9B, the second inner cap 132 is plate-shaped.

The second inner lid 132 is attached to the first inner lid 131 from above through an upper opening of the first inner lid 131 and is disposed in an inner space of the first inner lid 131 defined by the lower wall 136 and the peripheral wall 137. The second inner cover 132 is supported by the first inner cover 131 in the inner space of the first inner cover 131. Specifically, in a state where the second inner cover 132 is arranged in the inner space of the first inner cover 131, a lower surface 132B of the second inner cap 132 is in contact with a stepped surface 137B (see Fig. 8B) of the peripheral wall 137 of the first inner cap 131. The stepped surface 137B is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 137 and is oriented upward. Consequently, the bottom surface 132B contacts the stepped surface 137B from above.

The second inner cap 132 is provided with a rib 149 on its upper surface 132A. The rib 149 projects upwardly from a peripheral edge portion of the upper surface 132A. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second inner cap 132 is supported by the first inner cap 131, and the first inner cap 131 is supported by the cartridge housing 130. In this state, an upper end face 149A of the rib 149 of the second inner cap 132, upper end face 137A of peripheral wall 137 of first inner cap 131, upper end face 130A of cartridge housing 130 are positioned in the same imaginary plane expanding in the forward direction to back and in the direction from left to right.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, the second inner cap 132 has a through hole 139. In a state where the second inner cap 132 is supported on the first inner cap 131, the through hole 139 opposes the hole. through hole 46 of the first inner cover 131 in the up-down direction and is positioned above the through hole 46. In other words, in a state where the second inner cover 132 is supported on the first inner cover 131, the hole through hole 139 is positioned in alignment with through hole 46 with respect to the top to bottom direction.

The second inner cap 132 further includes a rib 140 on the bottom surface 132B. Rib 140 projects downwardly from bottom surface 132B. Rib 140 is positioned forward with respect to through hole 139. Rib 140 has a rectangular frame shape when second inner cap 132 is viewed from a lower side thereof. The shape of the rib 140 is not limited to a rectangular frame shape, as long as the rib 140 has a closed shape when the second inner cap 132 is viewed from a lower side thereof. For example, rib 140 may have a circular shape when second inner cap 132 is viewed from a lower side thereof.

Semi-permeable membrane 141 (see FIG. 7) is welded or fused to a lower end surface of rib 140. Semi-permeable membrane 141 is a porous film that has small holes that block ink passage but allow ink to flow. air passage. The semipermeable membrane 141 is made of fluorine resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl ethyl copolymer, or tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer.

Since the semi-permeable membrane 141 is welded to the lower end surface of the rib 140, the rib 140, the lower surface 132B of the second inner cap 132, and the semi-permeable membrane 141 define a space 89.

The second inner cap 132 also has a through hole 142. The through hole 142 has an open end (ie, the lower open end) formed in the lower surface 132B at a position within the rib 140 when the second inner cap 132 is view from a lower side of it. In other words, the through hole 142 is formed in the second inner cap 132 so that the open end of the through hole 142 is positioned in a portion of the bottom surface 132B that provides the space 89. That is, the through hole 142 is in communication with the space 89. Thus, the through hole 142 and the semipermeable membrane 141 are opposed to each other in the top-down direction, with the space 89 interposed in the top-to-bottom direction. The through hole 142 is formed in a frontal position with respect to the front-rear center of the air chamber 36 of the air communication passage 72. The through hole 142 is positioned in a portion of the right front end in a region surrounded by the rib 140.

Incidentally, the through hole 142 need not be formed in the position specified in Fig. 9. For example, the through hole 142 may be formed in a rearward position with respect to the front-rear center of the air chamber 36. Alternatively , the through hole 142 may be positioned in a left front end portion or a rear end portion in the region surrounded by rib 140.

Second inner cap 132 also has a labyrinth path 143 on top surface 132A, as illustrated in Figs. 9B and 9C. Labyrinth path 143 is defined by upper surface 132A, a plurality of ribs 144 provided on upper surface 132A, and film 146 (see FIG. 7) welded to the upper end faces of ribs 144.

The plurality of ribs 144 extend in the front-to-back direction and juxtapose one another in the left-to-right direction. Thus, the labyrinth path 143 is a continuous step extending from right to left, repeatedly turning in a U in the front to back direction. The labyrinthine path 143 may not have the shape illustrated in Fig. 9B. For example, the labyrinth path 143 may be a continuous step extending in the front-to-back direction, repeatedly turning in a U-turn in the left-to-right direction.

The labyrinth path 143 has one end that is in communication with the through hole 142 and the other end that is in communication with a communication hole 147.

Communication port 147 is a circular port that opens upward. Communication port 147 is defined by top surface 132A and rib 148. Rib 148 has a hollow cylindrical shape and protrudes upward from top surface 132A. Rib 148 is connected to ribs 144. Thus, rib 148 is connected to labyrinth path 143. In other words, communication port 147 is in communication with labyrinth path 143. Film 133 and film 146 are formed from of a material that is impermeable to liquid and air. Neither film 146 nor film 133 (see FIG. 7 ⁾ are welded to an upper end face of rib 148. Communication port 147 thus opens upward and in communication with the atmosphere. Communication port 147 constitutes one end of air communication passage 72.

The communication port 147 has an area when the communication port 147 is viewed from above. This area of the communication hole 147 is greater than a cross-sectional area of the labyrinth path 143 taken along a plane perpendicular to a direction of air flow, that is, a cross-sectional area of the labyrinth path 143. taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-to-back direction illustrated in Fig. 9C. In the embodiment, the area of the communication hole 147 is in a range of 3.1 square millimeters to 23.7 square millimeters while the cross-sectional area of the labyrinthine path 143 is in a range of 0.8 square millimeters to 1, 0 square millimeters, for example.

By the way, the communication port 147 is not limited to a circular port. Furthermore, the communication port 147 may be oriented in any direction other than the upward direction 54.

In addition, the second inner cap 132 has a rib 156, a pair of ribs 157, and a pair of ribs 158 on the upper surface 132A around the through hole 139.

Rib 156 protrudes from top surface 132A along a peripheral edge of through hole 139. Rib 156 has a hollow cylindrical shape. The rib 156 is adapted to retain the position of a rod 165 of a valve body 161 of the valve mechanism 135 (see Figs. 7 and 10) inserted in the through hole 139 with respect to the left-to-right direction and the front to back direction.

The pair of ribs 157 is provided so that the rib 156 is interposed between the ribs 157 in the front to back direction. Each rib 157 is U-shaped, with a "U" shaped opening facing the rib 156 when viewed from above. The ribs 157 are adapted to retain the position of the rod 165 of the valve body 161 of the valve mechanism 135 (see Fig. 7) with respect to the left to right direction and the front to back direction.

The pair of ribs 158 is provided so that the rib 156 and the ribs 157 interpose between the ribs 158 in the front to back direction. Each rib 158 is bent at its distal end. The bent portion of each rib 158 at the distal end is capable of engaging a mating portion 152 of the support member 150 (see FIG. 10).

<Movie 133>

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the film 133 has a rectangular shape. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the film 133 is welded to the upper end face 130A of the cartridge housing 130, the upper end face 137A of the peripheral wall 137 of the first inner cap 131 and the face upper end 149A of rib 149 of second inner cap 132. Film 133 does not necessarily have a rectangular shape. Film 133 can be any shape other than rectangular, as long as film 133 can be welded to top end face 130A, top end face 137A, and top end face 149A, as described above.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the film 133 has an aperture 159 and an aperture 160. The aperture 159 is formed at a position corresponding to the rib 144 in a state in which the film 133 is face welded. top end face 130A, top end face 137A, and top end face 149A. Hence, the film 146 welded to the rib 144 is exposed to the outside through the aperture 159 in a state in which the film 133 is welded to the upper end face 130A, the upper end face 137A, and the upper end face 137A. upper end 149A. The opening 160 is formed in a position corresponding to the rib 156, the ribs 157, the ribs 158 and the valve mechanism 135 in a state in which the film 133 is welded to the upper end face 130A, the end face upper 137A and upper end face 149A. Hence, the rib 156, the ribs 157, the ribs 158, and the valve mechanism 135 are exposed to an exterior through the opening 160 in a state in which the film 133 is welded to the upper end face 130A, the upper end face 137A and the upper end face 149A.

<Outer cover 134>

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the outer cap 134 has a generally box-shaped shape that opens downward. The outer cover 134 includes the top wall 39, the front wall 82, the rear wall 83, the right side wall 84, and the left side wall 85. The front wall 82 extends downward from the front end of the top wall 39. Front wall 82 has a lower end connected to front wall 40 of cartridge housing 130. Front wall 82 of outer cap 134 and front wall 40 and connecting wall 49 of cartridge housing 130 constitute the wall. front of the ink cartridge 30. The rear wall 83 extends downwardly from the rear end of the upper wall 39. The rear wall 83 has a lower end connected to the wall. rear wall 41 of the cartridge housing 130. The rear wall 83 of the outer cap 134 and the rear wall 41 of the cartridge housing 130 constitute the rear wall of the ink cartridge 30. The right side wall 84 extends downward from a right end of the upper wall 39 and connects the front wall 82 to the rear wall 83. The right side wall 84 has a lower end connected to the right side wall 37 of the cartridge housing 130. The right side wall 84 of the cap Outside 134 and the right side wall 37 of the cartridge housing 130 constitute the right side wall of the ink cartridge 30. The left side wall 85 extends downwardly from a left end of the top wall 39 and connects the front wall 82 with the rear wall 83. The left side wall 85 has a lower end connected to the left side wall 38 of the cartridge housing 130. The left side wall 85 of the outer cap 134 and the Left side wall 38 of cartridge housing 130 constitutes the left side wall of ink cartridge 30.

Front wall 82, rear wall 83, right side wall 84, and left side wall 85 each have aperture 86. Mating claws 88 of cartridge housing 130 can engage apertures 86, respectively. By engaging the engagement claws 88 with the openings 86, the outer cap 134 covers the cartridge housing 130 from above. In the embodiment, the openings 86 are formed in the outer cap 134 while the engagement claws 88 are provided in the cartridge housing 130. However, the engagement claws 88 may be provided in the outer cap 134 while the openings 86 can be formed in the cartridge housing 130.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the top wall 39 has an opening 44 that extends in the front to back direction. Aperture 44 is formed in an upward position of rib 156, ribs 157, and ribs 158 of second inner cap 132.

The outer cap 134 includes the projecting portion 43 projecting upwardly from the top wall 39. The projecting portion 43 is provided on the top wall 39 to surround the opening 44 from its right, left and rear sides. The locking shaft 145 (Fig. 3) can access the projecting portion 43 from the outside.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the projecting portion 43 has a rear end whose rear surface faces rearward. The rear surface of the protruding portion 43 serves as the locking surface 151. The locking surface 151 is positioned upward with respect to the upper surface of the upper wall 39. The locking surface 151 extends in the direction from above to down and in the direction from left to right. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110, the rearward facing locking surface 151 is in contact with the locking shaft 145. As the rearward facing locking surface 151 does abutted by the locking shaft 145, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the cartridge attachment section 110 against the biasing force of the coil spring 78. Accessed components and members, such as the protruding portion 43, can be accessed from the outside of the ink cartridge 30 in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the protruding portion 43 includes the pair of walls 114. The pair of walls 114 is positioned forward of the locking surface 151, with the opening 44 interposed therebetween. Each of the walls 114 has an upper end surface that includes a horizontal surface 154 and a sloping surface 155. The horizontal surface 154 has a rear end continuous with the locking surface 151. The sloping surface 155 is positioned forwardly. relative to horizontal surface 154. Sloped surface 155 is continuous to a front end of horizontal surface 154. Sloped surface 155 is oriented upward and forward. The sloping surface 155 is sloped so that its front end is positioned lower than its rear end. Since horizontal surface 154 connects locking surface 151 to sloping surface 155, locking surface 151 and sloping surface 155 do not provide a ridge shape. Thus, during the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing section 110, the locking shaft 145 is guided uniformly by the sloping surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 toward a position further back than locking surface 151 while contacting sloping surface 155 and horizontal surface 154.

The outer cap 134 further includes an operating portion 90. The operating portion 90 is provided on the top wall 39 in a rearward position relative to the locking surface 151. The operating portion 90 can be manipulated by a user. The top wall 39 has a subordinate top surface 91 at its rear end portion. The operation portion 90 is disposed above the subordinate upper surface 91 and spaced apart from the subordinate upper surface 91. The operation portion 90 has a generally flat plate-like shape. Specifically, the operating portion 90 protrudes upward from a boundary region between the subordinate upper surface 91 and a remaining upper surface of the upper wall 39 at a height equal to the protruding portion 43. An upper end of the operating portion 90 is positioned further forward than a lower end of operating portion 90. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, a rib 94 is provided between the operation portion 90 and the subordinate upper surface 91. The rib 94 connects the operation portion 90 to the subordinate upper surface 91. The rib 94 extends rearwardly from the boundary region between the subordinate top surface 91 and the remaining top surface. The rib 94 has a dimension in the left-to-right direction smaller than a dimension in the left-to-right direction of the operating portion 90 and also smaller than a dimension in the direction of left to right of the subordinate upper surface 91. The rib 94 can suppress deformation of a rear portion of the operation portion 90 in the up-down direction.

Operation portion 90 has an upward and rearward facing surface. This surface serves as the operating surface 92. A rear portion of the operating surface 92 and the subordinate upper surface 91 are positioned to overlap each other in the front to back direction. In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from above, the rear portion of the operating surface 92 overlaps the subordinate upper surface 91. On the operating surface 92, a plurality of projections are formed, e.g. eg, a plurality of projecting ribs 93, extending in the direction from left to right. The projecting ribs 93 are spaced from each other in the front to back direction. The protruding ribs 93 as a plurality of projections allow the user to physically recognize the operating surface 92. The protruding ribs 93 may also serve to prevent the user's finger from sliding over the operating surface 92 when the user manipulates the operating surface. 92. As described above, the components or members accessed from outside the ink cartridge 30 can be accessed in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the attachment section of the cartridge 110. However, the components accessed may be components that the user must access to manipulate in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment section 110.

The operating surface 92 can be visually recognized when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from an upper side thereof. The operating surface 92 can also be visually recognized when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from a rear side thereof. The user manipulates the operating surface 92 to remove the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment section 110 thereof. Incidentally, in the embodiment, the operating portion 90 is integrally formed with the outer cap 134. Hence, the operating portion 90 is retained in the outer cap 134 and is immovable with respect to the outer cap 134. Thus , the operation portion 90 does not pivotally move with respect to the outer cap 134. Therefore, a force applied by the user to the operation surface 92 is transmitted directly to the outer cap 134 without changing a direction of the force.

The outer surface of each of the front wall 40, 82, the rear wall 41, 83, the top wall 39, the bottom wall 42, 48, the right side wall 37, 84 and the left side wall 38, 85 constituting the ink cartridge 30 need not be configured as a flat surface. That is, the front surface (that is, the outer surface of the front wall) of the ink cartridge 30 can be any surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 in its operating position is viewed from its front side and is positioned forward relative to a front-rear center of the ink cartridge 30 in its operational state. Accordingly, a front surface of the connection wall 49 may constitute a part of the front surface of the front wall of the ink cartridge 30. The rear surface (that is, the outer surface of the rear wall) of the ink cartridge 30 it can be any surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 in its operative position is viewed from its rear side and is positioned rearward relative to the front-rear center of the ink cartridge 30. The top surface (ie, the outer surface of the top wall) of the ink cartridge 30 may be any surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 in its operational position is viewed from above and is positioned upward relative to an up-down (vertical) center of the ink cartridge. ink 30. The bottom surface (that is, the outer surface of the bottom wall) of the ink cartridge 30 can be any surface that is visible when the ink cartridge a 30 in its operating position is viewed from below and positioned downward relative to the top-down center of ink cartridge 30. The same applies to the right surface (ie, the outer surface of the right side wall) of the ink cartridge 30 and the left surface (that is, the outer surface of the left side wall) of the ink cartridge 30. The right surface of the ink cartridge 30 can be any surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is in use. its operating position is viewed from its right side and is positioned to the right in relation to a left-right center of the ink cartridge 30. The left surface of the ink cartridge 30 can be any surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 in its operative position it is seen from its left side and that it is positioned to the left in relation to the left-right center of the ink cartridge 30.

As illustrated in Figs. 4-6, the outer cover 134 further includes a light blocking plate 67. The light blocking plate 67 is provided on the upper surface (outer surface) of the upper wall 39. The light blocking plate 67 protrudes towards up from the upper surface of the upper wall 39. The light blocking plate 67 has a flat plate shape that extends in the front to back direction. The light blocking plate 67 is integral with the top wall 39. The light blocking plate 67 may not be integral with the top wall 39. The light blocking plate 67 is positioned forward relative to the projecting portion 43 The light blocking plate 67 is also positioned forward of the integrated circuit board 64 (described below). In the embodiment, the light blocking plate 67 is a resin plate that contains a colored material capable of absorbing light (such as black pigment, carbon black pigment, or black dye). Alternatively, the light blocking plate 67 can be configured by attaching a material that cannot transmit light, such as aluminum, to the side surfaces of a plate capable of transmitting light.

The light blocking plate 67 has a cutout 66 as illustrated in Fig. 6. The cutout 66 is recessed downward from an upper edge 67C of the light blocking plate 67 and extends in the forward direction. to back. Cutout 66 is formed in light blocking plate 67 at a position aligned with optical sensor 113 in the direction from left to right when the ink cartridge 30 is fully attached to the cartridge attachment section 110. The light blocking plate 67 has left and right surfaces serving as the light blocking surface 67A. Light emitted from an exterior of the ink cartridge 30 and traveling in the left-to-right direction can access the light blocking surface 67A. Specifically, the light blocking surface 67A includes a light blocking portion 68 adapted to block the light emitted by the optical sensor 113 and traveling in the left-to-right direction (see Figs. 2 and 6) during the process. fixing and removing the ink cartridge 30 relative to the cartridge fixing section 110. In other words, the light blocking portion 68 is configured to prevent a light from passing through or to alter a path of the ink cartridge. light when the light blocking portion 68 receives the light. The light blocking portion 68 is provided in a region of the light blocking surface 67A from a front edge 67B of the light blocking plate 67 to a front edge of the cutout 66. During the cartridge attachment and removal process of ink 30 relative to the cartridge fixing section 110, the light emitted by the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 is incident on the light blocking portion 68 before the light reaches the light receiver of the optical sensors 113 At this time, the intensity of the light received at the light receiver is less than a predetermined intensity, eg zero. It is to be noted that the light blocking portion 68 can completely block the light traveling in the left to right direction, or it can partially dim the light. Alternatively, the light blocking portion 68 can refract light to change a direction of travel thereof, or it can completely reflect the light. The term "blocking light" herein implies that the light emitted by the light emitter cannot reach the light receiver in an amount that the light receiver can detect the light blocking plate 67. When the light cartridge ink 30 is fully attached to the cartridge attachment section 110, the cutout 66 opposes the optical sensors 113, so that the light emitted by the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 can pass through the cutout 66 to reach the light receiver from optical sensors 113.

The light blocking plate 67 may not be formed with the cutout 66. Depending on the types of the ink cartridge 30, the light blocking plate 67 may or may not have the cutout 66. In other words, depending on the types of the cartridge of ink 30, the light blocking plate 67 may or may not be detected through the optical sensor 113 in a state that the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110. Specifically, the types of the ink cartridge Ink 30 involves the ink colors stored in the ink cartridge 30, the types of ink (pigment-based ink or dye-based ink) stored in the ink cartridge 30, and the initial amounts of ink (large or small amount ) stored in ink cartridge 30, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, a light blocking plate 267 has a flat plate shape that extends in the front to back direction. No cutout is formed in the light blocking plate 267. The light blocking plate 267 has the same configuration as that of the light blocking plate 67, except that the cutout 66 is not formed. The light blocking plate 267 has a light blocking surface 267A that includes a light blocking portion 268. The light blocking portion 268 is provided in a region of the light blocking surface 267A from a leading edge 267B from the light blocking plate 267 to a position where the optical sensor 113 opposes when the ink cartridge 30 is fully attached to the cartridge accessory section 110. In this case, during the process of attaching and removing the ink cartridge ink 30 relative to the cartridge fixing section 110, the light emitted by the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 is blocked, attenuated, refracted, or reflected by the light blocking portion 268. In addition, since the portion of light blocking 268 has a portion 268A opposite the optical sensor 113 in a state that the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110, the light emitted by the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 is blocked, attenuates, r efract, or reflected by the light blocking portion 268 when the ink cartridge 30 is fully attached to the cartridge attachment section 110.

With the light blocking plate 67, the printer 10 can determine, for example, whether the ink cartridge 30 has been attached to the cartridge attachment section 110 based on the intensity of the light received by the light receiver of the optical sensor 113 during the process of fixing and removing the ink cartridge 30 in relation to the fixing section of the cartridge 110. In terms of the ink cartridge 30 with the light blocking plate 267, the printer 10 can determine whether the cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110 depending on whether the light emitted by the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 is blocked or not by the light blocking plate 267, that is, the blocking plate Light 267 is detected, when the ink cartridge 30 has been attached to the cartridge attachment section 110.

Furthermore, the printer 10 may determine the type of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment section 110 based on the presence or absence of the cutout 66, that is, based on whether the light emitted by the light emitter of the Optical sensor 113 passes through cutout 66 to be received by the light receiver of optical sensors 113. The user can also visually determine the type of ink cartridge 30 based on the presence or absence of cutout 66. In addition, the Printer 10 can determine the information about the ink cartridge 30 connected to the cartridge fixing section 110 based on the change of the detection signals emitted from the optical sensor 113 during the process of connecting the ink cartridge 30 to the printing section. cartridge attachment 110 and when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment section 110.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the integrated circuit board 64 is arranged on the upper surface of the upper wall 39. The integrated circuit board 64 is positioned between the light blocking plate 67 and the protruding portion 43 in the front-to-back direction . The integrated circuit board 64 is positioned closer to the ink supply portion 34 whereby the protruding portion 43 is from the ink supply portion 34 in the front to back direction. In other words, in the upper wall 39, the light blocking plate 67, the integrated circuit board 64 and the protruding part 43 are arranged in this order from the front side to the rear side of the upper wall 39. Specifically, On the upper wall 39, the light blocking surface 67A of the light blocking plate 67, the upper surfaces of the electrodes 65 of the integrated circuit board 64 and the blocking surface 151 of the protruding portion 43 are arranged in this order from the front side to the rear side of the upper wall 39. The integrated circuit board 64 is electrically connected to the four contacts 106 during the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing section 110. In A state in which the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110, the electrical connection between the integrated circuit board 64 and the four contacts 106 is maintained.

Integrated circuit board 64 includes a substrate, an inner circuit (not shown), and the four electrodes 65. The substrate supports the inner circuit. All four electrodes 65 are mounted on the substrate. The four electrodes 65 are electrically connected to the inner circuit. The four electrodes 65 extend in the front to back direction and are arranged in the left to right direction. The four electrodes 65 are arranged on an upper surface of the substrate and exposed to an exterior to allow electrical access thereto from above. The upper surfaces of the four electrodes 65 may directly contact the four contacts 106 of the housing 101, respectively when the ink cartridge 30 has been attached to the cartridge attachment section 110. The integrated circuit is a semiconductor integrated circuit. The integrated circuit legibly stores data indicative of information on the ink cartridge 30, such as a batch number, a manufacturing date, an ink color, the number of printable paper sheets, and the like. Incidentally, the substrate can be a rigid substrate or a flexible substrate that has flexibility.

<Inner configuration of ink cartridge 30>

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the ink cartridge 30 includes the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, an ink valve chamber 35, and the air communication passage 72. The first chamber storage 32, second storage chamber 33, ink valve chamber 35 and air communication passage 72 are provided within ink cartridge 30.

The inner bottom wall portion 45 is provided within the ink cartridge 30. More specifically, the cartridge housing 130 has the inner bottom wall portion 45. The inner bottom wall portion 45 extends in the front to back direction and in the direction from left to right. In a state where the cartridge housing 130 supports the first inner cap 131, the inner bottom wall portion 45 opposes the bottom wall 136 of the first inner cap 131 in the up-down direction. The upper surface 45a of the inner lower wall portion 45 is continuous with the upper surface 48A of the lower lower wall portion 48.

An upper end of the first storage chamber 32 is defined by the lower surface 136B of the lower wall 136 of the first inner lid 131. A lower end of the first storage chamber 32 is defined by the upper surface 45A of the portion of inner bottom wall 45 and an upper surface 48A of the lower wall subordinate portion 48. A front end of the first storage chamber 32 is defined by an inner surface 40A of the front wall 40. A rear end of the first storage chamber 32 is defined by an inner surface 41A of the rear wall 41. A left end of the first storage chamber 32 is defined by the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38. A right end of the first storage chamber 32 is defined by the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37. Thus, the first storage chamber 32 is a space This is defined by the lower surface 136B of the lower wall 136 of the first inner cap 131, the upper surface 45A of the lower inner wall portion 45, the upper surface 48A of the subordinate lower wall portion 48, the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40, the inner surface 41A of the rear wall 41, the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37 and the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38. One dimension in the front to back direction of the first chamber storage chamber 32 is greater than a dimension in the left-to-right direction of the first storage chamber 32. The gaps between the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38 and the first Inner cap 131 are liquid-tight sealed with film 133.

The first ribs 185 and second ribs 186 protrude into the first storage chamber 32 from the lower surface 136B of the lower wall 136 of the first inner lid 131. The lower surface 136B is one of the surfaces that defines the first storage chamber 32.

Ribs 185, 186 protrude from bottom surface 136B. However, no ribs protrude from the surfaces defining the first storage chamber 32 other than the bottom surface 136B. That is, none of the upper surface 45A of the inner lower wall portion 45, the upper surface 48A of the lower lower wall portion 48, the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40, the inner surface 41A of the rear wall 41 , the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37 and the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38 have an inwardly projecting portion, such as a rib, projecting or extending therefrom into the first storage chamber 32. Preferably, should not form a portion that protrudes inwardly at the upper surface 45A of the inner lower wall portion 45, the upper surface 48A of the lower lower wall portion 48, the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40, the inner surface 41A of the rear wall 41, the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37 and the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38. However, inwardly projecting portions may be formed on these surfaces.

At the time of manufacturing the ink cartridge 30, the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 is in contact with the upper surface 45A of the inner lower wall portion 45, the upper surface 48A of the lower wall subordinate portion 48 , the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40, the inner surface 41A of the rear wall 41, the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37 and the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38.

As described above, the through hole 46 is formed in the bottom wall 136 of the first inner cap 131. Through the through hole 46, the first storage chamber 32 is in communication with the air chamber 36 of the passage. air communication 72.

The second storage chamber 33 is provided in the interior space of the cartridge housing 130 in a downward position relative to the first storage chamber 32 when the ink cartridge 30 is in its operative position. The second storage chamber 33 is adapted to store ink therein. The second storage chamber 33 has a smaller volume than that of the first storage chamber 32. In this way, a smaller quantity of ink can be stored in the second storage chamber 33 than in the first storage chamber 32.

An upper end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by a lower surface 45B of the inner lower wall portion 45. A lower end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by an upper surface 42A of the main wall portion bottom 42. A rear end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by the inner surface 41A of the rear wall 41. A left end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38, while a right end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37. The second storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 are divided by a partition wall 50. A The front end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by a surface 50A of the partition wall 50. The surface 50A is u A rear surface of the partition wall 50 and is closer to the second storage chamber 33 than to a front surface of the partition wall 50. The second storage chamber 33 is a space defined by the lower surface 45B of the wall portion lower inner 45, upper surface 42A of the main portion of lower wall 42, inner surface 41A of rear wall 41, inner surface 37A of right side wall 37, inner surface 38A of left side wall 38 and surface 50A of partition wall 50.

At the time of manufacturing the ink cartridge 30, the ink stored in the second storage chamber 33 is in contact with the lower surface 45B of the inner lower wall portion 45, the upper surface 42A of the lower wall main portion 42, the inner surface 41A of the rear wall 41, the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37, the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38 and the surface 50A of the partition wall 50.

The second storage chamber 33 is in communication with the first storage chamber 32 through a communication port 47 (Figs. 10 and 11) formed in the inner bottom wall portion 45. As illustrated in Fig. 11, the communication hole 47 is formed in a right rear end portion of the inner lower wall portion 45. In other words, an open end of the communication hole 47 is open to the upper surface 45A of the lower wall portion interior 45. As illustrated in Fig. 10, second storage chamber 33 is also in communication with ink valve chamber 35 through a through hole 99 formed in partition wall 50. the ink valve 35 extends from the second storage chamber 33 in the forward direction 51.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the upper surface 45A of the inner lower wall portion 45 and the upper surface 48A of the lower lower wall portion 48 are sloped. The upper surface 45A of the inner lower wall portion 45 and the upper surface 48A of the lower lower wall portion 48 are sloped with respect to the front-to-back direction so that a front end of the upper surface 48A is positioned. of the lower wall subordinate portion 48 more upward than a rear end of the upper surface 45A of the inner lower wall portion 45. That is, the upper surface 45A of the inner lower wall portion 45 and the upper surface 48A of the lower wall subordinate portion 48 slopes downward toward the communication port 47.

The communication hole 47 need not be formed in the right rear end portion of the inner bottom wall portion 45. The communication hole 47 may be formed in a front-rear center portion of the inner bottom wall portion 45, for example. Alternatively, the communication hole 47 may be formed in the inner bottom wall portion 45 through an entire region in the left-to-right direction, or it may be formed in the lower wall subordinate portion 48.

In the embodiment, the upper surface 45A of the inner lower wall portion 45 slopes with respect to the front-to-back direction, that is, slopes toward the communication hole 47. However, the upper surface 45A of the inner bottom wall portion 45 need not be sloped as previously described.

As illustrated in Figs. 10 and 14, upper surface 48A includes curved surface 115A, curved surface 116A, and curved surface 119A.

The curved surface 115A extends downwardly from the lower end of the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37. That is, the curved surface 115A is continuously connected to the lower end of the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37. The Curved surface 116A extends downwardly from the lower end of inner surface 38A of left side wall 38. That is, curved surface 116A is continuously connected to the lower end of inner surface 38A of left side wall 38. The surface Curved 115A and curved surface 116A are provided by upper surface 48A of lower wall subordinate portion 48. Although not illustrated in the drawings, upper surface 45A includes a curved region continuously connected to inner surface 37A of the side wall. right 37, and another curved region continuously connected to inner surface 38A of left side wall 38. Each of the curved surface 115A and the curved surface 116A has a radius of curvature that is greater than that of the curved regions of the upper surface 45A. The curved surface 115A is curved so that its lower end is positioned further to the left than its upper end. Curved surface 116A is curved so that its lower end is positioned more to the right than its upper end. The curved surface 115A and the curved surface 116A are curved to expand outwardly from the cartridge housing 130. The lower end of the curved surface 115A is connected to the lower end of the curved surface 116A. Here, the lower end of the curved surface 115A and the lower end of the curved surface 116A provide a lower portion of the first storage chamber 32 at its front portion, that is, a lower portion of the upper surface 48A. In other words, the lower end of the curved surface 115A is connected to the lower end of the curved surface 116A (i.e., the lower portion of the upper surface 48A as well as the lower portion of the first storage chamber 32 at its front portion), and the lower end of the curved surface 116A is connected to the lower end of the curved surface 115A (that is, the lower portion of the upper surface 48A as well as the lower portion of the first storage chamber 32 at its front portion). Accordingly, in the front portion of the first storage chamber 32, a curved inner surface having an 11-shaped cross section is formed by the upper surface 48A, and the U-shaped curved inner surface (that is, the upper surface 48A) connects inner surface 37A of right side wall 37 to inner surface 38A of left side wall 38.

The outer curved surface 115B of the lower wall subordinate portion 48 is curved in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the inner curved surface 115A is curved. In other words, the outer curved surface 115B is curved in a direction equal to the direction that the inner curved surface 115A is curved. The outer curved surface 116B of the lower wall subordinate portion 48 is curved in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the inner curved surface 116A is curved. In other words, the outer curved surface 116B is curved in the same direction as the inner curved surface 116A is curved. By the way, the outer curved surfaces 115B and 116B need not be curved. For example, the outer curved surfaces 115B and 116B may be bent.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the curved surface 119A extends downward from the lower end of the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40. That is, the curved surface 119A is continuously connected to the lower end of the surface. inner 40A of front wall 40. Curved surface 119A is provided by upper surface 48A of lower wall subordinate portion 48. Curved surface 119A is curved so that its lower end is positioned further back than its upper end. The curved surface 119A is curved to expand outward from the cartridge housing 130. The outer curved surface 119B of the lower wall subordinate portion 48 is curved in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the inner curved surface 119A is curved. . In other words, the outer curved surface 119B is curved in a direction equal to the direction that the inner curved surface 119A is curved. Incidentally, the outer curved surface 119B need not be curved. For example, the outer curved surface 119B may be bent.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, inner surface 40A includes curved surface 117A, curved surface 118A, and an intermediate surface 121A between curved surface 117A and curved surface 118A. The curved surface 117A extends forward from the front end of the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37. That is, the curved surface 117A is continuously connected to the front end of the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37. The The curved surface 118A extends forward from the front end of the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38. That is, the curved surface 118A is continuously connected to the front end of the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38. The surface Curve 117A has a front end continuously connected to a right end of the intermediate surface 121A of the inner surface 40A. Curved surface 118A has a front end continuously connected to a left end of intermediate surface 121A of inner surface 40A. Curved surface 117A and curved surface 118A are provided by the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40. The curved surface 117A is curved so that its front end is positioned further to the left than its rear end. Curved surface 118A is curved so that its front end is positioned further to the right than its rear end. Curved surface 117A and curved surface 118A are curved to expand outward from cartridge housing 130. Inner surface 40A of front wall 40 has a left-right central portion that constitutes a front-most portion of the first storage chamber. 32. That is, the intermediate surface 121A includes the frontmost portion of the first storage chamber 32. The front end of the curved surface 117a and the front end of the curved surface 118A are connected to the intermediate surface 121A that includes the portion front-most of the first storage chamber 32.

The outer curved surface 117B of the front wall 40 is curved in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the inner curved surface 117A is curved. In other words, the outer curved surface 117B is curved in a direction equal to the direction that the inner curved surface 117A is curved. The outer curved surface 118B of the front wall 40 is curved substantially parallel to a direction in which the inner curved surface 118a is curved. In other words, the outer curved surface 118B is curved in a direction equal to the direction that the inner curved surface 118A is curved. By the way, the outer curved surfaces 117B and 118B need not be curved. For example, the outer curved surfaces 117B and 118B may be bent.

The inner curved surface 115A, the inner curved surface 117A, and the inner curved surface 119A are connected to each other uniformly and continuously to provide a boundary region formed with a substantially spherical surface. Similarly, the inner curved surface 116A, the inner curved surface 118A, and the inner curved surface 119A are uniformly and continuously connected to each other to provide a boundary region formed with a substantially spherical surface. Furthermore, the outer curved surface 115B, the outer curved surface 117B, and the outer curved surface 119B are connected to each other in a uniform and continuous manner to provide a boundary region formed with a spherical surface. Furthermore, the outer curved surface 116B, the outer curved surface 118B and the outer curved surface 119B are connected to each other in a uniform and continuous manner to provide a boundary region formed with a substantially spherical surface. In Fig. 7, the spherical surface of the boundary region between the outer curved surface 116B, the outer curved surface 118B, and the outer curved surface 119B are designated by a reference sign 200.

In the embodiment, the curved surface 115A and the curved surface 116A are continuously connected to each other at their lower ends. However, as will be described later in the ink cartridge 30K according to the variation of the embodiment, the lower end of the curved surface 115A and the lower end of the curved surface 116A may not be continuously connected to each other.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the front end of the curved surface 117A and the front end of the curved surface 118A are connected to the intermediate surface 121A. However, the front end of the curved surface 117A and the front end of the curved surface 118A can be continuously connected to each other. In this case, the connecting portion between the curved surface 117A and the curved surface 118A constitutes the frontmost portion of the first storage chamber 32.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the upper surface 48A of the lower wall subordinate portion 48 includes the curved surface 115A connected to the lower end of the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37, the curved surface 116A connected to the lower end of the surface inside 38A of the left side wall 38 and the curved surface 119A connected to the lower end of the front surface 40A of the front wall 40. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the inside surface 40A of the front wall 40 includes the curved surface 117A connected to the front end of the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37, and the curved surface 118A connected to the front end of the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38. However, a curved surface (s) may be provided Inner (s) to connect to the rear end of the inner surface (37A) of the right side wall (37), the rear end of the inner surface upper surface 38A of the left side wall 38, the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40, the inner surface 41A of the rear wall 41, the upper surface 42A of the main portion of the lower wall 42, the upper surface 45A of the interior bottom wall 45 and upper surface 48A of lower wall subordinate portion 48. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 21, top surface 45A may include a curved surface 122A continuously connected to interior surface 41A of the rear wall 41. In addition, a curved surface may extend from one end of an inner surface of at least one of the right side wall 37, the left side wall 38, the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the main portion of the lower wall 42, the subordinate lower wall portion 48 and the inner lower wall portion 45.

Furthermore, the inner curved surface 115A and the inner curved surface 116A each have a radius of curvature of, for example, not less than 1 mm. More specifically, the inner curved surface 115A and the inner curved surface 116A each have a radius of curvature in a range of 1mm to 3mm. The outer curved surface 115B and the outer curved surface 116B each have a radius of curvature of, for example, not less than 7mm.

<Air communication step 72>

Air communication passage 72 is a space that provides communication between the first storage chamber 32 and an exterior of ink cartridge 30. Air communication passage 72 is positioned above cartridge housing 130. As illustrated in Fig. 10, air communication conduit 72 includes air chamber 36, through hole 142 (see Figs. 9A and 9B), and labyrinth path 143 which have been described above.

Air chamber 36 is a space formed in air communication passage 72. Air chamber 36 communicates with first storage chamber 32 at one end and communicates with labyrinth path 143 at the other end. The air chamber 36 has a portion located above the first storage chamber 32 and below the labyrinthine path 143. The air chamber 36 has a lower end defined by the upper surface 136A of the lower wall 136 of the first inner cap. 131 and an upper end defined by the lower surface 132B of the second inner cap 132. The air chamber 36 has a front end, a rear end, a right end, and a left end defined by the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 137 (see Figs.

8A and 8B) of the first inner cap 131. A gap between the second inner cap 132 and the peripheral wall 137 of the first inner cap 131 is liquid-tightly sealed with the film 133.

As described above, the upper end of the first storage chamber 32 is defined by the lower surface 136B of the lower wall 136 of the first inner lid 131. That is, the first storage chamber 32 and the storage chamber. air 36 are divided by bottom wall 136.

The air chamber 36 is in communication with the first storage chamber 32 through the through hole 46 which penetrates the bottom wall 136 in the up-down direction. In addition, the air chamber 36 is in communication with the labyrinth path 143 through the through hole 142 (see Figs. 9A and 9B) formed in the second inner cap 132. As previously described, the semipermeable membrane 141 (see Fig. 7) is welded to the lower end surface of the rib 140 of the second inner cap 132. With this structure, the ink flowing from the first storage chamber 32 through the through hole 46 is blocked by semipermeable membrane 141 and does not reach through hole 142. Hence, semipermeable membrane 141 prevents ink from flowing into labyrinthine path 143.

As described above, labyrinth path 143 is defined by upper surface 132A, plurality of ribs 144 (see Fig. 9B), and film 146 (see Fig. 7). The labyrinth path 143 is a continuous step extending in the direction from left to right, repeatedly turning in a U in the direction from front to back. The labyrinth path 143 is provided in the form of a slot covered with film 146 at its upper end. The labyrinth path 143 has one end in communication with the through hole 142 and another end in communication with the communication hole 147. The labyrinth path 143 is in communication with the air chamber 36 through the through hole 142 formed in the second cap. interior 132. The labyrinth path 143 is provided on one surface (ie, upper surface 132A) of the second interior cap 132, the surface being opposite a surface (ie, bottom surface 132B) of the second interior cap 132 defining the upper end of the air chamber 36. In the embodiment, the surface defining the upper end of the air chamber 36 is an inner surface of the second inner cap 132. The labyrinth path 143 is positioned upward in relation with the air chamber 36. The labyrinthine path 143 is in communication with an interior space 134A (see Fig. 10) of the exterior cap 134 through es from communication port 147 (see Fig. 7). The interior space 134A is in communication with the exterior of the ink cartridge 30 through the opening 44 (see Fig. 4) formed in the top wall 39 of the exterior cap 134 and through a gap between the exterior cap 134 and cartridge housing 130. That is, labyrinth path 143 can communicate with atmosphere through communication port 147.

<Valve mechanism 135 and support member 150>

The valve mechanism 135 has a function to interrupt and establish communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere. The configuration of the valve mechanism 135 according to the embodiment will be described in detail below. The valve mechanism 135 may have a different configuration, as long as the valve mechanism 135 can perform the function of interrupting and establishing communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere. For example, valve mechanism 135 may be configured such that valve body 161 (described below) can move in a direction other than the up-down direction.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10, the valve mechanism 135 includes the valve body 161, a coil spring 162, and the lever 163. The valve body 161 includes the rod 165 and a sealing member 166 mounted on the rod 165. As shown illustrated in FIG. 10, the sealing member 166 and a portion of the bar 165 are disposed in the air communication passage 72. The coil spring 162 and the remaining portion of the bar 165 are disposed in the interior space 134A of the outer cap 134. Incidentally, the arrangement of the components in the valve mechanism 135 is not limited to the above. For example, all components of the valve mechanism 135 may be disposed in the air communication passage 72.

Support member 150 illustrated in FIG. 7 is adapted to pivotally support the locking mechanism. valve 135, more specifically, the lever 163 (described below) of the valve mechanism 135. The support member 150 has an internal space in which a portion of the valve mechanism 135 can be arranged. Fig. 10, support member 150 includes two coupling portions 152, with one at the front end and the other at the rear end. By mating the engaging portions 152 with the bent portions of the distal ends of the ribs 158 of the second inner cap 132, the support member 150 is supported on the second inner cap 132.

Bar 165 is disposed between pair of ribs 157 (see Fig. 9B) of second inner cap 132. Bar 165 has an upper surface that includes a front portion 165A, a rear portion 165B, and a sloped portion 165C that connects the front portion 165A to the rear portion 165B. The sloping portion 165C slopes downward from its front end to its rear end, so that the front portion 165A is positioned more upward than the rear portion 165B.

The bar 165 extends in the up-down direction. Bar 165 is inserted into through hole 139 (see Fig. 9A) formed in second inner cap 132. Sealing member 166 is formed from an elastic material such as rubber. The sealing member 166 is in pressure contact with the bar 165 without a gap between the sealing member 166 and the bar 165. With this structure, no gap is formed between the sealing member 166 and the bar 165.

The valve body 161 is movable in the up-down direction from a closed position illustrated in Figs. 10 and 16 to an open position illustrated in Fig. 3. Movement of valve body 161 in the left-to-right direction and in the front-to-back direction is restricted by rib 156 and ribs 157 of the second inner cap 132 (see Fig. 9B).

The bar 165 has projecting portions that project forward and back, respectively. As illustrated in Figs. 10 and 16, in a state in which the valve body 161 is in the closed position, the bar 165 is supported by the second inner cap 132 in such a way that the lower surfaces of the projecting portions of the valve body 161 enter in contact with the upper surface 132A of the second inner cap 132. Furthermore, in a state in which the valve body 161 is in the closed position, the sealing member 166 covers a peripheral edge portion of the through hole 46. In this way, a gap is closed between the through hole 46 and the sealing member 166. That is, the through hole 46 is sealed against air and liquid by the bar 165 and the sealing member 166. Accordingly, it is interrupts communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the exterior of the ink cartridge 30 (ie, the atmosphere).

As illustrated in Fig. 3, valve body 161 in the open position is positioned higher than valve body 161 in the closed position (see Figs. 10 and 16). In a state in which the valve body 161 is in the open position, the lower surfaces of the projecting portions of the rod 165 are spaced upward from the upper surface 132A of the second inner cap 132. Furthermore, the member of Seal 166 is spaced upwardly from the peripheral edge portion of through hole 46. Thus, through hole 46 is open. As a result, communication is established between the first storage chamber 32 and the outside of the ink cartridge 30 (ie, the atmosphere) through the through hole 46. At this time, the sealing member 166 pressure contacts the hole. through hole 139 from below and covers a peripheral edge portion of through hole 139. In this way, a gap is closed between sealing member 166 and through hole 139. That is, through hole 139 is air-tight and sealed liquid through bar 165 and sealing member 166.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, coil spring 162 fits around rod 165. Helical spring 162 has an upper end that is in contact with rod 165 of valve body 161 and a lower end that it is in contact with the upper surface 132A of the second inner cap 132. In a state in which the valve body 161 is in the closed position, the coil spring 162 has a length shorter than its natural length. Hence, when the valve body 161 is in the closed position, the helical spring 162 urges the valve body 161 upward, that is, it pushes the valve body 161 in a direction from the closed position to the open position. Incidentally, a member for urging the valve body 161 is not limited to the coil spring 162. Instead of the coil spring 162, the valve body 161 may be biased by a leaf spring or an elastic member such as rubber.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10, lever 163 has a through hole that serves as a pivot shaft portion 167. Lever 163 includes a first projection 168 and a second projection 169. The first projection 168 and second projection 169 extend outward from the pivot shaft portion 167.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, support member 150 is provided with a pair of projections 170. One of the pair of projections 170 projects from a right inner surface of support member 150 defining a right end of the internal space of the support member 150. The other of the pair of projections 170 protrudes from a left inner surface of support member 150 defining a left end of the internal space of support member 150. The projections 170 are inserted into the portion of pivot shaft 167. More specifically, the protrusion 170 protruding from the right inner surface of the support member 150 is inserted into the portion 167 of the shaft pivot from the right, and the protrusion 170 protruding from the inner left surface of the support member 150 inserts into the pivot shaft portion 167 from the left. With this structure, the lever 163 is supported by the support member 150 so that it can be pivotally moved relative to the support member 150 about an axis of the pivot shaft portion 167. Incidentally, the shaft portion 167 The pivot may be a protrusion of the lever 163 to the right and to the left. In this case, the left and right inner surfaces of the support member 150 have openings, respectively, and the protrusion as the pivot shaft portion 167 is inserted into the openings.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10, the first projection 168 and the second projection 169 extend in opposite directions with respect to the pivot shaft portion 167. The first projection 168 and the second projection 169 are substantially positioned on opposite sides of the pivot shaft portion. pivot 167. The first projection 168 extends in a direction away from the pivot shaft portion 167, and the second projection 169 extends in a direction substantially opposite to the extension direction of the first projection 168.

Lever 163 is pivotally movable from a first position illustrated in Figs. 10 and 16 to a second position illustrated in Fig. 3. The axis of the pivot shaft portion 167 functions as a pivot center when the lever 163 is pivotally moved between the first position and the second position.

When the lever 163 is in the first position, the first projection 168 extends downward. A trailing edge of a distal end (ie, the lower end) of the first projection 168 is positioned rearward relative to the axis of the pivot shaft portion 167. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10 , an imaginary line 172 connecting the axis of the pivot shaft portion 167 and the trailing edge of the distal end of the first projection 168 is inclined rearward at a prescribed angle 03 with respect to an imaginary line 173 extending from the axis of the pivot shaft portion 167 in the gravitational direction. In the embodiment, the prescribed angle 03 is 5 degrees. The lower end of the first projection 168 contacts the rear portion 165B on the upper surface of the rod 165 of the valve body 161 to press the valve body 161 downward. Hence, the valve body 161 is placed in the closed position. Furthermore, when the lever 163 is in the first position, the second projection 169 extends upward, more specifically, diagonally up and back. The second projection 169 is positioned so as to interpose between the pair of walls 114 of the projecting portion 43. The second projection 169 does not extend upward beyond the pair of walls 114. That is, an upper end of the second projection 169 is positioned downward relative to an upper end of wall pair 114.

When the lever 163 is in the first position, the forward pivoting movement of the first projection 168, that is, the clockwise rotary movement of the lever 163 in Fig. 10 towards the second position, is It is restricted by the sloping portion 165C of the rod 165 of the valve body 161, and is also restricted by the distal end of the first projection 168 positioned further rearward than the axis of the pivot shaft portion 167. It must Note that, to restrict the forward pivotal movement of the first projection 168, the coil spring 162 is designed to have an upward biasing force greater than the force required to move the first projection 168 from the rear portion 165B of the upper surface of the rod 165 of the valve body 161 to the front portion 165A thereof. Incidentally, the sloping portion 165C may or may not be provided on the upper surface of the bar 165. Even if the sloping portion 165C is not provided and the bar 165 has a flat upper surface, the rotary movement in the clockwise direction of the lever clock 163 in FIG. 10 toward the second position can be restricted as long as the distal end of the first projection 168 is positioned rearward with respect to the axis of the pivot shaft portion 167.

The rearward pivoting movement of the first projection 168, that is, the counterclockwise rotary movement of the lever 163 in Fig. 10, is restricted after the stop of the lever 163 with a projection 171 provided on the right inner surface of the support member 150. Therefore, the lever 163 is held in the first position. The lever 163 in the first position restrains the valve body 161 from moving to the open position against the biasing force of the coil spring 162 and maintains the valve body 161 in the closed position.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when lever 163 is in the second position, lever 163 is separated from projection plate 111. First projection 168 extends forward. The second projection 169 extends downward, more specifically, diagonally downward and rearward. Also, the valve body 161 is in the open position.

<Ink supply portion 34>

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the ink supply portion 34 extends forward from the connecting wall 49 at a position downward from the lower wall portion 48 and forward from the lower wall portion. main 42. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the ink supply portion 34 is positioned downwardly from the inner bottom wall portion 45. In addition, the ink supply portion 34 is positioned downward and rearward. front wall 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the ink supply portion 34 includes a cylinder 75, a container 76, a valve 77, a coil spring 78, a plug 79, and a snap-fit mechanism 74.

Cylinder 75 has an outer shape that is generally tubular or cylindrical with a gap. The shape of the cylinder 75 is not limited to a circular cylindrical shape. Cylinder 75 can be of any shape as long as cylinder 75 is hollow. The cylinder 75 has a distal end (ie, the front end) directed forward. The distal end of cylinder 75 is positioned downward and rearward of front wall 40. Cylinder 75 has an opening at its front end. The cylinder 75 defines an internal space that serves as the ink valve chamber 35. The ink valve chamber 35 extends in the forward direction 51 from the second storage chamber 33.

Container 76 is a disc-shaped member and has a through hole 73 in its central region. Container 76 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the container 76 is disposed at the front end of the cylinder 75 to cover the front opening of the cylinder 75. The through hole 73 penetrates the central region of the container 76 in the forward direction. back to provide a tubular shaped inner peripheral surface. The through hole 73 has an inside diameter slightly smaller than an outside diameter of the ink needle 102.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, valve 77 and coil spring 78 are housed in ink valve chamber 35. Valve 77 can contact and detach from container 76 by moving in the front-to-back direction. When the valve 77 contacts the container 76, the through hole 73 formed in the central region of the container 76 is closed. When valve 77 is separated from container 76, through hole 73 is open. Helical spring 78 urges valve 77 forward. Accordingly, valve 77 closes through hole 73 of container 76 while no external force is applied to valve 77.

As illustrated in Figs. 13A and 13B, the plug 79 has an outer shape that is generally rectangular parallelepiped. Plug 79 has a hollow configuration. Incidentally, the plug 79 may have an outer shape that is not a rectangular parallelepiped, as long as the plug 79 is a hollow member whose front end and rear end are open.

The plug 79 has a rear end formed with an opening 87. The cylinder 75 and the container 76 are inserted into an interior space of the plug 79 through the opening 87. Accordingly, the plug 79 covers the cylinder 75 and the container 76 from a front side of it. As illustrated in Fig. 10, in a state where the plug 79 covers the cylinder 75, a lower end of the plug 79 is provided in a position substantially equal to a lower end of the cartridge housing 130 with respect to to the direction from top to bottom.

The plug 79 has a front end wall having a front surface 79A. The front wall of the cap 79 is formed with an ink supply port 71. In a state that the cap 79 covers the cylinder 75 and the container 76, the ink valve chamber 35 is in communication with the exterior of the cartridge. of ink 30 through the through hole 73 of the container 76 and the ink supply port 71 of the cap 79.

The ink supply portion 34 further includes a first absorbent member 182 and a second absorbent member 183. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 are disposed in the interior space of the plug 79. The first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 are formed from a porous material such as polyurethane foam. The first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 have minute holes provided by the porous material. The ink enters the minute holes, so that the ink is absorbed by the first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183. The first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 are thus adapted to absorb ink.

The first absorbent member 182 has an annular shape, as illustrated in Fig. 12. The first absorbent member 182 is disposed along a circumferential edge that defines the ink supply port 71. That is, the first absorbent member 182 is disposed adjacent a circumferential edge portion of the ink supply port 71. Incidentally, the first absorbent member 182 may not have an annular shape. For example, the first absorbent member 182 may have a rectangular shape. In this case, the first absorbent member 182 may be disposed only at a position downstream of the circumferential edge defining the ink supply port 71.

The second absorbent member 183 is plate-shaped. The second absorbent member 183 is positioned rearward relative to the first absorbent member 182. The second absorbent member 183 is supported by an inner bottom surface of the plug 79 to be disposed in a lower portion of the inner space of the plug 79, that is, in a downward position relative to the ink valve chamber 35. The inner bottom surface of the cap 79 is a surface that defines a lower end of the interior space of the cap 79. Incidentally, the second absorbent member 183 need not be plate-shaped. . In addition, the second absorbent member 183 may be disposed on a complete inner peripheral surface of plug 79 defining the interior space of plug 79.

As illustrated in Figs. 10 and 13B, at least one slot 184 extending in the front to back direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the plug 79, more specifically, the inner bottom surface of the plug 79. The slot 184 has a front end connected to the first absorbent member 182. The front end of the slot 184 can be positioned near the first absorbent member 182. Slot 184 has a trailing end connected to second absorbent member 183. Trailing end of slot 184 can be positioned near second absorbent member 183. That is, slot 184 is formed in plug 79 in a region from portion of circumferential edge of the ink supply port 71 to the second absorbent member 183. With this configuration, even if ink leaks from the cylinder 75 into the interior space of the plug 79, the ink can enter the second absorbent member 183 through the slot 184 to be absorbed by the second absorbent member 183.

It should be noted that the first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 may not be disposed in the interior space of the plug 79. In addition, the groove 184 may not be formed in the inner bottom surface of the plug 79. In an unused state wherein the cap 79 covers the cylinder 75 and the container 76, the inner peripheral surface of the cap 79 and an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 75 provide a gap in between. Even if the groove 184 is not formed in the inner bottom surface of the plug 79, ink leaked from the cylinder 75 enters the second absorbent member 183 through the gap.

As illustrated in Figs. 13A and 13B, plug 79 has an outer peripheral surface that extends rearwardly from front surface 79A. The outer peripheral surface of plug 79 is formed with four guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D. Each of the four slots 175A, 175b, 175C, and 175D has a leading edge that opens into the front surface 79A. The guide groove 175A is provided in an upper right end portion of the plug 79. The guide groove 175B is provided in an upper left end portion of the plug 79. The guide groove 175C is provided in a lower right end portion of the cap 79. The guide groove 175D is provided in a lower left end portion of the plug 79. In other words, the guide groove 175A and the guide groove 175D are disposed on opposite sides of the ink valve chamber 35 in a first perpendicular direction that is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, the guide groove 175B and the guide groove 175C are disposed on opposite sides of the ink valve chamber 35 in a second perpendicular direction that is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and the first perpendicular direction. Specifically, in the embodiment, the first perpendicular direction is a direction connecting from the upper right side of the plug 79 to the lower left side of the plug 79, and the second perpendicular direction is a direction connecting from the upper left side of the plug 79 to the lower right side of plug 79. As described above, the outer shape of plug 79 is generally rectangular parallelepiped. That is, when projecting in the front-to-back direction, plug 79 has a projection plane having a generally rectangular shape defined by four sides and four corners connecting two adjacent sides. The four guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D are formed at the four corners, respectively. Specifically, the front surface 79A of the plug 79 has a generally rectangular shape in a front view, more specifically, when the front surface 79A is viewed from its front side, and the front edges of the four guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C and 175D respective corners of the front surface 79A are formed. In other words, guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C and 175D are defined by two protrusions formed on the outer peripheral surface of plug 79. Specifically, plug 79 has four protrusions on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Of the four protrusions, two protrusions protrude to the right and left, respectively, so that the ink supply port 71 is arranged between the two protrusions in the left-to-right direction. The two protrusions have respective upper end surfaces that serve as a first guide surface 176 of guide grooves 175A and a first guide surface 176 of guide groove 175B, respectively. The two protrusions have respective lower end surfaces that serve as a first guide surface 176 of guide grooves 175C and a first guide surface 176 of guide groove 175D, respectively.

Hereinafter, the four guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C and 175D will be collectively referred to as "guide grooves 175". The guide grooves 175 are elongated in the front to back direction. Hence, a longitudinal direction of the guide grooves 175 is aligned with the front to back direction.

Guide grooves 175A and 175C are positioned to the right relative to IC board 64. Guide grooves 175B and 175D are positioned to the left relative to IC board 64. That is, of the four guide grooves 175, two guide grooves 175 are positioned out of the IC board 64 in one of the directions to the right 55 and to the left 56, while the remaining two guide grooves 175 are positioned out of the IC board 64 in the other direction to the right 55 and to the left 56. By the way, it is not necessary that each of the four guide grooves 175 is positioned outward of the IC board 64 in the direction from left to right.

Guide groove 175A has a shape and arrangement that is symmetrical to guide groove 175B with respect to the left-to-right direction. Each of the guide grooves 175A and 175B has the first guide surface 176 and a second guide surface 177. The guide groove 175C has a shape and arrangement that is symmetrical to the guide groove 175D with respect to the direction of travel. left to right. Each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D has the first guide surface 176, the second guide surface 177, and a third guide surface 178. It should be noted that the third guide surface 178 of the guide groove 175C not shown in Fig. 13B.

However, the third guide surface 178 of the guide slot 175C is identical to the third guide surface 178 of the guide slot 175D.

The first guide surface 176 extends in the front to back direction and in the left to right direction. The third guide surface 178 extends in the left-to-right direction and a sloping direction with respect to the front-to-back direction so that its rear end is positioned more upward than its front end. That is, the third guide surface 178 is sloped with respect to the front to back direction. In each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D, the third guide surface 178 is positioned rearward relative to the first guide surface 176. In addition, in each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D, the first guide surface Guide 176 has a rear end continuous to a front end of the third guide surface 178. The second guide surface 177 extends in the front to back direction and the top to bottom direction. In each of the guide grooves 175A and 175B, the second guide surface 177 is connected to the first guide surface 176. In each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D, the second guide surface 177 is connected to both the first guide surface 176 as well as the third guide surface 178. However, the first guide surface 176, the second guide surface 177, and the third guide surface 178 need not be connected to each other.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the third guide surface 178 is inclined with respect to the front-to-back direction at an angle 01, and the lower surface of the main portion of the lower wall 42 is inclined with respect to to the front to back direction at an angle 02. Angle 01 is greater than angle 02.

The rear end of the first guide surface 176 of each guide slot 175 is positioned rearward relative to a front end of the container 76.

The first guide surface 176 of each of the guide grooves 175A and 175B faces upward. The first guide surface 176 of each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D faces downward. The third guide surface 178 of each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D faces downward. The second guide surface 177 of each of the guide grooves 175A and 175C faces to the right. The second guide surface 177 of each of the guide grooves 175B and 175D faces to the left.

When viewed in the front-to-back direction, each of the guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D are provided in the form of an L-shaped recess made up of the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface. 177. That is, the front edge of each of the guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D form an L-shape on the front surface 79A in front view, more specifically, when the front surface 79A is viewed from its front side. No surface is formed on the plug 79 at the positions facing each of the first guide surfaces 176, each of the second guide surfaces 177, and each of the third guide surfaces 178. That is, each of the guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C and 175D are open in a direction perpendicular to the first guide surface 176. Furthermore, each of the guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C and 175D is open in a direction perpendicular to the second guide surface 177. Furthermore, each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D is open in a direction perpendicular to the third guide surface 178. That is, each of the first guide surfaces 176 is open in a direction perpendicular to it. Furthermore, each of the second guide surfaces 177 is open in a direction perpendicular thereto. Furthermore, each of the third guide surfaces 178 is open in a direction perpendicular thereto. More specifically, the first guide surface 176 of each of the guide grooves 175A and 175B is open upward, and the first guide surface 176 of each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D is open downward. Furthermore, the second guide surface 177 of each of the guide grooves 175A and 175C is open to the right, and the second guide surface 177 of each of the guide grooves 175B and 175D is open to the left. Furthermore, the third guide surface 178 of each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D is open downward. In each of the guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D, the first guide surface 176 forms a prescribed angle with the second guide surface 177. For example, an angle formed by the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177 is 90 degrees. In each of the guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C and 175D, the second guide surface 177 has a dimension in the up-down direction greater than a dimension of the first guide surface 176 in the left-to-right direction. .

During the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing section 110, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge fixing section 110 in the forward direction 51. At this time, the projection 105A arranged at the upper right side with respect to the ink needle 102 enters the guide groove 175A, the projection 105B arranged on the upper left side with respect to the ink needle 102 enters the guide groove 175B, the projection 105C arranged in the lower right side relative to the ink needle 102 enters the guide groove 175C, and the projection 105D arranged on the lower left side relative to the ink needle 102 enters the guide groove 175D. In this way, guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D are guided by projections 105A, 105B, 105C, and 105D, respectively.

More specifically, the first guide surface 176 of the guide slot 175A is guided by the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105A, and the second guide surface 177 of the guide slot 175A is guided by the second guide surface. 197 of projection 105A. Furthermore, the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175B is guided by the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105B, and the second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175B is guided by the second guide surface 197 of the projection 105B. Moreover, the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175C is guided by the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105C, and the second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175C is guided by the second guide surface. 197 of projection 105C. Also, the first guide surface 176 of the guide slot 175D is guided by the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105D, and the second guide surface 177 of the guide slot 175D is guided by the second guide surface 197 of the 105D projection.

As the ink cartridge 30 is inserted further forward into the cartridge fixing section 110, the third guide surface 178 of the guide slot 175C is positioned above the projection 105C arranged on the lower right side with respect to to the ink needle 102, and the third guide surface 178 of the guide groove 175D is positioned above the projection 105D arranged on the lower left side with respect to the ink needle 102. As a result, a gap is formed between the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105C and the third guide surface 178 of the guide groove 175C in the up-down direction. A space is also formed between the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105D and the third guide surface 178 of the guide groove 175D in the up-down direction. The spaces formed between the first guide surfaces 196 and the third guide surfaces 178 allow the ink cartridge 30 to be pivotally movable in the housing 101.

The guide grooves 175 need not be formed in the upper right end portion, the upper left end portion, the lower right end portion and the lower left end portion of the plug 79 as long as the guide grooves 175 are respectively formed in the plug 79 at the positions corresponding to the projections 105 of the cartridge attachment section 110. For example, the guide grooves 175 may be formed respectively in a left-right central portion of an upper surface of the plug 79, a left central portion -right of a bottom surface of the plug 79, a vertical central portion (top-bottom) of a right surface of the plug 79, and a vertical central portion (top-bottom) of a left surface of the plug 79. Furthermore, they can be formed three or less guide grooves 175, or five or more guide grooves 175 in plug 79. That is, plug 79 may be formed with at least one guide groove 175.

That is, the plug 79 can be formed with two guide grooves 175, instead of four guide grooves 175. In this case, the two guide grooves 175 can be formed so that they are arranged in the up-down direction. or in the direction from left to right. In case the two guide grooves 175 are arranged in the up-down direction, the guide grooves 175A and 175C can be formed in the plug 79; or the guide grooves 175B and 175D can be formed in the plug 79. Alternatively, in case the two guide grooves 175 are arranged in the left to right direction, the guide grooves 175A and 175B can be formed in the plug 79; or guide grooves 175C and 175D may be formed in plug 79.

Each of the guide grooves 175 may have a surface that opposes the first guide surface 176. In this case, the guide groove 175 is defined by at least the surface opposite the first guide surface 176, the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177. The first guide surface 176 is not open in the direction perpendicular to the first guide surface 176 in this case. Furthermore, each of the guide grooves 175 may have a surface that opposes the second guide surface 177. In this case, the guide groove 175 is defined by at least the surface opposite the second guide surface 177, the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177. The second guide surface 177 is not open in the direction perpendicular to the second guide surface 177 in this case.

Also, each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D need not have the third guide surface 178. In this case, each of the guide grooves 175C and 175D is defined only by the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface. guide 177, similarly to guide grooves 175A and 175B.

The snap-fit mechanism 74 illustrated in Fig. 12 is configured to engage the plug 79 with one of the cartridge housing 130 and cylinder 75. In the embodiment, the snap-fit mechanism 74 couples the plug 79 with the cartridge housing 130.

The snap-fit mechanism 74 includes four protruding portions 179 and two projections 180. Two of the four protruding portions 179 are provided on the right side wall 37 of the cartridge housing 130, and the remaining two of the four protruding portions 179 are provided on the left side wall 38 of the cartridge housing 130. Accordingly, in the embodiment, the four protruding portions 179 are provided on the cartridge housing 130. The two projections 180 are provided on the cap 79.

Specifically, the two projecting portions 179 project to the right from the right side wall 37 and are spaced from each other in the up-down direction. The two projecting portions 179 projecting from the right side wall 37 do not appear in Fig. 12. As illustrated in Fig. 12, the two remaining projecting portions 179 project to the left from the left side wall 38 and are separated from each other in the direction from top to bottom. It should be noted that one set of the two projecting portions 179 provided on the right side wall 37 has a shape and arrangement that is symmetrical to a set of the two remaining projecting portions. 179 with respect to the direction from left to right. In other words, each of the left side wall 37 and the right side wall 38 is formed with a recess that is recessed rearwardly. Each recess is adapted to receive the corresponding projection 180. That is, the snap-fit mechanism 74 includes the two projections 180, and the two recesses adapted to receive the corresponding projections 180. As will be described later, the protruding portions 179 may protrude from the cylinder 75 of the supply portion. ink 34. As illustrated in FIG. 6, each of the projecting portions 179 has a rearwardly facing engaging surface 179A.

As illustrated in FIG. 13A, each of the two projections 180 protrudes in an axial direction of the cap 79 from an edge portion defining the opening 87 of the cap 79. In the operational posture of the ink cartridge 30, the axial direction of the plug 79 coincides with the front-to-rear direction, and the projections 180 project rearwardly from the plug 79. Incidentally, the projections 180 may protrude in a direction other than the rearward direction 52, as long as the plug 79 can be engaged with housing 130 by means of a press fit.

One of the two projections 180 projects rearwardly from the plug 79 at a position to the right of the opening 87. The other of the two projections 180 projects rearwardly from the plug 79 at a position to the left of the opening 87. It is that is, the two projections 180 are arranged to oppose each other in the left-to-right direction so that the aperture 87 is interposed between the two projections 180. In a state in which the plug 79 covers the cylinder 75, the one of the two projections 180 faces the right side wall 37 in the left-to-right direction, and the other of the two projections 180 faces the left side wall 38 in the left-to-right direction. In other words, in a state where the plug 79 covers the cylinder 75, the two projections 180 are arranged to oppose each other in the left-to-right direction, with the cartridge housing 130 interposed in between.

Each of the two projections 180 has an upper end positioned downward relative to an upper end of plug 79, and a lower end positioned upward relative to a lower end of plug 79. When the plug 79 is viewed from its side rearward, the two projections 180 do not protrude from the outer peripheral edge of the plug 79. In other words, when the plug 79 is viewed from its rear side, the two projections 180 are positioned inward of the outer peripheral edge of the plug 79.

Incidentally, each of the projections 180 may have an outwardly positioned portion of the outer peripheral edge of the cap 79 when the cap 79 is viewed from its rear side. For example, the upper end of each projection 180 may be positioned upward relative to the upper end of plug 79. Alternatively, the lower end of each projection 180 may be positioned downward relative to the lower end of plug 79.

Each of the projections 180 has a length in the top-down direction, so that the length in the top-down direction at its rear end is less than the length in the top-down direction at its front end. That is, each projection 180 is tapering such that its length in the upward direction tapers toward its distal end (ie, the rear end). Incidentally, each of the projections 180 may not have a conical shape described above.

Each of the projections 180 has a distal end portion 180A and a pair of engagement pawls 181. One of the two engagement pawls 181 protrudes upwardly (more specifically, diagonally upward and forward) from an upper surface of the distal end portion 180A. The remainder of the pair of engagement pawls 181 protrudes downwardly (more specifically, diagonally downward and forward) from a lower surface of distal end portion 180A. Each of the engagement pawls 181 is narrower in shape than the distal end portion 180A. In other words, each coupling pawl 181 has a length in the up-down direction shorter than that of the remaining portion of projection 180. With this configuration, each coupling pawl 181 is resiliently deformable to be able to move with relative to the distal end portion 180A of the projection 180. More specifically, each engagement pawl 181 is configured to be resiliently deformed so that it can be pivotally moved in the up-down direction around a base end of the itself (i.e., a portion connected to the distal end portion 180A).

In a state where the plug 79 covers the cylinder 75 and the container 76 from a front side thereof, each protrusion 180 is received in the corresponding recess provided in the housing 130, and each engagement pawl 181 engages the surface. coupling 179A of the corresponding projection portion 179 (see Fig. 6). More specifically, the pair of engagement pawls 181 of the projection 180 disposed to the right of the opening 87 is engaged with the engagement surfaces 179A of the two projecting portions 179 projecting to the right from the right side wall 37, while the pair of engagement pawls 181 of the projection 180 disposed to the left of the opening 87 is engaged with the engagement surfaces 179A of the two projecting portions 179 projecting to the left of the left side wall 38. By virtue of these engagements , the plug 79 is retained in the state attached to the cartridge housing 130.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, in a state in which the cap 79 covers the cylinder 75 and the container 76 from a front side thereof, an inner surface 79B of the front end wall of the cap 79 (is say, a surface opposite the front surface 79A) is positioned forward relative to the container 76 and in pressure contact with the container 76. Furthermore, in a state in which the plug 79 covers the cylinder 75 and the container 76 from a front side of the Likewise, the front end of cylinder 75 is positioned rearward relative to container 76 and in pressure contact with container 76. Thus, container 76 is retained between cap 79 and cylinder 75, while interposed between. . A gap between container 76 and cylinder 75 and a gap between container 76 and cap 79 are liquid tightly sealed.

In a state where the cap 79 covers the cylinder 75 and the container 76 from a front side thereof, the cap 79 is positioned downwardly and rearwardly with respect to the front wall 40.

In the embodiment, the snap-fit mechanism 74 couples the cap 79 with the cartridge housing 130. However, as described above, the snap-fit mechanism 74 may engage the cap 79 with the cartridge cylinder 75. the ink supply portion 34. In this case, the protruding portions 179 may protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder 75. Furthermore, in a state in which the plug 79 covers the cylinder 75, the two projections 180 are arranged to oppose each other in such a way that the cylinder 75 is interposed between the two projections 180.

<Operations for fixing and removing the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the cartridge fixing section 110>

Next, an operation for fixing the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge fixing section 110 will be described with reference to Figs. 3, 10 and 15-20.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, in the ink cartridge 30 prior to attachment to the cartridge attachment section 110, the valve 77 is in contact with the container 76 to close the through hole 73. Accordingly, at this time, the flow of ink from the ink valve chamber 35 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 is stopped. Also, the lever 163 is in the first position. The valve body 161 is in the closed position since the first projection 168 of the lever 163 in the first position presses the rod 165 of the valve body 161 downward. In this state, the through hole 46 is closed by the bar 165 and the sealing member 166 of the valve body 161. Therefore, the first storage chamber 32 is not open to the atmosphere. That is, the communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the exterior of the ink cartridge 30 is interrupted.

As illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the housing 101 through the opening 112 of the cartridge attachment section 110, with the front wall 40, 82 facing forward and the top wall 39 facing upward. That is, the ink cartridge 30 is fixed to the housing 101 while moving in the forward direction 51 (that is, the fixing direction). The user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge fixing section 110, while pushing the rear wall 41, 83 forward. The lower end portion of the ink cartridge 30 enters the guide groove 109 formed in the lower wall of the housing 101.

As the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the housing 101, the projections 105 advance towards the corresponding guide grooves 175 of the ink supply portion 34 as illustrated in Fig. 15. The guide grooves 175 they are thus guided by the projections 105, respectively.

As the projections 105 advance toward the guide grooves 175, respectively, the first guide surface 176 of the guide slot 175C and the first guide surface 176 of the guide slot 175D are supported by the projection 105C arranged in the lower right side with respect to ink needle 102 and projection 105D arranged on the lower left side with respect to ink needle 102, respectively. Furthermore, the projection 105a arranged on the upper right side with respect to the ink needle 102 and the projection 105B arranged on the upper left side relative to the ink needle 102 are positioned near and above the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175A and the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175B, respectively. As a result, the ink supply portion 34 is held in position relative to the housing 101 with respect to the up-down direction.

As the projections 105 advance towards the guide grooves 175, the projection 105A arranged on the upper right side with respect to the ink needle 102 and the projection 105C arranged on the lower right side with respect to the ink needle 102 are position near and to the right of the second guide surface 177 of the guide slot 175A and the second guide surface 177 of the guide slot 175C, respectively. Furthermore, the projection 105B arranged on the upper left side with respect to the ink needle 102 and the projection 105D arranged on the lower left side with respect to the ink needle 102 are positioned near and to the left of the second guide surface. 177 of the guide groove 175B and the second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175D, respectively. As a result, the ink supply portion 34 is held in position with respect to the housing 101 with respect to the left-to-right direction.

As the ink cartridge 30 is inserted further into the housing 101, the ink needle 102 advances into the interior space of the plug 79 through the ink supply port 71 to press fit into the through hole 73 of the container 76. As described above, at this time, the ink supply portion 34 is held in position relative to the housing 101 in the top-to-bottom direction and in the left-to-left direction. right. Thus, the ink needle 102 can pass through a central portion of the ink supply port 71, without abutting the plug 79.

As ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into housing 101, ink needle 102 enters ink valve chamber 35 and moves valve 77 away from container 76 against the biasing force of coil spring 78 (see Fig. 19). The ink needle 102 is thus connected to the ink supply portion 34 to allow communication with each other. Thus, ink can flow from the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 into the inner space of the ink needle 102 through the ink valve chamber 35. In this state, the pushing force The coil spring 78 is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 to urge the ink cartridge 30 rearward.

Subsequently, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the housing 101, the rear ends of the projections 105C, 105D move past the first guide surfaces 176 of the guide grooves 175C, 175D and are positioned below the third guide surfaces 178 of guide grooves 175C, 175D, respectively. Gaps are respectively formed in the top-down direction between the third guide surfaces 178 of the guide grooves 175C, 175D and the projections 105C, 105D. Furthermore, as described above, the main portion of the lower wall 42 of the cartridge housing 130 slopes with respect to the front-to-rear direction such that the lower end at the front end portion of the lower wall main portion 42 is positioned downward relative to the lower end at the rear end portion of the lower wall main portion 42. Hence, a space is formed in the top-down direction between the main portion of bottom wall 42 and bottom of housing 101. These gaps allow ink cartridge 30 to pivotally move around through hole 73 of container 76 so that rear portion of ink cartridge 30 moves downward in a state in which the ink needle 102 is forcibly fitted through the through hole 73 and is in contact with the through hole 73. The through hole 73 at this time or it serves as the pivot center for this pivoting movement of the ink cartridge 30.

When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the housing 101 after the ink cartridge 30 is placed in a state capable of pivotal movement, the locking shaft 145 of the cartridge fixing section 110 contacts the surfaces in slope 155 of the pair of walls 114 and is guided along the sloping surfaces 155 (see FIG. 15). At this time, the sloping surfaces 155 receive a downward reaction force from the locking shaft 145. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is pivotally moved, with the rear portion of the ink cartridge 30 moved downward ( see Figs. 18 and 19).

As the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the housing 101 and the front wall 40, 82 of the ink cartridge 30 approaches a position near the inner end surface 59 of the housing 101, the projection plate 111 of the housing 101 enters the space between the pair of walls 114 as illustrated in Fig. 19. However, since the rear portion of the ink cartridge 30 has moved downward as a result of the pivotal movement of the ink cartridge 30, lever 163 has also moved downward. In this state, the lower surface 111A of the projection plate 111 has not yet contacted the lever 163 although the lower surface 111A is positioned above the lever 163.

Furthermore, as the front wall 40, 82 of the ink cartridge 30 approaches the position near the inner end surface 59 of the housing 101, the locking shaft 145 moves past the sloping surfaces 155 and the horizontal surfaces 154 and is positioned further rearward than the locking surface 151 as illustrated in Fig. 19. In other words, the locking shaft 145 is slightly spaced from the ink cartridge 30. Also, at this time, a gap is formed below the locking shaft 145. Therefore, the ink cartridge 30 receives no reaction force from the locking shaft 145. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 pivotally moves around the through hole 73 of the container 76 so that the rear portion of the ink cartridge 30 moves upward (see Figs. 3 and 20). It should be noted that the posture of the ink cartridge 30 illustrated in Figs.

3 and 20 is the operating posture, that is, the upright posture.

As the rear portion of the ink cartridge 30 moves upward as a result of the pivotal movement of the ink cartridge 30, the lever 163 also moves upward. Accordingly, a surface 169A at the distal end (ie, the upper end) of the second projection 169 of the lever 163 contacts the lower surface 111A of the projection plate 111 from below. In other words, the lever 163 can access the projection plate 111 while moving upward. It should be noted that the lever 163 comes into contact with the lower surface 111A of the projection plate 111 after the ink needle 102 enters the ink valve chamber 35, that is, after the injection needle ink 102 is connected to ink supply portion 34 (see Figs. 3, 17 and 19).

When the surface 169A at the upper end of the second projection 169 of the lever 163 contacts the lower surface 111A of the projection plate 111, the second projection 169 receives a downward reaction force from the projection plate 111. In others In other words, the lever 163 receives a force that is pivotally moved in a clockwise direction in Fig. 19. This force is greater than the force required to move the first projection 168 from the rear portion 165B on the surface. top of the rod 165 of the valve body 161 to the front portion 165A thereof. Therefore, the lever 163 can be pivotally moved in the clockwise in Fig. 19 from the first position to the second position (see also Fig. 3). At this time, the first projection 168 of the lever 163 moves on the sloping portion 165C on the upper surface of the rod 165 of the valve body 161 and thus moves from the rear portion 165B thereof to the front portion 165A thereof. At the same time, the valve body 161 moves down slightly when the rod 165 is pushed down by the lever 163. As a result, the first projection 168 of the lever 163 stops pushing the valve body 161 down. Hence, the lever 163 no longer holds the valve body 161 in the closed position. That is, the lever 163 in the second position releases the restriction against movement of the valve body 161 to the open position. In this state, the valve body 161 moves upward from the closed position to the open position by virtue of the biasing force of the coil spring 162 (see Fig. 3), thereby opening the through hole 46. Consequently, the first storage chamber 32 is open to the atmosphere through the through hole 46, the air chamber 36, the labyrinthine path 143 and the communication hole 147. That is, the valve body 161 in the open position allows communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the air communication passage 72.

As described above, the lever 163 in the second position is separated from the projection plate 111. Furthermore, the sealing member 166 is in pressure contact with the through hole 139 from below, covering the peripheral edge portion of through hole 139. The gap between sealing member 166 and through hole 139 is air and liquid tightly sealed.

As described above, to allow the first storage chamber 32 to open to atmosphere, the valve body 161 must be pushed first downward and then upward. This configuration can suppress inadvertent movement of the valve body 161 to the open position. It should be noted that the movement of the lever 163 is irreversible. That is, the lever 163 can be moved from the first position to the second position abutting the projection plate 111. However, even if the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the housing 101, the lever 163 cannot return to the first. position once lever 163 is moved to the second position. The movement of the valve body 161 is also irreversible, accordingly.

Furthermore, when the ink cartridge 30 is placed in the state illustrated in Figs. 3 and 20 after the pivoting movement of the ink cartridge 30, the light blocking plate 67 (specifically, the portion of the light blocking plate 67 in which the cutout 66 is formed) is positioned between the light emitter and the light receiver of the optical sensor 113 (see Fig. 2). Hence, the printer 10 can determine that the ink cartridge 30 has been attached to the cartridge attachment section 110. Incidentally, in Figs. 3 and 15-20, the optical sensor 113 is not illustrated.

Furthermore, when the ink cartridge 30 is placed in the state illustrated in Figs. 3 and 20 after pivotal movement of ink cartridge 30, each electrode 65 of integrated circuit board 64 electrically contacts corresponding contact 106 while resiliently deforming contact 106 upward.

When the ink cartridge 30 is pivotally moved so that the rear portion of the ink cartridge 30 moves upward, the locking surface 151 also moves upward. Then, when the ink cartridge 30 is placed in the state illustrated in Figs. 3 and 20, the locking surface 151 faces rearward and opposes the locking shaft 145. When the user stops pushing the ink cartridge 30 forward in this state, the ink cartridge 30 moves backward due to the biasing force of coil spring 78. Since locking surface 151 faces rearward and opposes locking shaft 145, locking shaft 145 abuts locking surface 151 and engages locking surface 151 when the ink cartridge 30 is moved back. This engagement between locking shaft 145 and locking surface 151 prevents ink cartridge 30 from moving further rearward. In this way, the ink cartridge 30 is kept in the fixed position by engagement between the locking shaft 145 and the locking surface 151. The ink cartridge 30 can thus take the operative posture as a result of the access of the locking surface. lock 151 (ink cartridge 30) to lock shaft 145 (more specifically, a surface at a front end of lock shaft 145) in the upward direction 54.

In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 has been fixed to the cartridge fixing section 110 as a result of the insertion, in the forward direction 51, of the ink needle 102 into the ink supply portion 34 and as As a result of the engagement of the locking surface 151 with the locking shaft 145, the ink cartridge 30 assumes a locking posture. When the ink cartridge 30 assumes the fixing posture, the ink cartridge 30 is able to supply ink to the print head 21 and be operated by the printer 10 to print images.

To remove the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge fixing section 110, the user pushes the operating surface 92 downward in a state illustrated in Figs. 3 and 20. As operating surface 92 is pushed down, ink cartridge 30 pivotally moves around through hole 73 of container 76 as the pivot center, with its rear portion moving downward (see Figs 18 and 19). The locking surface 151 thus moves to a downward position relative to the locking shaft 145. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is no longer restricted to move backward. Hence, the ink cartridge 30 is moved back relative to the cartridge fixing section 110 by the biasing force of the helical spring 78. Accordingly, the user can pull out the ink cartridge 30 from the fixing section of the cartridge. cartridge 110 while holding the cartridge housing 130. It should be noted that the first storage chamber 32 remains open to the atmosphere even after the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge fixing section 110 as the valve body 161 remains in the open position.

<Variations and modifications>

<30K ink cartridge>

Next, the 30K ink cartridge corresponding to a black color will be described with reference to Figs.

23-25. As illustrated in Fig. 23, the 30K ink cartridge includes a front wall 240, 282, a rear wall 241, 283, a top wall 239, a bottom wall 242, 248, a right side wall 37 , 84 and the left side wall 38, 85. The front wall 240, 282 and the rear wall 241, 283 of the 30K ink cartridge have dimensions in the left-to-right direction greater than those of the front wall 40, 82 and the rear wall 41, 83 of the respective three ink cartridges 30 corresponding to the three colors of cyan, magenta and yellow (see Fig. 4), respectively. In other words, compared to the ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, and yellow, the front wall 240, 282 and the rear wall 241, 283 of the 30K ink cartridge are expanded to the right. Accordingly, the ink supply portion 34, the integrated circuit board 64, the protruding portion 43, and the operating portion 90 of the 30K ink cartridge are positioned to the left with respect to a left-right center of the 30K ink cartridge. . However, the light blocking plate 67 of the 30K ink cartridge is positioned in the left-right center of the 30K ink cartridge.

As described above, the ink cartridge 30K corresponding to a color of black differs from the ink cartridges 30 corresponding to the respective colors cyan, magenta and yellow in that the front wall 240, 282 and the rear wall 241, 283 of the 30K ink cartridge are expanded to the right. Hereinafter, a structure of the ink cartridge 30K different from the ink cartridges 30 corresponding to the colors cyan, magenta and yellow will be described in detail.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the ink cartridge 30K has a lower wall subordinate portion 248 having an upper surface 248A. Upper surface 248A is continuous with an upper surface 245A of a lower inner wall portion 245, as illustrated in FIG. 25. Upper surface 248A includes curved surface 115A, curved surface 116A, and an intermediate surface 120A. . Intermediate surface 120A is a flat surface and is connected to curved surface 115A at its right end and curved surface 116A at its left end. The intermediate surface 120A of the upper surface 248A is sloped with respect to the left-to-right direction so that its left end is positioned lower than its right end. Thus, the left end of the intermediate surface 120A of the upper surface 248A is a lowermost portion of the upper surface 248A. That is, the left end of the intermediate surface 120A of the upper surface 248A is a lower portion of the first storage chamber 32 at its rear portion. Incidentally, the intermediate surface 120A of the upper surface 248A may be sloped with respect to the left-to-right direction so that its right end is positioned more downward than its left end. Alternatively, the intermediate surface 120A of the upper surface 248A may not slope relative to the left-to-right direction, that is, it may be a non-sloping flat surface parallel to the horizontal direction. The intermediate surface 120A of the upper surface 248A is made to be flat and connected to the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38 through the curved surface 116A, thereby expanding one dimension in the width direction (i.e. , left to right direction) of the first storage chamber 32 of the 30K ink cartridge. Thus, a larger quantity of ink can be stored in the first storage chamber 32 of the ink cartridge 30K than in the first storage chamber 32 of the ink cartridge 30 illustrated in Fig. 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the curved surface 115A extends downward from the lower end of the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37, and the curved surface 116A extends downward from the lower end of the inner surface 38A of the left side wall 38. In other words, the curved surface 115A is continuously connected to the lower end of the inner surface 37A of the right side wall 37, and the curved surface 116A is continuously connected to the lower end of the surface. interior 38A of left side wall 38. Curved surface 115A has a lower end connected to the right end of intermediate surface 120A. Curved surface 116A has a lower end connected to the left end of intermediate surface 120A. Here, the left end of the intermediate surface 120A of the lower wall subordinate portion 248 constitutes the lowermost portion of the front portion of the first storage chamber 32 of the ink cartridge 30K. That is, the lower end of the curved surface 115A and the lower end of the curved surface 116A are connected to the intermediate surface 120A of the upper surface 248A of the lower wall subordinate portion 248 which includes the lowermost portion of the front portion. of the first storage chamber 32.

Upper surface 248A further includes curved surface 119A (see FIG. 10) continuously connected to a lower end of inner surface 241A of rear wall 241.

The inner curved surface 117A, the inner curved surface 118A and the inner curved surface 119A of the ink cartridge 30K each have a configuration equal to that of the embodiment described above, except that one Inner surface 240A of the front wall 240 has a dimension in the left-to-right direction greater than that of the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40 of the ink cartridge 30 (see Fig. 25).

In the ink cartridge 30K, the lower end of the curved surface 115A and the lower end of the curved surface 116A are connected to the intermediate surface 120A of the upper surface 248A of the lower wall subordinate portion 248. However, the end The lower end of the curved surface 115A and the lower end of the curved surface 116A may be continuously connected to each other.

Incidentally, the upper surface 245A may include a curved surface continuously connected to a lower end of an inner surface 241A of the rear wall 241 as in the embodiment.

<Other modifications>

In the embodiment described above, the first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 have shapes as illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B. However, provided that each of the first ribs 185 and the corresponding second rib 186 are spaced apart from each other in the left-to-right direction and have at least the inclined portion 185B and the inclined portion 186B, respectively, the first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 may not have the shapes illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B.

Fig. 26A illustrates a first inner cap 1131 including first ribs 1185 and second ribs 1186 in accordance with a first variation of the embodiment. Each of the first ribs 1185 includes an extension portion 1185A and an inclined portion 185B. Each of the second ribs 1186 includes an extension portion 1186A and an inclined portion 1186B. Each of the first ribs 1185 opposes the corresponding one of the second ribs 1186 in the direction from left to right. A distal end (i.e., the rear end) of an inclined portion 1185B of each first rib 1185 may be disposed in the same position in the front-to-rear direction as a distal end (i.e., the rear end) of a portion inclined 1186B of the corresponding second rib 1186.

FIG. 26B illustrates a first inner cap 2131 including first ribs 2185 and second ribs 2186 in accordance with a second variation of the embodiment. Each of the first ribs 2185 includes an inclined portion 2185B. Each of the second ribs 2186 includes an inclined portion 2186B. In addition, Fig. 26C illustrates a first inner cap 3131 including first ribs 3185 and second ribs 3186 in accordance with a third embodiment variation. Each of the first ribs 3185 includes an inclined portion 3185B. Each of the second ribs 3186 includes an inclined portion 3186B.

As illustrated in FIG. 26B, at least one of the first ribs 2185 and the second rib 2186 need not have the extension portion. In the same way, as illustrated in Fig. 26C, at least one of the first ribs 3185 and the second rib 3186 need not have the extension portion. It should be noted that Figs. 26B and 26C illustrate configurations in which each of the first ribs 2185, 3185 does not have the extension portion and each of the second ribs 2186, 3186 does not have the extension portion.

In the embodiment described above, the lower ends of the first ribs 185 and the lower ends of the second ribs 186 are provided at equal heights to each other. However, the lower ends of the first ribs 185 and the lower ends of the second ribs 186 may be provided at different heights from each other. For example, of the plurality of first ribs 185 and second ribs 186, ribs 185, 186 positioned closer to the front-rear center of side walls 37, 38 may protrude further downward.

The protruding length of the first rib 185 may not be uniform throughout the region thereof. Likewise, the protruding length of the second rib 186 may not be uniform throughout the region thereof. For example, of the first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186, the base ends of the extension portions 185A, 186A which respectively contact the inner surfaces 37A, 38A of the side walls 37, 38 and the portions near the ends The distal portions of the extended portions 185A, 186A (ie, the base end portions) may protrude further downward than any other portion than the base end portions.

In the embodiment described above, the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37, and the left side wall 38 of the cartridge housing 130 have translucency, so that the surface level of the ink stored in the first chamber storage 32 and the surface level of the ink stored in the second storage chamber 33 can be visually recognized from the outside of the ink cartridge 30. In addition, the front wall 40, the rear wall 41 and the right side wall 37 and the wall The left side 38 are exposed to an exterior and constitute the exterior surfaces of the cartridge housing 130, except for their upper end portions engaged with the exterior cap 134.

However, each of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37, and the left side wall 38 may have at least one portion that forms the outer wall of the cartridge housing 130, that is, the wall. of the cartridge housing 130 whose outer surface is exposed to the outside.

For example, a label may be adhered to a portion of the outer surface of one of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38, and the portion to which the label is adhered. can degrade visual recognition to the surface level of ink stored in each of the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 on the exterior of the ink cartridge 30. In this case, a portion of each of the front wall 40, rear wall 41, right side wall 37, and left side wall 38, except for the portion to which the label is adhered, constitute the outer wall of the cartridge housing 130. Thus, the storage chamber of liquid (eg, the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33) in the ink cartridge 30 need not be visually recognized from the outside of the ink cartridge 30 in either direction. However, it is preferable that the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38 each have a region through which the surface level of the ink stored in the former can be recognized. storage chamber 32.

Also, the cartridge housing 130 can be covered with a cover, for example. In this case, however, the cover must be configured to expose a portion of the front wall 40, a portion of the rear wall 41, a portion of the right side wall 37, and a portion of the left side wall 38 to a Exterior. For example, the cover may have four openings at opposite positions to the front wall part 40, the rear wall part 41, the right side wall part 37 and the left side wall part 38, respectively. If this is the case, the parts of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38, those exposed to an exterior through the openings, form the exterior walls of the housing of the cartridge 130.

Incidentally, in a case where only a part of the front wall 40, a part of the rear wall 41, a part of the right side wall 37 and a part of the left side wall 38 constitute the outer walls of the housing of the cartridge 130, it is preferable that a lower portion of each of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the right side wall 37, and the left side wall 38 is exposed to an exterior.

In the embodiment described above, the cartridge housing 130, the first inner cap 131, the second inner cap 132, the outer cap 134, and the support member 150 are assembled to provide the ink cartridge 30. However, at least part of the cartridge housing 130, the first inner cap 131, the second inner cap 132, the outer cap 134, and the support member 150 may be integrally formed. For example, the cartridge housing 130 and the outer cap 134 may be integrally formed. Alternatively, the second inner cap 132 and the support member 150 may be integrally formed.

In the embodiment described above, the contact between the locking shaft 145 and the locking surface 151 maintains the ink cartridge 30 in the fixed position. However, the ink cartridge 30 may not be held in the fixed position by contact between the locking shaft 145 and the locking surface 151. Any other known configuration can be used to maintain the ink cartridge 30 in the fixed position.

In the embodiment described above, semipermeable membrane 141 is welded to the lower end surface of rib 140. However, semipermeable membrane 141 may be welded to any other portion as long as semipermeable membrane 141 is welded to a portion capable of preventing that the ink entering the air chamber 36 through the through hole 46 flows into the labyrinth path 143. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the semipermeable membrane 141 is welded. However, the semipermeable membrane 141 does not need to be welded.

In the embodiment described above, the two projections 180 provided on the cap 79 are opposite each other in the direction from left to right. However, the projections 180 can oppose each other in any direction other than the left-to-right direction. For example, the projections 180 can oppose each other in the top-down direction.

In the embodiment described above, the valve mechanism 135 is configured to interrupt communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere by closing the through hole 46 and to provide communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere by opening the through hole. 46. However, the valve mechanism 135 may be configured to open and close a portion of the air communication passage 72 other than the through hole 46.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the valve mechanism 135 is moved away from the through hole 46 as the ink cartridge 30 is in the process of moving upward (i.e., in a direction opposite to the gravitational direction) to engage the locking surface 151 with locking shaft 145. However, valve mechanism 135 can thus move when ink cartridge 30 is in the process of moving in a direction of attachment to cartridge attachment section 110, that is, in a direction that crosses the gravitational direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink supply portion 34 is provided with the cylinder 75 and the cap 79 covering the cylinder 75. However, the ink supply portion 34 need not be provided with the cap 79. In case the ink supply portion 34 does not include the plug 79, the guide grooves 175 may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder 75.

In the embodiment described above, communication between the inside and outside of the ink supply portion 34 is interrupted and provided by the valve 77. However, the opening at the front end of the cylinder 75 can be formed by piercing, with a needle. or the like, a sealing member formed from elastic resin and having no through hole, and can be closed by elasticity of the sealing member when the needle is retracted from the sealing member.

In the embodiment described above, the dimension in the front-to-back direction of the main portion of the lower wall 42 is greater than the dimension in the front-to-back direction of the subordinate portion of the lower wall 48. However, the The dimension in the front-to-back direction of the main portion of the lower wall 42 may be shorter than the dimension in the front-to-back direction of the subordinate portion of the lower wall 48. The connecting wall 49 may be arranged at a front-rear central portion of the ink cartridge 30. Alternatively, the connecting wall 49 may be arranged in a position closer to the rear wall 41 than to the front wall 40.

In the embodiment described above, the ink cartridge 30 has the outer shape as illustrated in Figs.

4 and 5. In addition, the ink supply portion 34 extends forward from the connecting wall 49 and is positioned downward and rearward from the front wall 40. However, the ink cartridge 30 need not have the shape and the ink supply portion 34 does not need to be positioned as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

For example, the gap distance between the right side wall 37 and the left side wall 38 may be greater than the gap distance between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41. Furthermore, the ink cartridge 30 may have an outer shape. simple rectangular. Furthermore, the ink supply portion 34 may extend forward from the front wall 40. Alternatively, the ink supply portion 34 may extend downward from the main lower wall portion 42 and may have a bent or bent distal end. curved to allow the ink supply port 71 to open forward.

FIG. 27A illustrates an ink cartridge 230 according to a first modification of the embodiment. The ink cartridge 230 has an outer shape defined by a cartridge housing 330. The cartridge housing 330 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The ink cartridge 230 does not include the first inner cap 131, the second inner cap 132, or the outer cap 134. That is, the cartridge housing 330 of the ink cartridge 230 has an upper wall 188, a lower wall, a front wall. , a rear wall, a right side wall 191, and a left side wall 192. The top wall 188 is connected to the front wall, the rear wall, the right side wall 191, and the left side wall 192. The top wall 188 constitutes a part of the cartridge housing 330. The cartridge housing 330 has a storage chamber 190. The storage chamber 190 is defined by the front wall, the rear wall, the bottom wall, the top wall 188, the right side wall 191 , and the left side wall 192 of the cartridge housing 330. The cartridge housing 330 need not be formed with an integral resin mold. For example, the right side wall 191 and the left side wall 192 can be configured from films welded to the front wall, rear wall, bottom wall, and top wall 188.

In this modification, the ink supply portion 34 does not protrude from any wall defining the outer shape of the ink cartridge 230. In this case, a protrusion 193 is provided which protrudes in the left-to-right direction in each of the right side wall 191 and left side wall 192 so that the ink supply port 71 is interposed between the two protrusions 193. Each protrusion 193 extends in the front-to-rear direction along a liquid passage 194. At least one of an upper end and a lower end of each protrusion 193 can serve as the guide grooves 175.

Also, in this modification, ink supply portion 34 does not include cylinder 75, container 76, valve 77, coil spring 78, plug 79, or snap-fit mechanism 74. A film (not illustrated) is adhered to an opening of the ink supply port 71. The film provides a liquid-tight seal with the opening of the ink supply port 71, thereby blocking communication between the storage chamber 190 and the exterior of the ink cartridge. ink 230. When the ink cartridge 230 is attached to the cartridge attachment section 110, the ink needle 102 pierces the film, thereby allowing the ink stored in the storage chamber 190 to flow into the ink needle 102 .

Furthermore, in such a case, the accessed member (such as, the protruding portion 43, the operating portion 90, the light blocking plate 67, or the electrodes 65 of the integrated circuit board 64) is arranged on the upper wall. 188 of the cartridge casing 330. Incidentally, the accessed member is an externally accessible member in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment section 110. In Fig. 27A, the circuit board Integrated 64 as an accessed member is provided on the upper wall 188 of the cartridge case 330. The protruding portion 43 or the light blocking plate 67 as an accessed member may be provided on the upper wall 188 of the cartridge case 330. As Alternatively, both the projecting portion 43 and the locking plate Light 67 may be arranged on top wall 188 along with integrated circuit board 64.

FIG. 27B illustrates an ink cartridge 430 according to a second modification of the embodiment. The ink cartridge 430 has an outer shape defined by a cartridge housing 530. In the above-described first modification illustrated in Fig. 27A, the ink supply portion 34 does not protrude forward, and is not provided with the cap 79. However, as illustrated in Fig. 27B, the ink supply portion 34 protrudes from the connecting wall 49, but may not be provided with the plug 79. In the latter case, the tubular ink supply portion 34 protrudes forward from the connecting wall 49, and a pair of protrusions 193 protruding in the left-to-right direction from the outer surface of the ink supply portion 34. At least one of an upper end and a lower end of each protrusion 193 can serve as the guide grooves 175.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, each of the guide grooves 175 includes an extension portion in the front-to-back direction (i.e., the first guide surface 176) and an inclined portion with respect to the front direction. a rear (ie, third guide surface 178). However, as in the modifications illustrated in Figs. 27A and 27B, the guide grooves 175 can only include an extension portion in the front to back direction.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175 and the second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175 intersect each other. However, the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177 need not intersect each other.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the plug 79 has the four guide grooves 175 which are guided by the corresponding projections 105. However, a different configuration can be employed to guide the ink supply portion 34 to the ink needle. 102. In a variation illustrated in Fig. 28, a plug 579 has four guide portions 575 in place of the four guide grooves 175. Respective guide portions 575 are provided on each corner portion or plug 579. Each one of the guide portions 575 has two protrusions adapted to contact the corresponding projections 105. One of the two protrusions extends in the direction from top to bottom, and the other of the two protrusions extends in the direction from left to right . During the process of attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment section 110, the two protrusions of each guide portion 575 contact the first guide surface 196 and the second guide surface 197, respectively, whereby the ink supply portion 34 is guided to ink needle 102. Incidentally, each of the two protrusions may have a flat-tipped end or a pointed-tipped end. In case each of the two protrusions has a flat point end, the two protrusions can contact the projection 105 at their flat point end (surface contact). In case each of the two protrusions has a pointed end, the two protrusions can contact the projection 105 at their pointed end (point contact).

In the embodiment described above, the ink is an example of the liquid. However, a pretreatment liquid that is ejected onto the sheets before the ink during a printing operation can be stored in the liquid cartridge. Alternatively, the cleaning water for cleaning the print head 21 can be stored in the liquid cartridge. That is, the ink cartridge 30 according to the present description need not be a cartridge for storing ink, but may be a cartridge for storing the liquid consumed by the printer 10.

<Additional benefits>

According to the embodiment described above, the guide grooves 175 are guided by the projections 105 during the insertion of the ink needle 102 into the ink supply portion 34, respectively. That is, each guide groove 175 provided in the ink supply portion 34 serves as a reference surface for positioning the ink supply portion 34. In this case, an area of the reference surface for positioning the supply portion ink 34 in its position may be smaller compared to a case where the outer circumferential surface of the ink supply portion 34 functions as the reference surface. In this way, the ink supply portion 34 can be positively guided towards the ink needle 102 to allow the ink needle 102 to be inserted into the ink valve chamber 35 without the ink supply portion 34 colliding. with ink needle 102.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the ink supply portion 34 is formed with four of the guide grooves 175. Accordingly, the ink supply portion 34 can be safely guided toward the ink needle 102.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177 are open. That is, the guide groove 175 does not have a surface facing the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177. Therefore, the interference between the ink supply portion 34 and the projections 105 can be restricted. even if the ink cartridge 30 enters the cartridge fixing section 110 or is pulled out of the cartridge fixing section 110 with the ink cartridge 30 inclined relative to the cartridge fixing section 110.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, each of the four guide grooves 175 is formed in each corner of the plug 79. Accordingly, the outer shape of the plug 79 can be simplified compared to a case where the groove Guide 175 is provided in a central portion of each of an upper surface, a lower surface, a left surface and a right surface of the plug 79.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the rear end of the first guide surface 176 is positioned rearward of the front end of the container 76. Since the first guide surface 176 is guided by the projection 105 during the fixing of the cartridge of ink 30 to the cartridge fixing section 110, the position of the container 76 can be stabilized. Accordingly, the ink needle 102 can be safely inserted into the chamber of the ink valve 35.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, since the third guide surface 178 is inclined with respect to the front-to-back direction, a space is provided between the third guide surface 178 and the cartridge fixing section 110. Therefore, the interference between the ink supply portion 34 and the projections 105 can be restricted even if the ink cartridge 30 enters the cartridge fixing section 110 or is pulled out of the cartridge fixing section 110 with the ink cartridge 30 inclined relative to the cartridge fixing section 110.

Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, since the first guide surface 176 is continuous with the third guide surface 178, the guiding of the ink supply portion 34 towards the ink needle 102 can be smoothly performed.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the angle defined between the third guide surface 178 and the front to back direction is greater than the angle defined between the lower surface of the main portion of the lower wall 42 and the direction of front to back. This structure can avoid interference between the third guide surface 178 and the projections 105 even if the ink cartridge 30 is fixed and separated from the cartridge fixing section 110 with the inclined posture of the ink cartridge 30 so that the surface bottom of the main pipe the bottom wall portion 42 abuts the cartridge fixing section 110.

Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the cartridge housing 130 and the outer cap 134 are pivotally moved to be tilted by their pivotal movement during the attachment of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment section 110 and separation. of the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge fixing section 110. However, the interference of the ink supply portion 34 against the projections 105 may be restricted even if the cartridge housing 130 and the outer cap 134 are inclined by the pivoting movement as described above.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the guide grooves 175 are positioned outwardly from the integrated circuit board 64 in the direction from left to right. Accordingly, the respective guide groove 175 contacts the corresponding projection 105 at the outward position of the integrated circuit board 64 in the left-to-right direction during the fixing of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge fixing section 110. and the separation of the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge fixing section 110. Therefore, the inclination in the left-to-right direction of the integrated circuit board 64 may be restricted during fixing or detaching of the ink cartridge. 30.

Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 can absorb the filtered ink from the ink supply portion 34. Therefore, the flow of the filtered ink from the portion can be reduced. ink supply 34 to the outside of ink cartridge 30.

Furthermore, the ink leaked from the ink supply portion 34 flows out of the ink cartridge 30 through the ink supply port 71. According to the embodiment described above, the first absorbent member 182 can absorb the ink that passes through ink supply port 71.

Also, most of the filtered ink from the ink supply portion 34 flows downward due to the gravitational force. According to the above-described embodiment, the second absorbent member 183 is arranged in the lower portion of the inner space of the plug 79. Therefore, the ink filtered from the ink supply portion 34 and flowing downward can be absorbed by the second absorbent member 183.

Furthermore, in accordance with the embodiment described above, the groove 184 is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the cap 79 which defines the interior space of the cap 79 to extend from the portion adjacent to the peripheral edge portion of the ink supply port 71 toward the second absorbent member 183. Therefore, ink leaked from the ink supply portion 34 can be directed to the second absorbent member 183 through the slot 184.

<Considerations>

The ink cartridge 30 is an example of a liquid cartridge. The 30K ink cartridge is also an example of a liquid cartridge. The ink cartridge 230 is also an example of a liquid cartridge. The ink cartridge 430 is also an example of a liquid cartridge. Ink tube 102 is an example of a liquid supply tube. Cartridge housing 130 and outer cap 134 are examples of a cartridge body. Cartridge housing 330 is also an example of a cartridge body. Cartridge housing 530 is also an example of a cartridge body. The first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 are an example of a liquid storage chamber. Ink storage chamber 190 is also an example of a liquid storage chamber. The ink supply portion 34 is an example of a liquid supply portion. The ink valve chamber 35 is an example of a liquid passage. Front surface 79A is an example of a front end face. Guide groove 175 is an example of a guide. Guide portion 575 is also an example of a guide. The first guide surface 196 of the projection 105 is an example of a surface. The second guide surface 197 of projection 105 is an example of another surface. The first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175 is an example of a first guide portion. The second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175 is an example of a second guide portion. Guide groove 175A is an example of a first guide groove. Guide groove 175B is an example of a second guide groove. Guide groove 175C is an example of a third guide groove. Guide groove 175D is an example of a fourth guide groove. The first perpendicular direction is an example of a first direction. The second perpendicular direction is an example of a second direction. Container 76 is an example of a sealing portion. Guide groove 175C and guide groove 175D are an example of a particular guide groove. The lower wall subordinate portion 48 is an example of a first lower wall. The main portion of the bottom wall 42 is an example of a second bottom wall. The locking surface 151 is an example of a coupling portion. Cylinder 75 is an example of a sleeve. Integrated circuit board 64 is an example of a circuit board. Guide groove 175A and guide groove 175c are an example of a guide. Guide groove 175B and guide groove 175D are an example of another guide. The direction from left to right is an example of a direction across. The first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 are an example of an absorber. The ink supply portion 71 is an example of an opening. The first absorbent member 182 is an example of a first absorber. The second absorbent member 183 is an example of a second absorbent. Printer 10 is an example of a liquid consuming device.

Although the description has been made in detail with reference to embodiments thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the claims.

List of reference signs

10: printer

30: ink cartridge

32: first storage chamber

33: second storage chamber

34: ink supply portion

35: ink valve chamber

79: plug

102: ink needle

105: projection

110: cartridge fixing section

130: housing

134: outer cover

175: guide groove

176: first guide surface

177: second guide surface

Claims (15)

1. A liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section (110) in a forward direction (51) perpendicular to a gravitational direction (53) in a vertical posture, having the cartridge fixing section (110) a liquid supply tube (102) extending in the front to back direction (51, 52), the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) comprising: in the vertical position of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430), a cartridge body (130, 134, 330, 530) having a liquid storage chamber (32, 33, 190) configured to store liquid therein; and a liquid supply portion (34) defining a liquid passage (35) therein, the liquid supply portion (34) being configured to supply the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber (32, 33, 190) to an exterior through the liquid passage (35) in the forward direction (51), the liquid supply portion (34) comprising: a front end face (79A) facing forward, the liquid passage (35) extending in the front to back direction (51, 52) and opening forward at the front end face (79A); an outer peripheral surface extending rearwardly from the front end face (79A); and at least one guide (175) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the liquid supply portion (34) and extending in the front-to-rear direction (51, 52), each of the at least one being configured guide (175) to be guided by the corresponding at least one projection (105) provided in the cartridge attachment section (110) and extending in the front-to-rear direction (51, 52) during attachment of the supply tube liquid (102) to the liquid supply portion (34) at the time of attachment of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) to the cartridge attachment section (110), each of the at minus one projection (105), a surface (196) and another surface (197) that crosses the surface (196), each of the at least one guide (175) including: a first guide portion (176) extending in the front to back direction (51, 52) and configured to be in contact with the one surface (196); and a second guide portion (177) extending in the front to rear direction (51, 52) and configured to be in contact with the other surface (197), wherein the at least one guide (175) includes at least one guide slot (175), wherein the first guide portion (176) includes a first guide surface (176) extending in the front-to-back direction (51, 52), wherein the second guide portion (177) includes a second guide surface (177) that extends in the front-to-back direction (51, 52) and intersects the first guide surface (176), characterized in that the at least one guide groove (175) comprises a plurality of guide grooves (175), the plurality of guide grooves (175) including a first guide groove (175A), a second guide groove (175B ), a third guide slot (175C) and a fourth guide slot (175D), wherein, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430), the first guide slot (175A) is positioned in opposition to the fourth guide slot (175D) with respect to the liquid passage (35 ) in a first direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction (51, 52), and wherein, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430), the second guide groove (175B) is positioned opposite the third guide groove (175C) with respect to the liquid passage (35 ) in a second direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction (51, 52) and the first direction. The liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one guide (175) is open in a direction perpendicular to the first guide portion (176) and a direction perpendicular to the second guide portion (177). The liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one guide (175) comprises four guide slots (175), each of the four guide slots having guide (175) a front edge that is open at the front end face (79A) of the liquid supply portion (34), the front edge of each of the four guide grooves (175) forming a substantially rectangular shape. L at the front end face (79A) of the liquid supply portion (34) in a front view, and wherein the front end face (79A) has a generally rectangular shape when in the front view, the front edges being provided with the four guide grooves (175) at the respective four corner portions of the front end face at rectangle shape (79A) of the liquid supply portion (34). The liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430), the portion The liquid supply valve (34) includes a protrusion (193) projecting in a direction that crosses the front-to-back direction (51, 52), the protrusion (193) having an upper end surface and a lower end surface, at least one of the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the boss (193) serving as one of the at least one guide (175). The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liquid supply portion (34) includes a sealing portion (76) formed with a through hole (73) configured to communicate the liquid passage (35) with an exterior of the liquid supply portion (34) and to allow the liquid supply tube (102) to extend therethrough, the sealing portion (76) being configured ) to seal a gap provided between the liquid supply tube (102) extending through the through hole (73) and the liquid passage (35), the sealing portion (76) having a front end, and wherein, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K), the first guide portion (176) has a rear end positioned rearwardly from the front end of the sealing portion (76). The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one guide groove (175) comprises a particular guide groove (175C, 175D), further having the particular guide groove (175C, 175D) a third guide surface (178) positioned rearward relative to the first guide surface (176) and sloped relative to the front-to-rear direction (51, 52) in the vertical position of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K). The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to claim 6, wherein the third guide surface (178) is continuous with the first guide surface (176) of the particular guide groove (175C, 175D) . The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the cartridge body (130, 134) includes: in the vertical position of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K), a first bottom wall (48); and a second bottom wall (42) positioned back and down relative to the first bottom wall (48), the second bottom wall (42) having a bottom surface sloped with respect to the front to back direction (51, 52 ) so that its rear end is positioned upward relative to its front end, the lower surface of the second lower wall (42) and the front-to-back direction (51, 52) defining an angle (02), wherein, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K), the liquid supply portion (34) is positioned downward relative to the first bottom wall (48) and forward relative to the second bottom wall (42), and wherein, in the vertical posture of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K), the particular guide slot (175C, 175D) opens in a direction perpendicular to the third guide surface (178), the third guide surface being sloped. guide (178) with respect to the front-to-back direction (51,52) so that its rear end is positioned upward relative to its front end, defining the third guide surface (178) and the front-to-back direction. back (51, 52) an angle (01) greater than the angle (02) defined by the lower surface of the second lower wall (42) and the front-to-back direction (51, 52). The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the cartridge body (130, 134) is pivotally movable relative to the cartridge attachment section ( 110), the cartridge body (130, 134) including a coupling portion (151) configured to engage the cartridge attachment section (110) by pivotal movement of the cartridge body (130, 134) relative to the cartridge fixing section (110). The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the liquid supply portion (34) includes: a sleeve (75) extending from the body of the cartridge (130, 134), the sleeve (75) having a hollow configuration defining an interior space that serves as the liquid passage (35); a sealing portion (76) formed with a through hole (73) configured to communicate the liquid passage (35) with an exterior of the liquid supply portion (34) and allow the liquid supply tube (102) spreads through; and a plug (79) configured to cover the sleeve (75) with the sealing portion (76) interposed between the plug (79) and the sleeve (75) to retain the sealing portion (76), the plug (79) having an outer peripheral surface serving as the outer peripheral surface of the liquid supply portion (34) in which the at least one guide (175) is provided. The liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cartridge body (130, 134, 330, 530) includes: a circuit board (64); and a top wall (39, 188) on which the circuit board (64) is provided, and wherein, in the vertical position of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430), the at least one guide (175) includes a guide (175A, 175C) and another guide (175B, 175D), each one being provided of the guide (175A, 175C) and the other guide (175B, 175D) in an outward position of the circuit board (64) in a widthwise direction (55, 56) in perpendicular to a top-to-bottom direction (53, 54) and the front-to-back direction (51,52), the guide (175A, 175C) and the other guide (175B, 175D) being arranged on opposite sides with respect to the circuit board (64) in the width direction (55, 56). 12. The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the liquid supply portion (34) includes: a plug (79) having an interior space; and an absorber (182, 183) provided in the interior space of the plug (79) and configured to absorb liquid. The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to claim 12, wherein the cap (79) has a circumferential edge portion defining an opening (71) configured to communicate the interior space of the cap (79) with an exterior of the plug (79), and wherein the absorber (182, 183) includes a first absorber (182) disposed adjacent the circumferential edge portion of the opening (71). The liquid cartridge (30, 30K) according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the absorber (182, 183) includes a second absorber (183) positioned below the liquid passage (35) at the posture vertical of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K). 15. A system (1) comprising: the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) according to any one of claims 1 to 14; and a liquid consuming device (10) including the cartridge attachment section (110), including the cartridge attachment section (110): the liquid supply tube (102) connected to the liquid supply portion (34) of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) in a state in which the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) is attached to the cartridge attachment section (110); and the at least one projection (105) having one surface (196) and the other surface (197) perpendicular to the surface (196), the at least one projection (105) being configured to guide the at least one guide (175 ) of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) during the attachment of the liquid cartridge (30, 30K, 230, 430) to the cartridge attachment section (110).