FR2961430A1 - Ink cartridge for use in printer, has detection parts detected by sensor through movable component in detection position during installation process of detection parts in cartridge installation part - Google Patents

Abstract

The cartridge (30) has a body (31) provided with a front side along an installation direction (56). A detection part (45) and another detection part (46) placed on an end of the front side are designed to move a movable element (135) provided on a cartridge installation part (110). The detection parts are detected by a sensor (117) through the movable component in detection position during installation process of the detection parts in the cartridge installation part. An independent claim is also included for a recording apparatus.

Description

RECORDING APPARATUS AND INK CARTRIDGE

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a cartridge installation part installing inside the latter an ink cartridge, and an ink cartridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, in an image recording apparatus of the type referred to as a tube feed, an ink cartridge is positioned outside a carriage mounted with a recording head, and this cartridge of ink and the recording head are connected together via a tube. This ink cartridge is installed on a cartridge installation part, which has an opening, for example in the front surface of a device body, in the horizontal direction via the opening. This cartridge installation part houses the ink cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the ink cartridge. With the ink cartridge installed in the ink installation portion, an ink channel extending from the ink cartridge to the recording head is formed. Through this ink channel, the ink is fed to the recording head from the ink cartridge. A wide variety of ink cartridges for use in the recording apparatus have been developed. It is necessary for the recording apparatus to recognize a type of the ink cartridge. Typically, a detection portion has been provided at the ink cartridge to distinguish the ink cartridge from one type, from an ink cartridge of another type. However, a detection part can transmit only a part of information. In addition, the space at the ink cartridge for providing any means of detection is limited.

The present invention has been realized taking into consideration the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge and recording apparatus in which the amount of information that can be transmitted from the ink cartridge at the recording device can be increased.

Solution to the Problem This object is solved by an ink cartridge comprising: a body having a front side in an installation direction which includes an ink supply portion positioned therein and capable of supplying power to the ink on the outside from an ink chamber accumulating inside the ink, and a rear side positioned to face the front side, a first detection part, and a second part detection device which is provided on an end side of the front side, being configured to move a movable member movably provided on a cartridge installation portion for accommodating the ink cartridge and configured to be detected by a second sensor through the movable member in a second detection position during a method of installation in the cartridge installation portion, and by a recording apparatus comprising a cartridge installation part which can install inside the latter, in an installation direction, an ink cartridge as described above; wherein the cartridge installation portion comprises: a first sensor capable of detecting the first detection portion in a first detection position during the installation process, and a second sensor capable of detecting the second detection portion in a second detection position. detection in the method of installing the ink cartridge in the cartridge installation part. When a second detection portion is provided at an end side of the front side of the ink cartridge, a space that is anyway available can be used. Providing the end side leaves the central part empty, so that it can be used for different purposes. Detection through a moving element keeps the ink cartridge small. Detection in a second detection position increases flexibility by detecting different properties. The second detection portion and / or the movable member can prevent the ink from falling on the second sensor.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view schematically illustrating an internal structure of a printer comprising an ink supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of an ink cartridge. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of the ink cartridge. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cartridge installation part.

Figure 5 is a front view of the cartridge installation part. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge is installed in the cartridge installation portion.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the cartridge installation portion, illustrating a state immediately after insertion of the ink cartridge into the cartridge installation portion.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the cartridge installation portion, illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge installation portion and a rib of a first projection is detected. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the cartridge installation portion, illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge installation portion and a rib of a slide member is detected.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the cartridge installation part showing a state in which the ink cartridge, which includes a second protrusion having a longitudinal dimension, is inserted into the cartridge installation part and the rib the first projection is detected. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the cartridge installation portion, illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge, which includes a sensed element having a longitudinal dimension, is inserted into the cartridge installation portion and the rib of the first protrusion is detected. Fig. 13 is an operation graph illustrating output signals of the optical sensors. Fig. 14 is an operation graph illustrating the output signals of the optical sensors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings, if necessary. The embodiment described below is purely an example embodying the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment may be modified if necessary within the scope of the present invention without changing the essential.

Overview of the Printer 10 As illustrated in FIG. 1, a printer 10 as a recording apparatus is provided for recording an image by selectively discharging ink drops onto a recording sheet in accordance with FIG. of the ink jet recording process. The printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 is provided with a cartridge installation portion 110. The cartridge installation portion 110 can install inside. of the latter an ink cartridge 30. The cartridge installation portion 110 is provided with an opening 112 open externally in its surface. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge installation portion 110 via the aperture 112. The ink cartridge 30 accumulates inside the printer ink that can be used in the printer. 10. Installed in the cartridge installation portion 110, the ink cartridge 30 is connected to a recording head 21 by an ink tube 20. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub-tank 28 The sub-reservoir 28 temporarily accumulates inside the latter the ink fed by the ink tube 20. According to the ink jet recording method, the recording head 21 selectively discharges, from of a nozzle 29, the ink fed from the sub-tank 28. A recording sheet fed and conveyed from a sheet feed tray 15 to a transport path 24 by a roll of feeding of sheet 23, is transported on a plate 26 by a pair of Transport rollers 25. The recording head 21 selectively discharges the ink onto the recording sheet by passing on the deck 26. Thus, an image is recorded on the recording sheet. The recording sheet having passed platen 26 is discharged by a pair of discharge rollers 22 onto a sheet discharge bin 16 provided on the downstream side of the transport path 24.

Ink cartridge 30 As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 is a container for accumulating the ink inside the ink cartridge. The space formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is an ink chamber 36 for accumulating ink therein. The ink chamber 36 may be formed by a body 31 forming the outside of the ink cartridge 30, or may be formed by a separate member of the body 31.

The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge installation portion 110 along the directions indicated by the arrows 50 (hereinafter referred to as "the insertion and withdrawal directions 50") in a fixed state illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, i.e. a state in which the lower side surface in the drawings forms a lower surface and an upper side surface in the drawings forms an upper surface. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge installation portion 110 in the fixed state. This fixed state corresponds to an installation posture. The direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge installation portion 110 is an installation direction 56, and the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge installation portion 110 is the withdrawal direction 55. In addition, the height directions 52 in the waiting state correspond to the directions of gravity. That is, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge installation portion 110 along the insertion and withdrawal directions 50, and is removed from the cartridge installation portion 110 on the along the insertion and withdrawal directions 50. The ink cartridge 30 comprises the body 31 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The body 31 has a thin flat shape from the point of view of the width directions (left and right directions) 51 and wider in the height directions 52 and the depth directions (front and back directions) 53 than in the width directions. 51. A wall of the body 31 positioned on the front side in the installation direction 56 when the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge installation part 110, is a front wall 40 and a wall of the positioned body 31. rear side in the installation direction 56 is a rear wall 42. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 face each other in the insertion and withdrawal directions 50. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 are respectively delimited. by four walls, which comprise a pair of side walls extending in the insertion and withdrawal directions 50, an upper wall 39 connecting the side walls, the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 and extending from the upper end of the front wall 40 to the upper end of the rear wall 42, and a lower wall 41 extending from the lower end of the front wall 40 to at the lower end of the rear wall 42. The insertion and withdrawal directions 50 are parallel to the depth directions 53. The front wall 40 corresponds to a front surface. The rear wall 42 corresponds to a rear surface. The upper wall 39 corresponds to an upper surface. The bottom wall 41 corresponds to a lower surface.

A portion of the front wall 40 of the body 31 near its center in the height directions 52 is provided with a residual quantity detecting unit 33. The residual quantity detecting unit 33 is positioned further back in the direction installation 56 that the leading end in the installation direction 56 of a rib 48 of a first projection 45 described later, the leading end in the installation direction 56 of a second projection 46, and a sensed element 49. The residual quantity sensing unit 33 is formed into a box shape having an opening in one of its sides to communicate with the ink chamber 36.

In addition, the residual amount detection unit 33 has a pair of walls formed with a light-transmitting resin emitted from an optical sensor 114 (see Fig. 4). As shown in Fig. 3, a hollow space is formed between a pair of left and right walls of the residual quantity detecting unit 33 to accumulate ink therein. An indicator portion 62 of a sensor arm 60 is positioned between the pair of left and right walls of the residual amount detection unit 33. The sensor arm 60 includes the indicator portion 62 and a floating portion 63 respectively provided on the opposite ends of a tray-shaped arm body 61. In the ink chamber 36, the sensor arm 60 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 64 extending along the width directions 51. Depending on the amount of ink present in the ink chamber 36 the sensor arm 60 can shift its posture between a lower posture in which the indicator portion 62 is positioned on the lower side in the gravity directions of the residual amount detection unit 33 and an upper posture in which the Indicator portion 62 is positioned on the upper side in the gravity directions of the residual quantity detecting unit 33. Fig. 3 illustrates a state in which a predetermined amount or more of ink is present and the portion of Indicator 62 takes the lower posture.

In the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge installation part 110, the residual quantity detection unit 33 shifts between a state in which it allows the transmission of a predetermined quantity or more infrared light from the optical sensor 114 provided on the cartridge installation portion 110 and a blocking or attenuating state of infrared light in an amount less than the predetermined amount. If the indicator portion 62 takes the upper posture, the residual amount detecting unit 33 allows transmission of the infrared light. If the indicator portion 62 takes the lower posture, the residual amount detecting unit 33 blocks or attenuates the infrared light. According to this light transmission state of the residual quantity detecting unit 33, the amount of residual ink in the ink chamber 36 is decreased to a value less than a predetermined amount.

The residual quantity detecting unit 33 may not include the sensor arm 60. In the optical sensor 114, a light emitting element 118 and an element of the light section 119 face each other in the horizontal direction, as will be described later. In addition, the light emitted by the light emitting unit 118 is received by the light receiving element 119. In addition, the configuration may be such that the infrared light emitted by the light emitting element 118 is blocked or attenuated in a state in which the ink is present in the residual amount detection unit 33, and in that a predetermined amount or more of infrared light emitted by the light emitting element 118 is transmitted in a state in which the ink is absent in the residual quantity detection unit 33. In addition, the residual quantity detection unit 33 may be formed by a flexible film. That is, the configuration may be such that when the ink is present in the residual quantity detecting unit 33, the film swells and a rotary lever comes into contact with this film to be maintained in a position in which the lever blocks the infrared light, and in that when the ink is absent in the residual amount detection unit 33, the film deflates and the rotary lever turns downward or upward to turn at a position in which the lever does not block the infrared light. Further, the configuration may be such that the infrared light emitted by the light emitting element 118 is reflected so as not to reach the light receiving element 119 in a state in which the cartridge is present in the light receiving element 118. residual quantity detection unit 33, and in that the infrared light emitted by the light emitting element 118 is reflected in order to reach the light receiving element 119 in a state in which the ink is absent in the residual quantity detection element 33. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a part of the front wall 40 of the body 31 above the residual quantity detection unit 33 is formed with an aperture 34 passing through the wall before 40 in the depth directions 53 and an air communication port 32 is provided closer to the rear wall 42 in the insertion and withdrawal directions 50 than the opening 34. Air supply 32 is a through hole passing through a wall forming the ink chamber 36 in the depth directions 53.

Through the air communication port 32, the air space in the ink chamber 36 and the atmosphere can communicate with each other. The air communication port 32 is configured to be able to open and close by an air communication valve 80. If the air communication port 32 is open, the air pressure in the chamber ink 36 maintained under negative pressure becomes the external air pressure. It is not necessary to provide the air communication port 32 on the side of the front wall 40 and its location is not limited as long as the location allows communication between the inside and the outside of the chamber of ink 36.

In addition, if the ink cartridge 30 is used with the interior of the ink chamber 36 maintained under negative pressure, the air communication port 32 is not necessarily provided. As illustrated in FIG. a portion of the front wall 40 of the body 31 beneath the residual amount detection unit 33 is provided with an ink supply unit 37. The ink supply unit 37 has an external form cylindrical and protrudes outwardly from the front wall 40 along the insertion and withdrawal directions 50. A projecting end of the ink supply unit 37 is formed with a supply port 71. An ink flow channel 38 is formed which extends in the insertion and withdrawal directions 50 from the ink supply port 71 through the internal space. of the ink supply unit 37 to communicate with the ink chamber 36. The supply port of e ncre 71 is configured to open and close by an ink supply valve 70. When the ink cartridge 30 is installed on the ink installation portion 110, an ink needle 122 ( see Figure 6) provided on the cartridge installation portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 to open the ink supply valve 70. Therefore, the ink flows to from the ink chamber 36 through the ink flow channel 38 into the ink needle 122 provided on the cartridge installation portion 110. The ink supply port 71 n is not necessarily limited to the configuration that can be opened and closed by the ink supply valve 70 but can be configured for example to be sealed by a film or the like and opened when the ink needle 122 breaks through the film after installing the ink cartridge 30 in the installat part 110. A portion of the upper wall 39 of the body 31 near its center in the depth directions 53 is formed with an engaging portion 43. The engaging portion 43 is a projection comprising a planar surface. extending in the width directions 51 and the height directions 52 of the ink cartridge 30. The engaging portion 43 is engaged with the locking lever 145 which will be described later, in the state in which the Ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge installation portion 110.

This engaging portion 43 receives the biasing force to push the ink cartridge 30 in the withdrawal direction 55. The body 31 is provided with the first projection 45 and the second projection 46. The first projection 45 is provided on the upper end of the front wall 40 of the body 31 to extend from the front wall 40 along a direction away from the rear wall 42 (the installation direction 56) in a direction away from the ink chamber 36. The width of the first projection 45 is the same as the width of the front wall 40. The first projection 45 projects from the front wall 40 in a direction remote from the rear wall 42 (the direction of installation 56). The leading end of the first protrusion 45 projects further forward in the remote direction of the rear wall 42 (the installation direction 56) than the ink supply port 71 forming the the leading end of the ink supply unit 37. In the present embodiment, this first projection 45 has the same width as the width of the front wall 40, but can be formed into a plate shape having a narrower width (length, width) than the width of the front wall 40. The center in the width directions 51 of the first projection 45 is formed with a groove 47 extending in the depth directions 53. The groove 47 is open upward in the height directions 52 in the first projection 45. A cross section of the groove 47 taken along the height directions 52 has a concave shape. In addition, the leading end of the groove 47 in the remote direction of the ink chamber 36 is open. In the inner space of the groove 47, the center in the width directions 51 of the lower surface of the groove 47 is provided with the rib 48 extending in the height directions 52 and the depth directions 53. The groove 48 rises from the lower surface of the groove 47. Two side surfaces of the groove 48 in the width directions 51 are facing each other and are parallel to a pair of side surfaces of the groove 48 facing each other in the directions of the groove 48. width 51. The groove 48 is provided to block or attenuate the light moving in the width directions 51 and can be detected by an optical sensor 116. The dimension in which the rib 48 of the first projection 45 projects from the front wall 40 in the remote direction of the rear wall 42 (installation direction 56) is changed according to the type of the ink cartridge 30. The type of the ink cartridge 30 is, for example, for example, the color or component difference of the ink or the difference in the amount of ink initially accumulated in the ink chamber 36. The rib 48 corresponds to a first detected portion and a first light-blocking portion. The first projection 45 corresponds to a first projecting portion. The first projecting portion may be formed solely by the groove 48.

The second projection 46 is provided on the lower end of the front wall 40 of the body 31. Therefore, the second projection 46 is positioned below the ink supply unit 37. The width of the second projection 46 is the same as the width of the front wall 40. The second projection 46 projects from the front wall 40 in the remote direction of the rear wall 42 (the installation direction 56). The leading end of the second projection 46 projects further in the remote direction of the rear wall 42 (installation direction 56) than the ink supply port 71 forming the end. driving the ink supply unit 37. The dimension in which the second projection 46 projects from the front wall 40 in the remote direction of the rear wall 42 (the installation direction 56) is modified depending on the type of the ink cartridge 30. The type of the ink cartridge 30 is for example the color or component difference of the ink or the difference in the amount of the ink initially accumulated in the ink chamber. The second projection 46 corresponds to a second detected portion, a second projecting portion and a second light-blocking portion. In the present embodiment, the second projection 46 is detected indirectly in the cartridge installation portion 110. The sensed element 49 that attenuates or blocks the infrared light moving in the width directions 51 is provided on the front wall. 40 of the body 31 between the first projection 45 and the second projection 46 in the height directions 52 and in front of the residual quantity detection unit 33 in the remote direction of the rear wall 42 (installation direction 56) . The sensed element 49 is approximately the same in terms of width as the residual quantity detection unit 33 in the width directions 51. This width has a dimension allowing the detected element 49 to penetrate between the light emitting element 118 and the light receiving element 119 of the optical sensor 114 (see Fig. 4). Detected element 49 corresponds to a detected third portion and a third light blocking portion. The detected element 49 may be formed by a light transmission resin such as a part of the residual quantity detection unit 33. In this case, the sensed element 49 has a thickness in the directions of sufficient width 51 to attenuate the infrared light. In addition, this light-transmitting resin may have a thickness sufficient to attenuate or reflect the infrared light or may contain a coloring agent. The sensed element 49 and the residual amount detection unit 33 are positioned to be separated from each other with a predetermined gap formed between them in the depth directions 53. In this space, the infrared light moving in the directions of width 51 is transmitted without being attenuated to a value less than a predetermined amount. The dimension of the sensed element 49 along the depth directions 53 is changed according to the type of the ink cartridge 30. The type of the ink cartridge 30 is for example the difference in color or component, such as a pigment or a dye, ink or the difference in the amount of ink initially accumulated in the ink chamber 36. All of the first projection 45, the second projection 46 and the sensed element 49 are further protruded in the remote direction of the rear wall 42 (installation direction 56) of the residual quantity detection unit 33. That is to say that in the ink cartridge 30, the first projection 45, the second projection 46 and the sensed element 49 are positioned further forwardly in the installation direction 56 than the residual quantity detecting unit 33 and the residual quantity detecting unit 33 is positioned closer to the rear wall 42 (the rear side in the installation direction 56) as the first projection 45, the second 46 and the detected element 49. Both the residual quantity detection unit 33 and the ink supply port 71 are positioned between the first projection 45 and the second projection 46 in the height directions 52. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper wall 39 of the body 31 is provided with a guide portion 35 extending in the depth directions 53. The guide portion 35 is formed with a rib or projecting piece projecting upwardly from the top wall 39. The distance between a pair of side walls of the guide portion 35 facing each other in the width directions 51 is shorter than the distance between a pair of side walls of the body 31 facing each other in the width directions 51.

That is, the dimension in the width directions 51 of the guide portion 35 is smaller than the dimension of the width directions 51 of the body 31.

The bottom wall 41 of the body 31 is provided with a guide portion 44 extending in the depth directions 53. The guide portion 44 is formed by a rib or projecting piece projecting downwardly from the wall The distance between a pair of sidewalls of the guide portion 41 facing each other in the width directions 51 is shorter than the distance between a pair of sidewalls of the body 31 facing each other in the width directions 51. That is, the dimension in the width directions 51 of the guide portion 44 is smaller than the dimension in the width directions 51 of the body 31. The guide portions 35 and 44 are inserted and moved into the guide grooves 109 described later, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge installation portion 110.

Ink supply device 100 As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ink supply device 100 is provided on the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 is provided to feed the ink to the printer. recording head 21 included in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 comprises the cartridge installation part 110 which can install inside the latter, the ink cartridge 30. FIG. illustrates the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge installation portion 110.

Cartridge Installation Part 110 As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a housing 101 forming a housing of the cartridge installation portion 110 includes the opening 112 on the front side of the printer 10. The cartridge ink 30 is inserted into and removed from the housing 101 through the aperture 112. The ink cartridge 30 is guided in the insertion and withdrawal directions 50 when the guide portion 35 is inserted into the guide groove 109 provided on the ceiling surface defining a ceiling portion of the internal space of the housing 101 and the guide portion 44 is inserted into the guide groove 109 provided on a lower surface defining a lower portion of the internal space of the housing 101. The housing 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to the respective cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors.

The housing 101 is provided with three plates 102 to divide its internal space into four vertically long spaces. The ink cartridges 30 are housed in the respective spaces divided by these plates 102. The plates 102 are provided on the side of an end surface of the housing 101 opposite the opening 112. As illustrated in FIG. The bottom surface of the housing 101 is provided with connecting portions 103. On the end surface, each of the connecting portions 103 is positioned in a position corresponding to the ink supply unit 37 of the cartridge. installed in the housing 101. In the present embodiment, four connecting portions 103 are connected to correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 which can be accommodated in the housing 101. Each of the connecting portions 103 comprises the needle ink 122 and a support portion 121. The ink needle 122 is formed by a tubular resin needle. The ink needle 122 is connected to the ink tube 20 on the side of an inner surface which forms the inside and the outside together with the end surface of the housing 101. The individual ink tube 20 pulled towards the side of the outer surface, which forms the inside and the outside together with the end surface of the housing 101, from the individual ink needle 122, is pulled upward along the outer surface of the housing 101, and is then extended to the recording head 21 of the printer 10 to dispense the ink therewith.

The support portion 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The ink needle 122 is positioned at the center of the support portion 121. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge installation portion 110, the power supply unit ink 37 is inserted into the cylinder of the support portion 121. In this method, the outer circumferential surface of the ink supply unit 37 comes into immediate contact with the inner circumferential surface of the platen roller. the support portion 121. Thus, the ink supply unit 37 is inserted into the support portion 121 with a predetermined gap formed between them. When the ink supply unit 37 is inserted into the support portion 121, the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 37. Thus, the ink accumulated in the ink chamber 36 can flow outwards. Ink flowing from the ink chamber 36 flows into the ink needle 122. The ink needle 122 corresponds to an ink supply tube. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the terminal surface of the housing 101 is provided with a sensor unit 104 above the connection portions 103 in the directions of gravity. The sensor unit 104 comprises a substrate 113 and the optical sensor 114. The sensor unit 104 is configured with the optical sensor 114 installed on the substrate 113. The sensor unit 104 is provided with four optical sensors 114. These four optical sensors 114 correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 which can be accommodated in the housing 101. The four optical sensors 114 are aligned in the width directions of the housing 101 (corresponding to the width directions 51) between the plates 102.

Each of the optical sensors 114 includes the light emitting element 118 such as a light emitting diode and the light receiving element 119 such as a phototransistor. The light emitting element 118 and the light receiving element 119 are surrounded by a housing. The optical sensor 114 has an outer form of horseshoe formed by the housing. The light emitting element 118 may emit light from the housing in one direction. The light receiving element can receive the light emitted by the housing from a direction. The light-emitting element thus configured 118 and the light-receiving element 119 are positioned in the horseshoe-shaped housing to face each other with a predetermined space therebetween. The residual amount detection unit 33 and the detected element 49 of the ink cartridge 30 may enter the space between the light emitting element 118 and the light receiving element 119. the residual quantity detection unit 33 or the sensed element 49 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 114, the optical sensor 114 can detect a change in the amount of transmitted light caused by the residual quantity detection unit 33 or the detected element 49. This optical sensor 114 corresponds to a third sensor. In addition, the optical path of the light emitting element 118 to the light receiving element 119 in the optical sensor 114 corresponds to a third detection position.

As shown in FIG. 6, the side of the end surface of the ceiling surface of the housing 101 is provided with a sensor unit 105. The sensor unit 105 includes a substrate 115 and the optical sensor 116. sensor 105 is configured with the optical sensor 116 installed on the substrate 115. The sensor unit 105 is provided with four optical sensors 116. These four optical sensors 116 correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 which can be accommodated in the housing 101 The four optical sensors 116 are aligned in the width directions of the housing 101 (corresponding to the width directions 51) between the plates 102. When the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the housing 101, the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 116. With the detection of a change in the signal from the optical sensor 16 that occurs in this process, the installed state of the Ink layer 30 can be determined. Similar to the optical sensor 114, the optical sensor 116 includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and thus the description of a detailed configuration of the optical sensor 116 will be omitted here. The optical sensor 116 comprises a first sensor. In addition, the optical path of the light emitting element to the light receiving element in the optical sensor 116 corresponds to a first detection position. As illustrated in Figure 6, a slide member 135 is positioned in a space 130 formed on the lower end side of an end surface of a cartridge installation portion 110. In the present embodiment, four slider elements 135 are provided to correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 which can be accommodated in the housing 101. The space 130 communicates with the internal space of the cartridge installation part 110. The slider element 135 is slidably supported along the insertion and withdrawal directions 50 by a support rod 133 extending along the insertion and withdrawal directions 50 in the space 130. The slide member 135 has an outer shape of substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The upper end of the slide member 135 is provided with a rib 136 extending along the insertion and withdrawal directions 50. The slide member 135 is positioned in an insertion path of the second projection. 46 of the ink cartridge 30 and can come into contact with the second projection 46. The slide member 135 corresponds to a movable member and a biasing member. The space 130 is provided with a coil spring 139. The coil spring 139 is provided to resiliently bias the ink cartridge 30 toward the opening 112 side for the slide member 135, i.e. in the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is withdrawn from the cartridge installation portion 110, i.e. towards the opening 112. The coil spring 139 is mounted on the support rod 133 extending along the insertion and withdrawal directions 50 in the space 130 and is interposed between the slide member 135 and an end wall 131 defining the end end of the space 130. When the coil spring 139 has a natural length, that is, when no external force is applied to the slide member 135, the slide member 135 is positioned at a predetermined position on the side of the opening 112 ( a first position, see Figure 8). In the method of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge installation portion 110, the second protrusion 46 of the ink cartridge 30 comes into contact with the slide member 135 and the clip member. slide 135 is compressed towards the end wall 131 of the space 130. Thus, the coil spring 139 is contracted and the slide member 135 is slid into a position on the side of the end wall 131 (a second position, see FIG. Figure 6). The contracted coil spring 139 biases the ink cartridge 30 in the withdrawal direction 55 with the slide member 135. As shown in Fig. 6, the end surface of the housing 101 is provided with a sensor unit 107 below. connecting portions 103 in the directions of gravity and above the slide members 135 in the directions of gravity. The sensor unit 104 comprises a substrate 111 and the optical sensor 117. The sensor unit 107 is configured with the optical sensor 117 installed on the substrate 111. The sensor unit 107 is provided with four optical sensors 117. four optical sensors 117 correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 which can be housed in the housing 101. In other words, the four optical sensors 117 correspond to the four slide elements 135. The four optical sensors 117 are aligned in the directions width of the housing 101 (corresponding to the width directions 51) on the upper side of the space 130. When the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the housing 101, the slide member 135 slides towards the end wall 131 of the space 130 and the rib 136 enters the optical path (a detection position) of the optical sensor 117 and can be detected by the optical sensor 117. Similarly to the optical sensor 114, the optical sensor 117 comprises a light emitting element and a light receiving element and thus the description of a detailed configuration of the optical sensor 117 will be omitted here. The optical sensor 117 corresponds to a second sensor. In addition, the optical path of the light emitting element to the light receiving element in the optical sensor 117 corresponds to a second detection position. In the cartridge installation portion 110, the detection position of the optical sensor 114 (the third detected position) is positioned further back in the installation direction 56 than both the respective sensor detection positions. optics 116 and 117 (the first detection position and the second detection position). The housing 101 is provided with the locking lever 145. The locking lever 145 is provided to maintain, against the biasing force of the coil spring 139, the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge installation portion 110 to be in the installed state. The lock lever 145 is provided above the opening 112 of the housing 101. In the present embodiment, there are provided four lock levers 145 to correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be installed in the housing 101. .

All locking lever 145 is formed in an arm shape. A portion of the lock lever 145 near its center is provided with a support shaft 147. This support shaft 147 is supported by the housing 101. Thus, the lock lever 145 is supported to rotate about the support shaft 147 above the opening 112 of the housing 101. The locking lever 145 is approximately divided into a control portion 149 and an engagement portion 146. The control portion 149 projects toward the outside the opening 112 of the housing 101. The control portion 149 is a controlled portion for rotating the locking lever 145. The engagement portion 146 is embedded in the housing 101. The portion of The engagement 146 may engage with the engaged portion 43 of the ink cartridge 30. When the engaging portion 146 engages the engaging portion 43, the ink cartridge 30 biased by the coil spring 139 is maintained to be installed in the housing 101. The rotational position of the lock lever 145, to which the engagement portion 146 can engage the engaged portion 43 (see Fig. 6) is referred to as blocking position (a first posture) and the position at which engagement portion 146 does not engage engagement portion 43 (see Fig. 8) is referred to as the unlocking position ( a second posture). The locking lever 145 corresponds to a locking element. The locking lever 145 is fixed with a coil spring 148. The locking lever 145 is biased toward the locking position by the coil spring 148. If the control portion 149 of the blocking lever 145 in the blocking position is pushed towards down in the gravity directions, the lock lever 145 rotates from the lock position to the unlock position.

Control Unit 90 Referring to FIG. 7, a schematic configuration of a control unit 90 is described below. The control unit 90 is provided to control the overall operations of the printer 10. The control 90 is configured as a microcomputer mainly comprising a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a RAM 93, an EEPROM 94 and an ASIC 95.

The ROM 92 stores a program for causing the CPU 91 to control a variety of operations of the printer 10, a program for performing the determination methods described later, and so on. The RAM 93 is used as a storage area for temporarily storing data, signals, and so forth used when the CPU 91 executes the programs described above, or as a work area for processing the data. The EEPROM 94 stores settings, flags, and so on that can be maintained even after the machine is shut down. For example, the EEPROM 94 stores data (lookup data) representing the correspondence relation between the type of the ink cartridge 30 and the combination of output signals of the sensed element 49 and the rib 136 of the 135. The ASIC 95 is connected to the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the ASIC 95 is also connected to a drive circuit for driving rollers such as the sheet feed roller 23 and the transport roller pair 25, an input unit for inputting an image recording command and so on into the printer 10, a display unit for displaying the information about the printer 10, and so on. The optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 produce an analog electrical signal (voltage signal or current signal) according to the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element. The control unit 90 controls, at the predetermined moment, the electrical signal produced by the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117, determines the electrical signal as being a high level signal if the level (voltage value or current value) of the electrical signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value and determines the electrical signal to be a low level signal if the level of the electrical signal is less than the predetermined threshold value. In the present embodiment, the output signal, produced when the light is blocked or attenuated at each of the detection positions of the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117, is determined to be the low level signal and the output signal produced when the light is not blocked or attenuated is determined as the high level signal. However, the determination of the high level signal or the low level signal is relative, and thus the type of the output signal corresponding to the level (threshold value) of the electrical signal can be reversed.

Ink Cartridge Installation Operation Referring to Figs. 8 to 10, an installation operation of the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge installation portion 110 is described below.

Although not shown in the drawings, the opening 112 of the cartridge installation part 110 is closed by a cover that can open and close on the housing of the printer 10. This cover is opened when the cartridge 30 ink is installed.

The opening and closing of the lid is detected by a sensor. Based on a detection signal from this sensor, the control unit 90 can detect that the lid has been opened. By using the opening of the cover as a trigger, the control unit 90 carries out a control so that light is emitted by the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117. As illustrated in FIG. ink 30 is inserted in the cartridge installation portion 110 in the installation direction 56, a guide surface formed at the leading end in the installation direction 56 of the guide portion 35 and inclined forward in the installation direction 56 first comes into contact with the engagement portion 146 of the lock lever 145. If the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the installation portion of cartridge 110, the engagement portion 146 of the lock lever 145 extends over the guide portion 35. Thus, the lock lever 145 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. the locking position at the unlocking position. If the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge installation portion 110, the sensed element 49 passes through the sensing position of the optical sensor 114 (the third sensing position) as shown in FIG. 9. At this time, the residual quantity detection unit 33 has not reached the detection position of the optical sensor 114. As illustrated in FIG. 13, after the detection of the detected element 49 by the optical sensor 114 and before the arrival of the residual quantity detection unit 33 in the detection position of the optical sensor 114, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the high level signal to the low level signal and then goes back to the high level signal. The control unit 90 monitors the change of the output signal of the optical sensor 114 and stores a flag indicating that the detected element 49 has been detected, in the condition in which the output signal of the optical sensor 114 has passed from the low level at the high level signal.

Further, if the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge installation portion 110, the rib 48 of the first projection 45 enters the detection position of the optical sensor 116 (the first detection position), as shown in FIG. 9. The optical sensor 116 detects the rib 48, and thus the output signal of the optical sensor 116 passes from the high level signal to the low level signal (moment T 1 to (A) of FIG. 13). . The control unit 90 monitors the change of the output signal of the optical sensor 116 and detects the rib 48 of the first projection 45 as a function of the output signal which is the low signal. The control unit 90 generates a trigger signal in the condition in which the output signal of the optical sensor 116 has passed from the high level signal to the low level signal. According to this trigger signal, the output signals of the optical sensors 114 and 117. are determined. In the method of installing the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge installation portion 110, the second projection 46 comes into operation. contact with the slider member 135. If the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge installation portion 110, the slider member positioned in the first position (see Fig. 8) is compressed toward the second position, that is to say towards the end wall 131 of the space 130 against the biasing force of the coil spring 139. Thus, the rib 136 of the slide member 135 approaches the detection position of the optical sensor 117 (the second detection position). As illustrated in FIG. 9, in this ink cartridge 30, the rib 136 of the slide member 135 has not reached the detection position of the optical sensor 117 when the output signal of the optical sensor 116 passes signal. from high level to low level signal (moment T1), that is, when the trigger signal has been generated. Therefore, the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the high level signal (moment T1 to (A) of Fig. 13). The control unit 90 stores the respective output signals of the optical sensors 114 and 117 corresponding to the offset time of the output signal of the optical sensor 116 of the high level signal to the low level signal (moment T1).

As illustrated in Fig. 10, if the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge installation portion 110, the rib 136 of the slide member 135 reaches the detection position of the optical sensor 117 (the second detection position).

Thus, the output signal of the optical sensor 117 passes from the high level signal to the low level signal. The control unit 90 detects the rib 136 of the slide member 135 as a function of the output signal of the optical sensor 117 which is the low level signal. As illustrated in Fig. 10, if the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge installation portion 110 and reaches the installation position in the cartridge installation portion 110, the detection unit of residual quantity 33 reaches the detection position of the optical sensor 114 (the third detection position). In addition, the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 37 to open the ink supply port 71. In this state installed, the ink accumulated in the ink chamber 33 can be fed to the ink tube 20 through the ink needle 122. When the ink cartridge 30 reaches the installation position, the engaged portion 43 passes through the engagement portion 146 of the lock lever 145 in the installation direction 56. Thus, the engagement portion 146 of the lock lever 145 is not supported by the guide portion 35. By therefore, the lock lever 145 rotates clockwise in Fig. 10 and the engaging portion 146 engages the engaging portion 43. Due to this engagement between the engaging portion 146 and the engaging portion 43, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the installation position against the forcing This biasing received from the slide member 135 in the withdrawal direction 55. Thus, the installation of the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge installation portion 110 is complete.

In addition, when the ink cartridge 30 reaches the installation position, all of the rib 48 of the first projection 45 and the residual amount detection unit 33 of the ink cartridge 30 and the rib 136 of the ink cartridge 30 Slide member 135 enters the respective detection positions of optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 (time T2 in Figs. 13 and 14). Therefore, if the sensor arm 60 takes the lower posture, the respective output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 are all low level signals.

The control unit 90 determines the type of the ink cartridge 30 in the condition in which the rib 48 of the first projection 45 and the rib 139 of the slide member 135 has been detected, i.e. in the condition in which the respective output signals of the optical sensors 116 and 117 are both low signals. This type determination is performed according to the output signal of the optical sensor 117 and the presence or absence of the flag at the time of the passage of the output signal of the optical sensor 116 from the high level signal to the low level signal ( moment Tl). In the case of the ink cartridge 30, in which the dimension of the sensed element 49 along the insertion and withdrawal directions 50 is short, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the sensor output signal optical 114 passes from the low level signal to the high level signal before the passage of the output signal of the optical sensor 116 (moment T1) (see (A) and (B) of Figure 13). Depending on this, the flag is stored in the control unit 90. At the same time, in the case of the ink cartridge 30, in which the dimension of the detected element 49 along the directions of insertion and Withdrawal 50 is long, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the low level signal to the high level signal after the output of the optical sensor 116 (moment Ti) has passed. In this case, the flag is not stored in the control unit 90 (see (A) and (B) of Fig. 14).

In the case of the ink cartridge 30, in which the dimension of the protrusion of the second projection 46 projecting in the installation direction 56 is short, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the sensor output signal optical 117 corresponding to the moment of displacement of the output signal of the optical sensor 116 (moment Tl) is the high level signal (see (A) of Figure 13 and (B) of Figure 14). At the same time, in the case of the ink cartridge 30, in which the dimension of the protrusion of the second projection 46 projecting in the installation direction 56 is short, as shown in Fig. 11, the output signal the optical sensor 117 corresponding to the displacement time of the output signal of the optical sensor 116 (moment T1) is the low level signal (see (B) of FIG. 13 and (A) of FIG. 14).

The type of the ink cartridge 30 is associated with the presence or absence of the flag and the output signal of the optical sensor 117 described above, and the associations are stored in the control unit 90 as consultation data. In the ink cartridge 30 shown in Fig. 9, the output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 are as illustrated in (A) of Fig. 13 and the flag is stored at time T 1. , the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 accumulates inside the latter the color ink. In addition, the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the high level signal. Therefore, the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 contains a normal amount as the amount of initial ink accumulated in the ink chamber 36. In the ink cartridge 30 shown in Fig. 11 the respective output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 are as illustrated in (B) of Fig. 13 and the flag is stored at time Ti. Therefore, the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 accumulates inside the latter the color ink. In addition, the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the high level signal. Therefore, the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 contains a large amount as the amount of initial ink accumulated in the ink chamber 36. The fact that the ink cartridge 30 contains a quantity normal or a large quantity, is a relative concept. Further, the amount of ink that can be accumulated in the ink chamber 36 may vary depending on the size change in the width directions 51 of the ink cartridge 30. In addition, the normal amount and the large amount The amount can be determined according to a change in the amount of the ink initially filling the ink cartridges 30 including the ink chambers 36 having the same dimension in the width directions 51 and the same capacity. In addition, the amount of the ink initially filling a packaged ink cartridge 30 together with the printer 10 is greater than the amount of initial ink in a replacement ink cartridge 30. This is explained for the following reason. In the printer 10 immediately after purchase, the tube 20 and the ink flow channel from the tube 20 to the recording head 21 are not filled with ink. To prevent such an ink flow channel from having a region in which the ink is absent, the program of the control unit 90 is determined to perform a suction (purge) operation subsequent to the implementation of initial walk of the printer 10 after the purchase. The ink cartridge 30 packaged together with the printer 10 is filled with ink increased by the amount of ink consumed by this first suction operation. In the ink cartridge 30 shown in Fig. 12, the respective output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 are as illustrated in (A) in Fig. 14, and the flag is not stored at the moment. Ti. Therefore, the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 accumulates black ink therein. In addition, the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the low level signal. Therefore, the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 contains a normal amount as the amount of initial ink accumulated in the ink chamber 36. In addition, in the case of the ink cartridge 30 having the respective output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 as shown in (B) of Fig. 14, the flag is not stored at the moment Ti. Therefore, the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 accumulates inside the latter the black ink. In addition, the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the high level signal. Therefore, the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 contains a large amount as the amount of initial ink accumulated in the ink chamber 36. As described above, if the determination of the type of ink the ink cartridge 30 determines the color of the ink accumulated in the ink cartridge 30, it is determined whether the position in the cartridge installation part 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 is installed, is the position for color ink or not. For example, if the control unit 90 determines that the black ink is accumulated in the ink cartridge 30 installed in the position in the cartridge installation portion 110, in which an ink cartridge 30 accumulates at the same time. In the interior of the latter, the color ink must be installed, the control unit 90 immediately sends an error report assuming the ink cartridge 30 is not installed in an appropriate position. If the control unit 90 determines that the installed ink cartridge 30 is the predetermined type of ink cartridge 30 to be installed, the control unit 90 allows the printer 10 to perform a registration operation. image. As described above, if the determination of the type of ink cartridge 30 determines the amount of ink accumulated in the ink cartridge 30, the control unit 90 selectively determines the quantity (number count) of drops. of ink that can be discharged from the recording head 21 by the ink cartridge 30, or determines the amount of ink consumed in the suction operation performed after the initial start-up, depending on whether the initial amount in the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge installation portion 110 is a normal amount or a large amount. The installation of the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge installation portion 110 is completed as described above. In the installation method, the control unit 90 does not detect the residual quantity detection unit 33 as a function of the output signal from one of the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 based on the detection of the one of the detected element 49, the residual quantity detection unit 33, the rib 48 of the first projection 45 and the rib 136 of the slide member 135. That is, immediately after the installation of the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge installation part 110, the control unit 90 does not detect the residual quantity detection unit 33. The fact that the control unit 90 does not detect the residual quantity detection unit 33 does not determine the amount of light received from the residual quantity detection unit 33 as a function of the output signal from the residual quantity detection unit 33. optical sensor 114 and is int erpreted to include a state in which, even if the optical sensor 114 emits light to the residual amount detecting unit 33 and produces a signal, the control unit 90 does not make a determination as a function of the output signal.

Determination of the Residual Amount in the Ink Cartridge The determination of the residual amount in the ink cartridge 30 is described below. As shown in FIG. 6, if the light is emitted by the transmitting element 118 of the optical sensor 114 with the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge installation portion 110, the light is applied to the residual quantity detection unit 33. In a state in which the ink chamber 36 is filled with a predetermined amount of ink or more, the light applied on the residual amount detection unit 33 is blocked by the indicator portion 62 of the sensor arm 60. If the ink in the chamber of the ink 36 is reduced to a value less than the predetermined amount, the sensor arm 60 rotates to prevent the light applied to the residual amount detection unit 33 from being blocked by the indicator portion 62 of the sensor arm 60. That is, the posture of the sensor arm 60 changes according to the amount of ink accumulated in the ink chamber 36, and the light transmission state of the unit Residual quantity detection 33 changes with the change of posture of the sensor arm 60. The amount of light received by the light receiving member 119 varies depending on whether the light applied by the light emitting element 118 is blocked. by the indicator portion 62 or not. The light receiving element 119 produces different electrical signals depending on this difference. That is, the optical sensor 114 produces the low level signal (the results of the optical sensor 114 indicated by the solid lines in Figs. 13 and 14) if the light applied to the residual amount detection unit 33 is blocked by the indicator portion 62 of the sensor arm 60 and the optical sensor 114 produces the high level signal (the results of the optical sensor 114 indicated by the dashed lines in Figs. 13 and 14) if the applied light on the residual quantity detection unit 33 is not blocked by the indicator portion 62 of the sensor arm 60. According to such a difference in the electrical signal produced by the optical sensor 114, the control unit 90 determines if the ink in the ink chamber 102 is less than a predetermined amount or not.

By using, as a trigger, a signal different from the output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116 and 117 generated in the method of installing the ink cartridge 30 described above, the control unit 90 performs the determination of the residual amount in the ink cartridge 30 (time T2). In addition, the control unit 90 performs the determination of the residual amount in the condition in which the optical sensors 116 and 117 have detected the rib 48 of the first projection 45 and the rib 136 of the slide member 135. if the optical sensors 116 and 117 have detected the rib 48 of the first projection 45 and the rib 136 of the slide member 135 can be determined when the trigger is generated. As a sensor for performing the determination of the residual amount in the ink cartridge 30, if the printer 10 is provided with a cover having access to the opening 112 of the cartridge installation portion 110 and a sensor to detect the opening and closing of the lid, for example, the control unit 90, when the lid is closed, determines the residual amount in the ink cartridge 30 as a function of the output signal of the sensor.

In addition, the electrical signal serving as a trigger for causing the control unit 90 to perform the determination of the residual amount in the ink cartridge 30 can be generated when the printer 10 completes the image recording on a page recording sheet. In addition, the electric trigger signal can be generated when a cleaning operation of the recording head 21 is completed, when the printer 10 is connected, when the power switch of the printer 10 is turned on. in operation and when the printer 10 in the sleep mode returns to operating mode, for example.

Operational effects of the present embodiment According to the present embodiment, in the detection position of the optical sensor 114 (the third detection position) further rearward in the installation direction 56 than the detection position of the optical sensor 116 (the first detection position) and the detection position of the optical sensor 117 (the second detection position), the quantity of light received from the residual quantity detection unit 33 is detected by the optical sensor 114 after the detection the rib 48 of the first projection 45 and the rib 136 of the slide member 135 moved by the second projection 46. Therefore, the rib 48 of the first projection 45, the rib 136 of the slide member 135 moved by the second projection 46, and the residual quantity detecting unit 33 can be detected effectively and accurately. In addition, the detection position of the residual amount detection unit 33 is further back in the installation direction 56 than the respective detection positions of the optical sensors 116 and 117. Therefore, even if the ink dispersed or leaking from the ink supply port 71 sticks to the first projection 45 and the second projection 46, the ink hardly adheres to the residual quantity detection unit 33 during the operation inserting or withdrawing the ink cartridge 30 into or from the cartridge installation portion 110. Detecting the residual quantity detecting unit 33 is performed in the condition in which the rib 48 of the first projection 45 and the rib 136 of the slide member 135 moved by the second projection 46 have been detected and the installed state of the ink cartridge 30 has been detected. Therefore, it is possible to guarantee the necessary time that the ink takes to adhere to the residual quantity detection unit 33 to be moved down by the gravity and so on. In addition, if a film is used to form the residual amount detection unit 33, it is possible to determine the time required for the film to swell after release of the air into the ink chamber 36. the detection of the residual quantity detection unit 33 is performed asynchronously with the detection time of the rib 48 of the first projection 45 and the rib 136 of the slide member 135 displaced by the second projection 46. In addition, the optical sensor 114 detects the detected element 49 in the installation process. Therefore, the rib 48 of the first projection 45, the rib 136 of the slide member 135 displaced by the second projection 46, the detected member 49 and the residual amount detection unit 33 can be effectively detected. and precise.

Further, the first protrusion 45 and the second protrusion 46 project further in the installation direction 56 than the ink supply port 71. Thus, if the ink cartridge 30 falls on the ground or the like, or another element, the ink supply port 71 will not be opened by another element inserted into it and causing ink leakage. Similarly, damage to the ink supply port 71 is prevented. In addition, the sensed element 49 is positioned to be separated from the residual quantity detection unit 33 with a gap formed between them. in the installation direction 56. Therefore, detection of the detected element 49 and the residual quantity detection unit 33 is obtained by the single optical sensor 114. In addition, the residual quantity detection unit 33, the ink supply port 71, the first projection 45, the second projection 46 and the sensed element 49 are positioned on the front wall 40 of the ink cartridge 30. Therefore, the elements required for the connection between the cartridge installation part 110 and the ink cartridge 30 are collected on the front side in the installation direction 56.

Modified Examples In the present embodiment, movement of the slide member 135 provided on the housing 101 is detected by the optical sensor 117. However, the slide member 135 may not be provided, and the second projection 46 may be omitted. of the ink cartridge 30 can be detected directly by the optical sensor 117. In addition, in the present embodiment, the sensed element 49 is positioned further forward in the installation direction 56 than the unit. However, the sensed element 49 may be positioned above or below the residual amount detecting unit 33 in the height directions 52, as long as the location allows the sensing element 49 to be positioned above or below the residual quantity detecting unit 33 in the height directions 52 residual quantity detection unit 33 and the detected element 49 to be detected by different optical sensors.

Claims (13)

REVENDICATIONS1. An ink cartridge (30) comprising: a body (31) having a front side in an installation direction (56) that includes an ink supply portion (37) positioned therein and capable of supplying ink to the outside from an ink chamber (36) accumulating ink therein, and a backside positioned to face the front side, a first portion of detection (45), and a second detection portion (46) which is provided on an end side of the front side being configured to move a movable member (135) movably provided on a cartridge installation portion ( 110) for accommodating the ink cartridge (30) and being configured to be detected by a second sensor (117) through the movable member (135) in a second detection position during an installation process in the part d cartridge installation (110). An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first detection portion (45) is provided for another end side of the front side and can be detected during the installation process in the installation portion of cartridge (110), further comprising a residual amount detecting portion (33) which is provided closer to the trailing edge than the first detecting portion (45) and the second detecting portion (46). An ink cartridge (30) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a third detection portion (49) which is provided closer to the rear side than the first detection portion (45) and the second detection portion ( 46) and further in the installation direction (56) than the residual quantity detecting part (33), and detectable during the installation process. An ink cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a first protruding portion comprises the first detecting portion (45) and projecting further in the installation direction (56) than the ink supplying portion (37), andin which a second protruding portion comprises the second detecting portion (46) and projecting further in the installation direction (56) than the ink supplying portion. (37). An ink cartridge (30) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the third detecting portion (49) is positioned to be separated from the residual amount detecting portion (33) by a predetermined distance from the portion of residual quantity detection (33) in the installation direction (56). The ink cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the body (31) comprises an upper surface (39) extending from a front surface (40) at the front side to a rear surface (42) at the rear side and a bottom surface (41) opposite to the upper surface (39), and wherein the upper surface (39) is provided with an engaging portion (43) which is engaged with a locking member (145) to prevent, against the biasing force biasing the body of the front surface (40) towards the rear surface (42), movement of the body (31) installed in the portion cartridge installation (110). The ink cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the residual quantity detecting portion (33) is capable of transmitting light therethrough depending on the amount of ink accumulated in the ink chamber (36), and wherein light transmitted through the residual quantity detecting portion (33) is detected if the first detection portion (45) and the second detection portion (46) have have been detected in the installation process. A recording apparatus (10) comprising: a cartridge installation portion (110) capable of mounting therein, in an installation direction (56), an ink cartridge (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 7; wherein the cartridge installation portion (110) comprises: a first sensor (116) capable of detecting the first detection portion (45) in a first detection position during the installation process, and a second sensor (117) capable of detecting the second detection portion (46) in a second detection position in the method of installing the ink cartridge (30) in the cartridge installation portion (110). The recording apparatus (10) according to claim 8, comprising: a third sensor (114) which detects the light transmitted by the residual amount detecting part (33) in a third, further backward detecting position in the installation direction (56) as the first detection position and the second detection position, after the first detection portion (45) and the second detection portion (46) have been detected, and if a lapse of time predetermined has elapsed. The recording apparatus (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the ink cartridge (30) comprises a third detection portion (49) further rearwardly in the installation direction (56). the first detection portion (45) and the second detection portion (46) and further forward in the installation direction (56) than the residual amount detection portion (33), and wherein the third sensor (114) detects the third detection portion (49) in the third detection position during the installation process. The recording apparatus (10) according to claim 10, wherein the ink cartridge (30) comprises the ink supply portion (37) which is further rearwardly positioned in the direction of installation (56) that the first detection portion (45) and the second detection portion (46), which includes an ink supply port (71) further forward in the installation direction (56) than the third sensing portion (49), which supplies the ink accumulated in the ink chamber (36) to the outside, and wherein the cartridge installation portion (110) comprises a delivery tube of ink (122) for insertion into the ink supply port (71). The recording apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the second sensor (117) detects the movable member (135) which comes into contact with the second detection portion (46) in the method of installing the ink cartridge (30) in the cartridge installation part (110) and is thus movable from a first position to a second position separated from the first position in the installation direction ( 56) of the ink cartridge (30). The recording apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the cartridge installation portion (110) further comprises: a biasing member (139) biasing the ink cartridge (30) in a direction opposite (55) to the installation direction (56), and a locking member (145), whose posture moves between a first posture to prevent against the biasing force by the element biasing device (135), the ink cartridge (30) in the installed state to move in the opposite direction (55) and a second posture for allowing the ink cartridge (30) to move in the opposite direction (55), wherein the locking member (145) engages an engaging portion (43) provided on an upper surface (39) in the gravity direction (52) of the ink cartridge (30) in the installed state.