JP2003025599A - Ink cartridge and ink-jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink cartridge to be fixed certainly to a head holder with a simple and certain mounting operation to the head holder at the time of mounting the ink cartridge in a simple configuration, and an ink-jet recording apparatus with the ink cartridge mounted detachably. SOLUTION: A front side recess part 42 is formed in an ink supply opening 41 at a front side end part in a bottom wall 35 of an ink cartridge 2. An engaging member 46 is formed in an upper end part in a rear wall 32. A rear side recess part 47 is formed in a rear side end part in the bottom wall 35. Thereby, by fitting the front side recess part 42 with a sealing member 57 at the time of mounting, engaging side plates 48, 49 of the engaging member 46 are engaged with engaging groover parts 72 of an engaging part 69 according to rearward inclination by the self weight as well as the rear side recess part 47 is engaged with a rear side projecting part 68.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus, and more specifically, an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink to perform a predetermined recording on a sheet and the like, and is detachably attached to the ink jet recording apparatus. Related to the ink cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus is well known as a recording apparatus having a relatively simple structure and capable of high speed printing and high quality printing. In this inkjet recording apparatus, an inkjet head for ejecting ink to perform a predetermined recording on a sheet or the like, a head holder that supports the inkjet head and is attached to a carriage that moves in the left-right direction, and An ink cartridge, which is detachably attached to the head holder and contains ink, is provided.

An ink supply port for supplying ink to an ink jet head is usually formed at the bottom of an ink cartridge, and when the ink cartridge is attached to the head holder, the ink supply port is on the head holder side. The lever member that is vertically swingable on the upper part of the head holder.
The ink cartridge is fixed to the head holder by being pushed down from above and brought into contact with and pressed against the upper portion of the ink cartridge.

[0004]

However, in mounting such an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge is
Since it is fixed only by locking the ink supply port at the bottom and pressing the lever member at the upper part, if the carriage moves at high speed in the left and right direction during printing, the ink cartridge also shakes left and right, It will rotate or twist with the supply port as a fulcrum,
Due to this, the ink is unevenly distributed in the ink cartridge, which causes a problem that the ink is used up poorly.

On the other hand, if a lock member or the like is separately provided in order to prevent such a left and right shake of the ink cartridge, the structure becomes complicated and the operation of attaching and detaching the ink cartridge becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to securely fix an ink cartridge to a head holder with a simple structure. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus to which the ink cartridge is detachably mounted, which can be simply and surely mounted on the head holder when mounting the ink cartridge.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an ink cartridge which contains ink and is detachably attached to a head holder having an ink jet head. A first locking part that locks to the head holder is provided at a front end of the bottom of the cartridge, and a second locking part that locks to the head holder is provided at a rear end of the top of the ink cartridge. It is characterized by having.

According to this structure, when the ink cartridge is mounted, if the first locking portion provided at the front end of the bottom portion of the ink cartridge is locked to the head holder, the weight of the ink cartridge causes the ink cartridge to be ejected. The second holder is tilted backward as it is, and the second locking portion provided at the rear side end portion of the upper portion is locked to the head holder. Therefore, the ink cartridge can be easily and reliably attached to the head holder.

The ink cartridge thus mounted is diagonally locked and fixed in position by the front end of the bottom and the rear end of the upper part of the ink cartridge. Even if the head holder moves in the left-right direction at a high speed due to the movement of the carriage, it is possible to effectively prevent the ink cartridge from swinging left and right. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of unevenness in the ink during printing, and it is possible to ensure good ink exhaustion.

The invention described in claim 2 is the same as claim 1.
In the invention described in (1), the first locking portion also functions as an ink supply port for supplying ink to the inkjet head.

According to this structure, the first locking portion also serves as the ink supply port. Therefore, if the first locking part is locked to the head holder, the ink supply port can be separately attached to the head holder. As it is, without the need to put it on,
The ink can be supplied from the ink cartridge to the inkjet head. Therefore, the mounting of the ink cartridge can be achieved with a simpler configuration and a simple operation.

The invention described in claim 3 is the same as claim 1
Further, in the invention described in (2), a third locking portion that locks to the head holder is further provided at a rear side end portion of the bottom portion of the ink cartridge.

According to this structure, when the first locking portion is locked to the head holder when the ink cartridge is mounted, the ink cartridge tilts rearward as it is due to its own weight, and the second locking is achieved. In addition to the portion being locked to the head holder, the third locking portion provided at the rear end of the bottom portion is locked to the head holder. Therefore, the ink cartridge can be mounted on the head holder more reliably.

The ink cartridge thus mounted is locked and positionally fixed at three points, namely, the front end of the bottom of the ink cartridge, the rear end of the top, and the rear end of the bottom. Therefore, even if the head holder moves in the left-right direction at a high speed due to the movement of the carriage, it is possible to more effectively prevent the ink cartridge from swinging to the left and right.
Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the occurrence of unevenness in the ink during printing, and it is possible to ensure good ink exhaustion.

The invention described in claim 4 is the same as that of claim 1.
Alternatively, in the invention described in the paragraph 2, the first locking portion is on the front side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge, and the second locking portion is on the rear side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge. It has a feature.

According to this structure, when the ink cartridge is mounted, the first locking portion located on the front side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge is locked to the head holder.
The ink cartridge is surely rotated in the direction of the center of gravity about the first locking portion as a fulcrum, and the second locking portion on the rear side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge is locked by the head holder. Therefore, the ink cartridge can be attached to the head holder easily and reliably by only engaging the first holder with the head holder.

The invention described in claim 5 is the same as claim 3
In the invention described in (3), the first locking portion is on the front side with respect to the center of gravity of the ink cartridge, and the second locking portion and the third locking portion are higher than the center of gravity of the ink cartridge. It is characterized by being on the rear side.

According to this structure, when the ink cartridge is mounted, if the first locking portion on the front side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge is locked to the head holder,
The ink cartridge is surely rotated in the direction of the center of gravity with the first locking portion as a fulcrum, and the second locking portion and the third locking portion on the rear side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge are locked to the head holder. To be done. Therefore, the ink cartridge can be attached to the head holder much more easily and reliably by only engaging the first holder with the head holder.

The invention according to a sixth aspect is an ink jet recording apparatus, which is characterized by including the ink cartridge according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus,
Since the ink cartridge is securely attached to the head holder, the ink can be used up satisfactorily and good printing can be achieved.

The invention according to claim 7 is the same as that of claim 6.
In the invention described in (1), the head holder is provided with a guiding portion for guiding the second locking portion of the ink cartridge.

According to this structure, when the ink cartridge is mounted, the second locking portion can be favorably guided in the guiding portion of the head holder, so that the head of the ink cartridge can be more easily and reliably. Attachment to the holder can be achieved.

[0023]

1 is a perspective view showing a color ink jet printer as an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention in which an ink cartridge as an embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention is mounted. In FIG. 1, the color inkjet printer 1 includes a carriage 6 on which a head holder 5 having an ink cartridge 2 and an inkjet head 4 is mounted, a drive mechanism 7 that reciprocates the carriage 6 in a linear direction, and a carriage 6. A platen roller 8 extending in the reciprocating direction and arranged to face the inkjet head 4 and a purging device 9 are provided.

As will be described in detail later, the head holder 5 is detachably mounted with four ink cartridges 2 filled with inks of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, respectively. Corresponding to the cartridge 2, four inkjet heads 4 for printing on the paper 3 are mounted respectively, and the carriage 6 is equipped with this head holder 5.

The drive mechanism 7 is arranged at the lower end of the carriage 6 and extends along the platen roller 8 in parallel with the carriage shaft 1.
0 and the carriage shaft 1 arranged at the upper end of the carriage 6.
A guide plate 11 extending parallel to 0 and its carriage shaft 1
0 and the guide plate 11 and two pulleys 12 and 13 arranged at both ends of the carriage shaft 10, and an endless belt 14 stretched between these pulleys 12 and 13.

A carriage shaft supporting portion 15 through which the carriage shaft 10 can be inserted is provided at a lower end portion of the carriage 6, and a guide plate abutting portion 16 capable of abutting against a guide plate 11 is provided at an upper end portion of the carriage 6. Is provided. Further, the endless belt 14 is provided on the rear side surface of the carriage 6.
Are joined.

One pulley 12 is connected to the motor 17
When the pulley 6 is rotated in the forward / reverse direction, the carriage 6 joined to the endless belt 14 is driven by the carriage shaft 10 and the guide plate 11 in accordance with the forward / reverse rotation of the pulley 12.
Is reciprocated in a linear direction.

The paper 3 is fed from a paper feed cassette (not shown) provided on the side of the ink jet printer 1,
The ink that is introduced between the inkjet head 4 and the platen roller 8 and is ejected from the inkjet head 4 performs predetermined printing, and then the sheet is ejected.
In FIG. 1, the paper feed mechanism and the paper discharge mechanism for these sheets 3 are omitted.

Further, the purging device 9 includes the platen roller 8
Is provided on the side of and is arranged so as to face the inkjet head 4 which is moved to the reset position. The purging device 9 is used to prevent ejection failure due to ink retention and bubble growth at the time of initial introduction of ink in the inkjet head 4, and a suction cap 18 that can cover the inkjet head 4 and a pump. 19 and a cam 20, and an ink storage portion 21. When the inkjet head 4 is at the reset position, the cam 20 is driven to cover the inkjet head 4 with the suction cap 18, and bubbles accumulated inside the inkjet head 4 and the like. The defective ink containing the ink is sucked by the pump 19 to recover the inkjet head 4. The sucked defective ink is stored in the ink storage section 21.

At the reset position of the ink jet head 4, a wiper blade 22 for wiping the ejection surface of the ink jet head 4 after purging and a head cap 23 for covering the ink jet head 4 when printing is stopped are provided together with the purging device 9. Has been. A waste ink receiving member 24 is provided on the side opposite to the reset position of the platen roller 8 for receiving the ink preliminarily ejected immediately before the printing operation by the inkjet head 24.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which the ink cartridge 2 is mounted on the head holder 5, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the ink cartridge 2 (ink cartridge other than black), and FIG. 4 is a head holder 5. FIG. Next, the ink cartridge 2, the inkjet head 4, and the head holder 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 2 is provided for each color of cyan, magenta, yellow and black, and each ink cartridge 2 is filled with cyan, magenta and yellow inks.
Ink cartridge 2K filled with black ink that is used more frequently for C, 2M and 2Y
However, the carriage 6 is formed to be slightly wider.
Are sequentially mounted on the head holder 5 along the moving direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, each ink cartridge 2 is provided with a rectangular tubular case member 25 having an open top and a closed bottom, and an upper lid member 26 covering the upper surface of the case member 25. In the case member 25, a porous material chamber 28 that accommodates a porous material 27 that has absorbed ink,
An ink chamber 29 that contains ink and an atmosphere communication chamber 30 that communicates the porous material chamber 28 with the atmosphere are partitioned and formed.

The case member 25 includes a front wall 31, a rear wall 32,
The side walls 33 and 34 (see FIG. 3) and the bottom wall 35 are integrally formed, and the front wall 31 is provided inside thereof.
And a front partition wall 36 and a rear partition wall 37 which are arranged inwardly of the rear wall 32 with a predetermined space therebetween and are installed between the side walls 33 and 34 so as to partition the case member 25 in the front-rear direction. A bottom side that is disposed inside the bottom wall 35 with a predetermined gap therebetween and that is erected between the side walls 33 and 34 so as to close the lower end portions of the front partition wall 36 and the rear partition wall 37. It is formed as a double wall structure provided with a partition wall 38. Further, between the bottom wall 35 and the bottom side partition wall 38, and at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the case member 25, a partition wall 39 is provided so as to partition the space formed between them in the front-rear direction. It is provided.

The porous material chamber 28 is formed between the both side walls 33 and 34 as an inner space defined by the front partition wall 36, the rear partition wall 37 and the bottom partition wall 38. A porous material 27 made of urethane foam or the like is accommodated in the porous material chamber 28 while absorbing ink.

The ink chamber 29 is a space between the side walls 33 and 34, which is defined by the front wall 31 and the front partition wall 36 in the vertical direction and is continuous with the space. Side partition wall 38 and partition wall 3
The space on the front side in the horizontal direction defined by 9 forms a space having a substantially L-shaped cross section.

The atmosphere communication chamber 30 is located between the side walls 33 and 34, and includes the rear wall 32 and the rear partition wall 37.
A space in the vertical direction defined by the space, and a space that is continuous with the space, and includes a bottom wall 35, a bottom partition wall 38, and a partition wall 3
The space on the rear side in the horizontal direction defined by 9 forms a space having a substantially L-shaped cross section.

In the ink chamber 29, in the vicinity of the front side of the partition wall 39 in the bottom partition wall 38,
A communication hole 40 for communicating the porous material chamber 28 and the ink chamber 29 is formed so as to penetrate, and the ink chamber is formed at the front end of the bottom wall 35 (the front end of the bottom of the ink cartridge 2). An ink supply port 41 as a first locking portion for supplying ink from 29 to the inkjet head 4 is formed so as to penetrate therethrough.

The ink supply port 41 is located on the front side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge 2, and a ring-shaped front concave portion 42 that can be engaged with a seal member 57 described below is provided upward from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 35. The recess 43 is provided and a filter 43 is provided on the upper surface thereof.

In the atmosphere communication chamber 30, the bottom wall 35
An air opening 44 that opens to the atmosphere is formed therethrough, and an air communication passage having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section for communicating the porous material chamber 28 and the atmosphere communication chamber 30 is formed at the upper end. 45 is formed.

The case member 25 includes the rear wall 3
A locking member 46 serving as a second locking portion is formed at an upper end portion (a rear end portion in an upper portion of the ink cartridge 2) of the second cartridge 2, and a rear end portion of the bottom wall 35 (a bottom portion of the ink cartridge 2). A rear recess 47 is formed at the rear end).

The locking member 46 is located on the rear side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge 2, and as shown in FIG. 3, it is a substantially triangular shape which projects obliquely upward from both widthwise sides of the rear wall 32. A pair of shaped locking side plates 48 and 49, and a locking upper plate 50 that covers between the upper end portions of the locking side plates 48 and 49 are integrally formed. And a pair of locking side plates 48 and 49 facing each other form locking groove portions 72 of the head holder 5 described later.
(See FIG. 4), and between them, a locking projection 71 (see FIG. 4) of the head holder 5 described later can be received.

In FIG. 3, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges 2C, 2M, and 2Y are shown, and the black ink cartridge 2K is wider than these ink cartridges 2C, 2M, and 2Y. Has been formed.

The rear recess 47 is located rearward of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge 2, has a rectangular shape in bottom view from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 35 in the front-rear direction, and has a semicircular shape in side cross section. It is recessed upward so that.

Further, the upper lid member 26 has a substantially rectangular plate shape and is attached so as to cover the upper surface of the case member 25, and a front end portion of the upper surface thereof has a fitting groove for a lever member 73 which will be described later. A fitting protrusion 51 that is fitted to the protrusion 75 is formed so as to project upward, and a receiving groove 52 that receives a pressing protrusion 76 of the lever member 73, which will be described later, is also formed in the center of the upper surface.

Further, the ink head 4 is provided corresponding to each ink cartridge 2, and is supported below the head holder 5 as shown in FIG.

Each ink jet head 4 is connected to an actuator 53 having a plurality of ejection channels (not shown) for ejecting ink from the nozzles as droplets, and is joined to the upper surface of this actuator 53, and each ejection channel of the actuator 53. And a manifold 54 for supplying ink.

The manifold 54 is a cylindrical ink introducing portion 55 for introducing ink from the ink cartridge 2.
And an ink supply part 56 for distributing and supplying ink to each ejection channel of the actuator 53 are integrally formed.

A support plate 65 for the ink introducing section 55, which will be described later.
A cylindrical seal member 57 made of an elastic material is fitted and fixed to an upper end portion that has entered the opening 67 of the front side recess 42 formed in the bottom wall 35 of the ink cartridge 2.
However, the ink supply port 41 of the ink chamber 29 is connected to the ink introducing portion 55 via the seal member 57 by being elastically fitted into the upper end portion of the seal member 57.

The ink absorbed by the porous material 27 of the ink cartridge 2 is supplied from the porous material chamber 28 to the ink chamber 29 through the communication hole 40, and the ink supplied to the ink chamber 29. Is supplied from the ink supply port 41 to the ink supply unit 56 via the ink introduction unit 55, and is further distributed and supplied from the ink supply unit 29 into each ejection channel of the actuator 53. The actuator 53 is made of a piezoelectric ceramic material or the like,
The ink supplied into each ejection channel of the actuator 53 is ejected as a droplet from the nozzle when the volume of the actuator 53 is reduced due to the deformation of the actuator 53, while when the volume is increased, the ink is reintroduced into the ejection channel from the ink supply unit 56. Will be introduced. By repeating such operations, a predetermined print is formed on a sheet or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the head holder 5 has a pair of side plates 58 and 59 arranged opposite to each other in the width direction (moving direction of the carriage 6) and a pair of side plates 58 and 59. A rear plate 60 that connects between the rear end portions of the
A bottom plate 61 covering the lower ends of the pair of side plates 58 and 59 and the lower end of the rear plate 60, and a front support plate 62 extending from the front end of the bottom plate 61 diagonally upward and frontward are provided.
It has a substantially L-shaped cross section with its front side open, and is integrally mounted on the carriage 6 at its rear side.

On the bottom plate 61, each inkjet head 4 is attached.
Is formed with an opening 63 for projecting downward, and a locking step portion 64 is formed along the width direction of the opening 63 so as to face each other at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction. A support plate 65 for supporting each ink cartridge 2 is detachably locked to the step portion 64.

As shown in FIG. 4, the support plate 65 is provided with a partition plate 66 and the ink cartridges 2 at the front end thereof.
An opening 67 facing the ink supply port 41, and a rear convex portion 68 facing the rear concave portion 47 of each ink cartridge 2 is formed at the rear end of the opening 67 corresponding to each ink cartridge 2. Has been done.

That is, each partition plate 66 is divided along the front-back direction so as to partition each ink cartridge 2 at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the support plate 65, which corresponds to the width of each ink cartridge 2. (Three) are formed.

With this partition plate 66, each ink cartridge 2 is provided with one side plate 58, one partition plate 66, and each partition plate 6.
6 and between the other side plate 59 and the partition plate 66, respectively, and as shown in FIG. 1, the four ink cartridges 2 are arranged in the width direction of the head holder 5 (moving direction of the carriage 6). It is installed in parallel along with.

Further, each opening 67 corresponds to each ink cartridge 2 between one side plate 58 and the partition plate 66, between each partition plate 66, and between the other side plate 59 and the partition plate 66. At the front end of the support plate 65 (4
(3) An opening is formed, and a seal member 57 is adhesively fixed in each opening 67 in a state of protruding upward.

Further, each rear convex portion 68 corresponds to each ink cartridge 2, one side plate 58 and a partition plate 66, between each partition plate 66, and the other side plate 59 and a partition plate 66.
(4) are formed so as to project at the rear end portion of the support plate 65 between and. Each rear convex portion 68 is
In order to be able to be locked in each of the rear recesses 47, the upper surface of the support plate 65 has a rectangular shape in a plan view along the front-rear direction and a substantially semicircular shape in a side cross-section, and is provided so as to project upward. There is.

The rear plate 60 is formed so that its upper end portion is inclined rearward, and the upper end portion thereof has a locking portion 69 facing the locking member 46 of each ink cartridge 2.
Between one side plate 58 and the partition plate 66, each partition plate 66,
And it is formed between the other side plate 59 and the partition plate 66, respectively.

Each locking portion 69 corresponds to each ink cartridge 2
Guiding groove 70 as a guiding portion for guiding the locking member 46 of
And a locking projection 71 formed in the guide groove 70.

The guide groove 70 has substantially the same width as the width of each ink cartridge 2 (that is, the engaging portion 69K in which the black ink cartridge 2K is mounted is wide).
In addition, it has a substantially U shape in a plan view that is open to the front side, and both ends thereof are formed to be wider toward the front side in order to favorably attract the locking side plates 48 and 49 of each ink cartridge 2. There is.

The locking projection 71 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view extending in the width direction at a substantially central portion in each of the guiding grooves 70 and is separated from both ends of the guiding groove 70 by a predetermined distance. In such a state that it is formed so as to project upward, a space between the both ends of the guiding groove 70 and the locking projections 71 is a locking groove portion 72 that can lock the locking side plates 48 and 49. Has been done.

A lever member 73, which can face the upper lid member 26 of each ink cartridge 2, is supported on the upper end of the carriage 6 so as to be vertically swingable. The rear end of the lever member 73 is rotatably and vertically movable around the swing shaft 74 by being inserted and supported by the swing shaft 74 supported by the carriage 6. , A fitting groove 75 for receiving the fitting projection 51 of the upper lid member 26 is formed on the lower surface on the front side thereof,
A pressing protrusion 76 to be inserted into the receiving groove 52 of the upper lid member 26 is also formed in the central portion of the lower surface thereof. An elastic contact member 78 that elastically contacts the upper surface of the upper lid member 26 is provided between the fitting groove 75 and the pressing protrusion 76, and the upper end of the carriage 6 is on the rear upper surface of the lever member 73. A locking claw 77 that can be locked to the wall 6a of the portion is formed so as to project upward.

The lever member 73 is provided on the swing shaft 7
By an urging force of a spring (not shown) provided around 4, it is always in an open state shown by an imaginary line and is in a state of moving up and down with respect to the swing shaft 74. When the ink cartridge 2 is attached, the front end of the lever member 73 is rotated downward against the biasing force of the spring,
When the elastic contact member 78 is elastically contacted with the upper surface of the upper lid member 26, the fitting protrusion 51 of the upper lid member 26 is received by the fitting groove 75, and the pressing protrusion 76 is inserted into the receiving groove 52 of the upper lid member 26, In this state, the locking claw 77 rises by the biasing force of the spring and is locked to the front end of the wall 6a of the carriage 6. Therefore, the ink cartridge 2 is fixed to the head holder 5 while being pressed downward by the lever member 73. When the lever member 73 is pushed down to release the locking claw 77 from the wall 6a, the lever member 73 is opened.

Next, the mounting of each ink cartridge 2 on the head holder 5 will be described.

To mount the ink cartridge 2 on the head holder 5, first, as shown in FIG. 5, the front recess 42 of the ink supply port 41 formed at the front end of the bottom wall 35 of the ink cartridge 2 is opened. , The seal member 57 protruding from the opening 67 of the support plate 65. Then, since the front recess 42 is located in front of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge 2, the ink cartridge 2 is reliably rotated about the front recess 42 in the center of gravity direction.
That is, the locking side plates 48 and 49 of the locking member 46, which are tilted rearward due to their own weight and are on the rear side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge 2, are favorably guided by the guide groove 70. At that time, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer surfaces of the upper end portions of the locking side plates 48 and 49 are the same as the outer surfaces of the side walls 33 and 34 of the ink cartridge 2, and both sides of the guide groove 70 are formed. It has a tapered surface that substantially corresponds to the arcuate tapered surface. Further, the upper end of the locking protrusion 71 is located slightly lower than the upper end of the guide groove 70. For this reason,
Before the locking projections 71 enter between the locking side plates 48 and 49, the tapered surfaces of the locking side plates 48 and 49 correspond to the tapered surfaces of the guide groove 70, and the center position of the ink cartridge 2 is the width direction. The ink cartridge 2 is guided so as to be substantially coincident with the center of the guide groove 70 even if it is slightly deviated to (4), and is locked in each locking groove portion 72 of the locking portion 69 (that is, the locking portion 69 The locking protrusion 71 is fitted between the locking side plates 48 and 49). At the same time, the rear concave portion 47 located rearward of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge 2 is also locked to the rear convex portion 68 of the support plate 65.

Therefore, the front concave portion 42 is formed in the seal member 57.
Ink cartridge 2
Can be attached to the head holder 5 easily and reliably.

Then, as described above, the ink cartridge 2 may be fixed to the head holder 5 by rotating the lever member 73 downward and bringing it into contact with the upper lid member 26.

The ink cartridge 2 thus mounted is not only fixed by the lever member 73 but also the front recess 42 at the front end of the bottom wall 35 of the ink cartridge 2 and the seal member 57 of the head holder 5. And the engagement between the engagement member 46 at the upper end of the rear wall 32 and the engagement portion 69 of the head holder 5 are engaged in a diagonal shape, and further, the bottom of the ink cartridge 2 is engaged. By locking the rear concave portion 42 at the rear end of the wall 35 and the rear convex portion 68 of the head holder 5, the front end of the bottom wall 35, the upper end of the rear wall 32, and the bottom wall of the ink cartridge 2 are locked. Since the head holder 5 is locked and fixed at three positions on the rear side end portion of 35, even if the head holder 5 moves in the left-right direction at a high speed by the movement of the carriage 6. Even, that the ink cartridge 2 is swung to the left and right, it can be effectively prevented. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of unevenness in the ink during printing, and it is possible to ensure good ink exhaustion.

Further, in such an ink cartridge 2, the front recess 42 at the front end of the bottom wall 35 of the ink cartridge 2 and the seal member 57 of the head holder 5 are fitted to each other so that the ink cartridge 2 is moved to the head holder 5. Since the ink flow path between the ink cartridge 2 and the inkjet head 4 can be connected at the same time, it is possible to directly connect the ink supply port 41 to the head holder 5 without any additional operation. The ink can be supplied from the ink cartridge 2 to the inkjet head 4. Therefore, the mounting of the ink cartridge 2 can be achieved with a simpler configuration and a simple operation.

When the ink cartridge 2 is mounted on the head holder 5, the locking side plates 48 and 49 of the locking member 46 are well guided by the guide groove 70, and the locking portion 69 is locked. Since it is locked in each locking groove portion 72, the ink cartridge 2 can be more easily and surely.
The attachment to the head holder 5 has been achieved.

Therefore, in the color ink jet printer 1 including the ink cartridge 2 and the head holder 5 as described above, the ink cartridge 2 is securely attached to the head holder 5, so that the ink can be used up satisfactorily and Good printing can be achieved.

The taper surface for guiding the engaging portion 69 and the engaging member 46 in the engaging direction may be provided only in one direction of the guiding groove 70 or the engaging side plates 48 and 49. It may be between the inner surfaces of the locking side plates 48 and 49 and the locking projection 71. Further, the locking projection 71 may be omitted and the ink cartridge 2 may be positioned in the left-right direction by the guide groove 70 and the locking side plates 48 and 49.

[0073]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily and surely attach the ink cartridge to the head holder, and it is effective that the ink cartridge swings right and left. Therefore, it is possible to ensure good use up of the ink.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the ink cartridge can be mounted with a simpler configuration and with a simple operation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the ink cartridge can be mounted to the head holder more reliably, and the ink cartridge can be prevented from swinging left and right more effectively. Therefore, it is possible to secure good ink usage.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the ink cartridge can be easily and surely attached to the head holder by merely engaging the first holder with the head holder.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the ink cartridge is mounted on the head holder much more simply and reliably by the operation of only locking the first locking portion to the head holder. be able to.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the ink cartridge is securely attached to the head holder, the ink can be used up satisfactorily and good printing can be achieved.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the mounting of the ink cartridge on the head holder can be achieved more simply and reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a color inkjet printer as an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ink cartridge is attached to the head holder.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an ink cartridge (ink cartridge other than black).

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a head holder 5.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing the mounting operation of the ink cartridge with respect to the head holder.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a locking side plate and a guide groove portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 color inkjet printer 2 ink cartridge 4 inkjet head 5 head holder 32 rear wall 35 bottom wall 41 Ink supply port 42 Front recess 46 Locking member 47 Rear recess 70 Induction groove

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge that contains ink and is detachably attached to a head holder provided with an inkjet head, wherein a front side end portion of a bottom portion of the ink cartridge is provided.
A first locking portion that locks to the head holder, and a rear side end portion of the upper portion of the ink cartridge,
An ink cartridge, comprising: a second locking portion that locks with the head holder. 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first locking portion also serves as an ink supply port for supplying ink to the inkjet head. 3. The ink according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a third engaging portion that engages with the head holder, at a rear end portion of a bottom portion of the ink cartridge. cartridge. 4. The first locking portion is located in front of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge, and the second locking portion is
The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is located rearward of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge. 5. The first locking portion is on the front side of the center of gravity of the ink cartridge, and the second locking portion and the third locking portion are behind the center of gravity of the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the ink cartridge is on the side. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising the ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the head holder is provided with a guiding portion for guiding the second locking portion of the ink cartridge.