JP2006281793A - Ink cartridge and inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recorder allowing an ink supply needle to be inserted into and pulled out from and an ink cartridge to be loaded at an accurate position to ensure communication with an attached storage means and an ink storage quantity to be readily changed while seeking after commonness in parts. <P>SOLUTION: The ink cartridge comprises a bottomed box-shaped container body 2' with an ink supply port 4' formed therein and a cover body 3 for sealing the opening of the container body 2'. The ink cartridge stores a different kind of ink, and individual ink cartridges are loaded on the inkjet recorder as a set. The ink supply port 4' and members (5' and 7') in cooperation with the inkjet recorder, are arranged in the same relative position making the side faces of the container body 2' as a reference. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink cartridge that supplies ink in an appropriate negative pressure state to a recording head that discharges ink droplets in response to a print signal, and an ink jet recording apparatus suitable for the ink cartridge.

In a recording apparatus in which an ink container is detachably mounted on a carriage equipped with an ink jet recording head, a locking mechanism that prevents the carriage from moving out during printing and can be easily disengaged by an external operation is provided. I have.
For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, such a locking mechanism is capable of rotating a convex portion that engages with the ink cartridge holder on one of the two opposing side surfaces of the ink tank and the other surface. A claw is formed on a simple lever, and with the convex portion engaged with the ink cartridge holder, the other surface is moved so that the convex portion is a rotation fulcrum and the claw is engaged with the ink cartridge holder. It is configured.

However, it is difficult to apply the ink cartridge that is mounted by rotating the ink cartridge to an ink container that forms an ink flow path via an ink supply needle that communicates with the recording head.
In other words, since the ink supply needle has a predetermined length to ensure reliable communication with the ink container, there is a risk of breakage when an external force other than the axial direction is applied. It is necessary to move in parallel with the length direction.
Further, as can be seen in Patent Document 2, an elastically deformable lever having a claw portion that engages with the ink cartridge holder is formed on two opposing surfaces of a container for containing ink, and can be inserted into the ink supply needle. Ink cartridges have also been proposed.
Furthermore, as seen in Patent Document 3, the container for storing ink is configured in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a latch member is provided on the front wall in the longitudinal direction, and insertion guides are provided on both side walls in the vicinity thereof. An ink cartridge having a convex portion has been proposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-44451 JP 9-11500 A JP 2001-105587

The ink cartridge attached with the storage means for storing the information related to the ink cartridge described above requires a reliable connection with a fine electrode, and therefore requires a reliable positioning.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to insert and remove the ink cartridge into the ink supply needle and to store the ink cartridge attached to the storage means. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge that can be mounted at an accurate position where communication can be ensured.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge capable of easily changing the amount of ink accommodated while sharing parts.
A third object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus suitable for the ink cartridge.

In order to solve such problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an ink supply port is provided on the bottom surface, and the side wall parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus is disposed on the side close to the ink supply port. A cartridge mounting area in which an ink cartridge is mounted that includes an electrode provided, storage means connected to the electrode, and a locking member provided on the side farther in the insertion direction from the ink supply port than the electrode. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink supply needle that is inserted through the ink supply port; an engagement portion that engages with the locking member; and an electrode of the ink cartridge in the cartridge mounting region. An electrode and an elastic member that develops an urging force opposite to the insertion of the ink cartridge are arranged.
Further, in the first aspect, the cartridge mounting region is characterized in that a recess that engages with a side surface of the locking member is formed to extend in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an ink supply port is provided on the bottom surface, and an electrode disposed on a side near the ink supply port on a side wall parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus; Cartridge mounting in which an ink cartridge having storage means connected to the electrode, a locking member provided on the side farther from the ink supply port in the insertion direction than the electrode, and a guide recess extending in the insertion direction is mounted In the ink jet recording apparatus having a region, the cartridge mounting region is in contact with an ink supply needle that is inserted through the ink supply port, an engagement portion that engages with the locking member, and an electrode of the ink cartridge. An electrode and a guide convex piece that engages with the guide concave portion are provided.
Further, in the second aspect, the guide convex piece is formed at a position opposite to an engaging portion that engages with the engaging member with the ink supply needle interposed therebetween.
In the second aspect, the guide convex piece is characterized in that a tip region in the insertion direction is formed in a cross-sectional “L” shape.
Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, a bottomed box type container main body having an ink supply port and a lid for sealing the opening surface of the container main body, each of which is of a different type In an ink cartridge that contains ink and is mounted as a set on an ink jet recording apparatus, the ink supply port and a member that cooperates with the ink jet recording apparatus are arranged at the same relative position with respect to the side surface of the container body. Yes.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a bottomed box-type container body having an ink supply port and a lid for sealing the opening surface of the container body, each containing different types of ink. In the ink cartridge mounted as a set on the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink supply port and the member cooperating with the ink jet recording apparatus are arranged at the same relative position with respect to the side surface of the container main body, and the container main body However, the depth from the reference side surface is larger than that of the other ink cartridges used as the set.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a container that includes an ink supply port on a distal end side in an insertion direction and stores ink, an electrode attached to the container so as to be positioned in a plane parallel to the insertion direction, Supply of ink from an ink cartridge comprising storage means connected to an electrode and a locking member provided on the rear end side in the insertion direction with respect to the electrode and detachably fixing the container to the recording apparatus In the ink jet recording apparatus, the electrode connected to the electrode connected to the storage means on the side of the region where the locking member is provided, and the elasticity expressing the urging force substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge The member is arranged.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a container having an ink supply port on the distal end side in the insertion direction and containing ink, and an electrode attached to the container so as to be positioned in a plane parallel to the insertion direction A storage means connected to the electrode; a locking member provided on the rear end side in the insertion direction with respect to the electrode; and for releasably fixing the container to the recording device; and in the vicinity of the central region of the container In the inkjet recording apparatus that receives ink supplied from the ink cartridge, the guide convex piece that engages with the guide concave part, and the guide convex piece are sandwiched between Thus, an elastic member that resists insertion of the ink cartridge is disposed on the side facing the locking member.

Therefore, details of the present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiment.
FIGS. 1 (a), (b) and FIGS. 2 (a) to (d) show the appearance of an embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention, respectively, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show the ink cartridge. The cartridge 1 is mainly composed of a flat rectangular bottomed container body 2 having an opening on one surface and a lid 3 for sealing the opening. Has been. The ink supply port 4 is formed so as to be biased to one side in the longitudinal direction of the distal end side in the insertion direction, in this embodiment, the bottom surface. Further, locking members 5 and 6 are formed integrally with the container body 2 on the upper portions of the front and rear walls when the ink cartridge 1 is inserted and removed, respectively.

The locking member 5 that is biased to the ink supply port side is formed so that the distal end side in the insertion direction, in this embodiment, a slightly upper part from the lower end is a pivotal fulcrum, and the upper part can be expanded outward. The other locking member 6 is formed in cooperation with the locking member 5 so as to assist gripping of the cartridge.
These locking members 5 and 6 are configured as widths corresponding to the widths of the insertion openings provided in the carriage so that the side surfaces thereof become guide members that regulate the position in the width direction.

A plurality of electrodes 7a are arranged in the width direction on the surface of the substrate in the width direction below the locking member 5 on the ink supply port side, are formed in two rows in the vertical direction, and are connected to the electrodes 7a on the back surface of the substrate. A memory means 7 configured by mounting a semiconductor memory element is provided, and a valve housing chamber 8 is formed below the other locking member 6.
The plurality of electrodes 7a are arranged symmetrically so that a line C1 parallel to the central axis of the ink supply port 4 is a symmetric line. The symmetry line of the electrode 7a is arranged so as to be substantially symmetric with respect to the engagement region of the locking member 5, that is, the center line C2 of the protrusion 5a.

  In the vicinity of the ink supply port 4 and on the central region side of the container, a slit portion 9 is formed that extends in the cartridge insertion / extraction direction and at least opens at the tip side. The slit portion 9 has a length and a width that can be controlled so that the opening surface of the ink supply port is orthogonal to the ink supply needle before at least the tip of the ink supply port 4 reaches the ink supply needle of the carriage. It is configured as follows.

  On the other hand, the carriage 100 on which the cartridge is mounted is configured by providing a recording head 101 on the bottom surface and an ink supply needle 102 communicating with the recording head 101 as shown in FIG. An ink cartridge pressing member, in this embodiment a leaf spring 103, is provided in a region away from the region where the ink supply needle 102 is provided, and a positioning convex piece 104 is provided between the ink supply needle 102 and the cartridge. It is formed extending in the insertion / extraction direction. In addition, an electrode 106 is disposed on the side wall 105 on the ink supply needle 102 side, and a concave portion 107 that engages with the protrusion 5 a of the locking member 5 is formed on the electrode 106.

  By adopting such a structure, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the ink supply port 4 of the ink cartridge 1 is inserted into the carriage and pressed against the leaf spring 103, the slit portion 9 Is regulated by the convex piece 104, and even if the rotational force (arrow A in the figure) is received by the leaf spring 103 provided so as to be biased to the lower side, the posture is defined. In this embodiment, the insertion / extraction direction is regulated so as to be substantially parallel to the vertical direction.

Further, when the cartridge 1 is pressed against the upper surface 2b with the finger pressed against the leaf spring 103, the upper surface 2b of the container body 2 is inclined at an angle θ so that the upper side, that is, the side of the locking member 5 faces upward. Therefore, a component force is generated in which the surface of the cartridge 1 on which the storage unit 7 is provided is pressed against the electrode 106 of the carriage 100. As a result, the ink cartridge can be pushed into the ink supply needle 102 while the electrode 7 a of the storage means 7 is reliably brought into contact with the electrode 106. In the pushing process, as shown in FIG. 6B, the protrusion 5a of the other locking member 5 falls and engages with the recess 107 against the entire elasticity of the locking member 5. As a result, a clear click feeling is transmitted to the finger, and the user can determine that the cartridge is securely attached to the carriage 100.
Although it is possible to provide the locking member 6 with a protrusion similar to the protrusion 5a of the locking member 5, it is more preferable to provide the protrusion 5a only on the locking member 5 on the storage means 7 side. A cartridge mounting error can be prevented. In other words, when the locking member 6 on the side not having the storage means 7 generates a click feeling, the locking member 5 on the storage means 7 side remains in a normal position, that is, a position where no click feeling is generated. In addition, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the user mistakenly thinks that the user has correctly installed it.

  In the mounted state, the surface of the cartridge 1 on which the storage means 7 is provided is regulated in position in the insertion / removal direction by the protrusion 5a of the locking member 5 and biased by the spring 103 (the force indicated by the arrow A in the figure). Therefore, the contact is reliably maintained regardless of vibration during printing.

  On the other hand, when the ink cartridge 1 is removed from the carriage 100 by replacement or the like, if the locking member 5 is pressed against the container body 2 side, the locking member 5 rotates slightly above the lower end with the rotation fulcrum as a rotation fulcrum. The protrusion 5 a of the stop member 5 is separated from the recess 107. When the cartridge 1 is pulled out in this state, the cartridge 1 is guided by the guide piece 104 by the urging force of the leaf spring 103 and moves in parallel with the ink supply needle 102, without applying a bending force or the like to the ink supply needle 4. Can be removed.

7 and 8 show an embodiment of the flow path formed in the container main body 2 constituting the ink cartridge. The container main body 2 is divided vertically by a wall 10 extending in a substantially horizontal direction. ing.
The first ink storage chamber 11 is formed in the lower region, and the upper portion is formed with the wall 10 so as to form an atmosphere communication path 13 with a certain gap from the wall 12 of the container body 2 so that the wall 10 is the bottom surface. It is divided by the frame part 14 so that it may continue. The frame portion 14 is divided by a vertical wall 15 having a communication port 15 a formed at the bottom, and one region is formed as a second ink storage chamber 16 and the other region is formed as a third ink storage chamber 17. .

  In the region of the first ink storage chamber 11 below the second ink storage chamber 16, a suction channel 18 that connects the bottom surface of the second ink storage chamber 16 and the bottom surface 2 a of the container body 2 is formed. In this embodiment, the suction channel 18 is formed by forming a recess 18 c (FIG. 9) on the surface of the container body 2 and sealing the recess 18 c with an airtight film 57.

  A wall 19 having communication ports 19a and 19b is formed in the lower part of the suction channel 18, and one opening 20 for injecting ink from the outside into the container body 2 is provided at a position facing one end of the suction channel 18. However, another opening 21 communicating with the first ink storage chamber 11 is formed so as to be aligned therewith.

  The third ink storage chamber 17 is partitioned by walls 22, 24, and 26 with a certain gap from the upper surface 14 a of the frame portion 14, and the fourth ink storage chamber 23 is partitioned by walls 10, 24, 26, and 27. ing. Further, the flow path communicating with the back surface of the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 (FIG. 10) is partitioned by the wall 24.

  A partition wall 26 having a communication port 26a between the wall 10 and the wall 10 is provided at the lower portion of the wall 24, and a partition wall 27 having a communication port 27a at the lower portion is provided between the frame portion 14 and the ink flow path 28. Is formed. The upper part of the ink flow path 28 communicates with the surface side of the cartridge 1 through a through hole 29 serving as a filter chamber. A filter 55 (FIG. 3) made of a porous material is inserted into the through hole 29. In the figure, reference numeral 2c denotes a recess for housing the storage means 7.

  The through hole 29 is separated by a wall 30 formed so as to be continuous with the wall 27 as shown in FIG. 8 and communicates with the upper end of the ink flow path 28 by a recess 29a. Via the recess 30a (FIG. 9), it communicates with the wall 34 on the back surface of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 and the recess 24a at the top of the flow path defined by the wall 24.

  The lower part of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 and the ink supply port 4 are connected by a flow path comprising a recess 35 formed on the surface of the container body 2 and an air-tight film 57 (FIG. 10) covering the recess 35. Yes.

  Further, on the surface of the container main body 2, a narrow groove 36 meandering so as to make the flow resistance as high as possible, a wide groove 37 around it, and a region facing the second ink containing chamber 16. A rectangular recess 38 is formed. In the rectangular recess 38, a frame 39 and a rib 40 are formed at a further lowered position, and an air permeable film (not shown) having ink repellency and air permeability is stretched over these to form an air vent chamber. Is formed. A through hole 41 is formed in the bottom surface of the recess 38 and communicates with an elongated region 43 (FIG. 7) defined by the wall 42 of the second ink storage chamber 16. Further, the narrow groove 36 is communicated in the region of the recess 38 on the surface side of the air permeable film. The other end of the region 43 communicates with the valve accommodating chamber 8 through a through hole 44, a communication groove 45, and a through hole 46 (FIG. 9B).

  A plurality of identification pieces provided on the carriage 100 of the recording apparatus main body, which is opened at the tip of the valve accommodating chamber 8 on the cartridge insertion side, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 110, 111, 112 (FIG. 5) and an identification block 70 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 12) described later, into which the valve operating rod can enter, are mounted.

  FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional structure in the vicinity of the differential pressure valve storage chamber 33. The differential pressure valve storage chamber 33 is composed of a spring 50 and an elastically deformable material such as an elastomer, and has a through hole 51 in the center. The membrane valve 52 provided with is accommodated. The membrane valve 52 includes an annular thick part 52a and a frame part 54 formed integrally with the thick part 52a. The membrane valve 52 is fixed to the container body 2 through the frame part 54, and has a spring. 50 is supported at one end by a spring receiving portion 52 b of the membrane valve 52 and at the other end by a spring receiving portion 53 a of a lid 53 fitted into the opening of the accommodating chamber 33.

  In addition, the code | symbols 56 and 57 are the airtight films affixed on the surface of the container main body 2, and the opening surface side, and the film 56 is the wall 10, the frame part 14, the walls 15, 22, 24, 26 in FIG. 27, 30 and 42 are adhered by welding or the like. The film 57 is attached so as to cover the narrow groove 36 formed on the surface of the container body 2 and the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33.

  With such a configuration, the ink that has passed through the ink circulation port 34 a is blocked by the membrane valve 52. When the pressure of the ink supply port 4 decreases in this state, the membrane valve 52 separates from the valve seat portion 34b against the urging force of the spring 50, and therefore passes through the through hole 51 and passes through the flow path formed by the recess 35. Then, the ink flows into the ink supply port 4.

  When the ink pressure at the ink supply port 4 rises to a predetermined value, the membrane valve 52 loses the urging force of the spring 50 and is elastically contacted with the valve seat 34b, thereby blocking the ink flow. By repeating such an operation, the ink can be discharged to the ink supply port 4 while maintaining a constant negative pressure.

  FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional structure of the valve housing chamber 8 for air communication. A through-hole 60 is formed in a wall defining the valve housing chamber 8 and is formed of an elastic member such as rubber. The pressing member 61 is inserted around the container body 2 so as to be movable. A valve body whose bottom end is fixed to the front end of the pressing member 61 by a protrusion 63 and is supported by an elastic member 62 such as a leaf spring whose central portion is restricted by the protrusion 64 and is always urged to the through hole 60. 65 is arranged.

Further, the identification block 70 shown in FIG. 12 is mounted on the other surface of the pressing member 61.
The identification block 70 includes a plurality of, three in this embodiment, parallel to the cartridge insertion direction and a fixed width of the cartridge on the base fixed to the cartridge recess 80 (FIG. 9) by the claws 70a and 70b. Grooves 71, 72, 73 are formed, and an arm 74 for pressing the pressing member 61 is formed in one groove 72 on the insertion direction side of the ink cartridge, in this embodiment, the lower end in the insertion direction. ing. Each groove 71, 72, 73 is set to such a depth that a plurality of identification pieces can be inserted.

The arm 74 can be rotated by a rotation fulcrum 74a so as to be located slightly inside, and the extraction side, in this embodiment, the upper side in the insertion direction is projected obliquely into the entry path of the operating rod 113 (FIG. 14). It is configured.
In addition, in each of the grooves 71 to 73, protrusions 71a, 72a, and 73a are formed so as to face the tips of the identification pieces 110, 111, and 112 of the carriage 100.

  With such a configuration, the position of the arm 74 is made constant, while the positions of the engaging portions 71a, 72a, and 73a and the positions of the tips of the corresponding identification pieces 110, 111, and 112 are set according to the ink type of the cartridge. By setting correspondingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous mounting of the cartridge. The positions of the engaging portions 71a, 72a, 73a are not limited to the insertion / removal direction of the cartridge, but by changing the position in the thickness direction of the cartridge, it is possible to adopt a three-dimensional arrangement structure. Many ink types can be identified without causing enlargement.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an embodiment of a carriage to which an ink cartridge is mounted. In this embodiment, a plurality of cartridges, one black ink cartridge and three color ink cartridges can be mounted. It is configured.
That is, the first mounting region 120 having a slightly wider width is provided on one side, and the second to fourth mounting regions 121 to 123 having the same width so as to be adjacent to the first mounting region 120 have ribs 124 to 126 and ribs 127 to 129.

  As described with reference to FIG. 5, the ink supply needle 102 communicating with the recording head 101 is provided in the mounting area of each cartridge, and a pressing member is provided in an area away from the area where the ink supply needle 102 is provided. In this embodiment, a leaf spring 103 is provided, and a positioning convex piece 104 is formed between the ink supply needle 102 and extending in the direction of inserting and removing the cartridge. Further, a concave portion 107 ′ that guides the side portion on the locking member 5 side is formed.

In addition, an electrode 106 is disposed on the side wall 105 on the ink supply needle 102 side, and a recess 107 that engages with the protrusion 5a of the locking member 5 is formed on the side wall 105, and in the vicinity thereof, the side of the locking member 5 is formed. A recess 107a is formed to be engaged with the protrusion 5b protruding from the portion.
Similarly, a concave portion 109 that guides a side portion of the locking member 6 and a concave portion 109a that engages with a protrusion 6b that protrudes from the side portion of the locking member 6 are formed in a region where the locking member 6 abuts. .

  In this embodiment, the positioning convex piece 104 is formed with side portions 104a extending in parallel with the surface of the cartridge as shown in FIG. It is configured to ensure strength. Correspondingly, the slit portion 9 of the ink cartridge has a concave portion 9a formed at the tip of the cartridge in the insertion direction at least in a region facing the side portion 104a as shown in FIG. It is extended to.

  Around the ink supply needle 102, there are formed ribs 102a that engage with ribs 4a and 4a having a U-shaped cross section formed so as to sandwich the ink supply port 4 of the ink cartridge. The ink supply needle 102 can be held in the ink supply port 4.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C, the large-capacity type ink cartridge loaded in the wide mounting area 120 is basically the above-described embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2). The container main body 2 ′ has the same opening surface shape and is configured to have a depth W larger than that of the small-capacity type ink cartridge shown in FIG.
Accordingly, the amount of ink that can be stored can be increased simply by changing the depth W of the container body 2 ′. Members having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given dashes to the reference numerals in FIGS.

Then, the ink supply port 4 ′ and the storage means 7 ′, particularly the electrode 7a ′, are set so that the arrangement center is at a fixed position W1 from the surface of the container body 2, that is, from the bottom, like other cartridges. Has been.
That is, the electrode 7a ′ is arranged such that the symmetry line C3 substantially intersects the line C4 passing through the central axis of the ink supply port 4 ′.
Since the identification block 70 'is mounted on the surface side of the container body 2', it is naturally arranged at the same position.

Further, the locking members 5 ′ and 6 ′ are biased toward the container main body 2 ′ in the same manner as the ink supply port 4 ′ so that the pressing force is surely applied to the ink supply port 4 ′ at the time of loading. ing. Note that, as shown in FIG. 16 (a), the width W2 of the locking member 6 'on the rear end side when grasped and gripped by the thumb is larger than the width W3 of the locking member 5' gripped by the tip side, that is, the index finger. It is preferable from the viewpoint of insertion / extraction properties to be large.
A tongue portion 130a is formed in a region facing the ink inlets 20 and 21 'of the decorative film 130 (Fig. 17 (a)) to be attached to the surface of the film 57 of the container body 2, and is shown in Fig. 17 (b). As described above, the tongue 130a may be formed integrally with the decorative film 130, and the ink suction ports 20 ′ and 21 ′ may be sealed with the tongue 130a.

  FIG. 18 shows a state in which the above-described small-capacity ink cartridge 1 and large-capacity ink cartridge 1 ′ are mounted on the carriage 100.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electrode 7a is provided on the container body 2 constituting the ink cartridge. However, depending on the shape of the container body 2, the cartridge is inserted into the container body 2 as shown in FIG. Even if the protrusion 2d having a tip surface parallel to the direction is formed and the electrode 7a is disposed on the tip surface, the same effect is obtained.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the electrode 7a and the memory element are mounted on the front and back of the substrate. However, as shown in FIG. 20 (a), the electrode 7a is disposed on the substrate 7c and the electrode 7a is flexible. Even if the cable 7d is attached and the memory element 7b is mounted on the flexible cable 7d, or the electrode 7a and the memory element 7b are mounted in different regions of the single flexible cable 7d as shown in FIG. Has the effect of.

  The electrode 7a has the same effect even if it is formed in a shape in which the length in the insertion direction of the cartridge is longer than the width, for example, an ellipse as seen in FIGS.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the locking member is configured as a lever, and the protrusions 5a and 6a are configured to be advanced and retracted by the locking member. However, as shown in FIG. Even if it is formed as the protrusion 131 on the container main body 2 constituting the structure, as shown in FIG. 21B, it can be inserted and fixed by utilizing the elasticity of the concave portion 107 of the recording apparatus, and can be pulled out.

In the above-described embodiments, the case where the differential pressure valve is used as the negative pressure generating means has been described. However, the porous material such as sponge is impregnated with ink, and the negative pressure is maintained by the capillary force of the pores. However, it is clear that the same effect is achieved.
In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of ink cartridges are accommodated in the same carriage. However, one or a plurality of ink cartridges may be mounted on each of the plurality of carriages.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing the front and back appearances of an embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention, which is configured as a small capacity type. FIGS. 1A to 1D are a top view, a front view, a bottom view, and a side view of the ink cartridge, respectively. It is an assembly perspective view which shows one Example of an ink cartridge same as the above. It is an assembly perspective view which shows one Example of an ink cartridge same as the above. It is sectional drawing which shows one Example of the carriage with which an ink cartridge same as the above is mounted. FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a process of mounting the ink cartridge on the carriage. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the opening surface of the container main body which comprises an ink cartridge same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the bottom face of the container main body which comprises an ink cartridge same as the above. Fig. (A) is a perspective view showing the structure of the surface of the container main body constituting the ink cartridge, and Fig. (B) is a diagram showing through holes formed in the communication groove. It is a figure which expands and shows the cross-section of a negative pressure generation means accommodation chamber. It is a figure which expands and shows the cross-section of the valve | bulb accommodation chamber for air | atmosphere communication. FIGS. 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, showing an embodiment of an identification block. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a carriage configured to be able to accommodate a plurality of ink cartridges. It is a perspective view which changes the direction of a carriage same as the above. FIGS. 1A and 1B are enlarged views showing the vicinity of the ink supply needle of the carriage and the vicinity of the ink supply port of the ink cartridge, respectively. FIGS. 1A to 1C are a perspective view and a bottom view, respectively, showing an embodiment when the ink cartridge of the present invention is configured as a large capacity type. FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the structure of the ink inlet of the large-capacity type ink cartridge. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a small-capacity type and a large-capacity type ink cartridge are mounted on a carriage. It is a figure which shows the other Example of the electrode attachment structure of the ink cartridge of this invention. FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing other embodiments of the storage means. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing another embodiment of the locking member of the ink cartridge according to the present invention and a state where the ink cartridge is fixed to the recording apparatus, in an enlarged manner.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 'Cartridge 2, 2' Container main body 3 Cover body 4, 4 'Ink supply port 5, 6, 5', 6 'Locking member 5a Protrusion 7, 7' Memory | storage means 7a Electrode 8, 8 'Valve storage chamber 9, 9 'Slit part 70, 70' Identification block 71-73 Groove 71a, 72a, 73a Projection part 100 Carriage 101 Recording head 102, 102 'Ink supply needle 103, 103' Leaf spring 106 Electrode 110, 111, 112 Identification piece 113 Working rod 121-123 Mounting region 130 Decorative film

Claims (5)

An electrode having an ink supply port on the bottom surface, an electrode disposed on a side of the side wall parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus, close to the ink supply port, a storage unit connected to the electrode, and the electrode An ink jet recording apparatus including a cartridge mounting region in which an ink cartridge having a locking member provided on a side farther in the insertion direction than the ink supply port is mounted,
In the cartridge mounting area, an ink supply needle inserted into the ink supply port, an engaging portion that engages with the locking member, an electrode that contacts the electrode of the ink cartridge, and an insertion of the ink cartridge An ink jet recording apparatus in which an elastic member that develops an opposing biasing force is disposed.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion that engages with a side surface of the locking member is formed in the cartridge mounting region so as to extend in an insertion direction of the ink cartridge. An electrode having an ink supply port on the bottom surface, an electrode disposed on a side of the side wall parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus, close to the ink supply port, a storage unit connected to the electrode, and the electrode In an inkjet recording apparatus provided with a cartridge mounting region in which an ink cartridge having a locking member provided on a side farther in the insertion direction than the ink supply port and a guide recess extending in the insertion direction is mounted.
The cartridge mounting area includes an ink supply needle that is inserted through the ink supply port, an engagement portion that engages with the locking member, an electrode that contacts the electrode of the ink cartridge, and the guide recess. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a guide convex piece to be joined.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide convex piece is formed at a position opposite to an engaging portion that engages with the locking member with the ink supply needle interposed therebetween.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide convex piece has a distal end region in the insertion direction formed in a cross-sectional “L” shape.

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