JP2007083679A - Liquid cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain miniaturization, cost reduction, and improvement of the operability by a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: A lower case 71 and an upper case 72 are formed into one piece via thin joining hinge parts 73 formed along opposed side edges, whereby a cartridge case 65 is provided which constitutes a pack loading space where an ink pack 67 with a liquid sealed inside is loaded. The cartridge case 65 has a tank cap member 70 combined on one of opposed side faces. A handle part 74 made freely foldable via a hinge part 89 with a thinned base on the other side face is integrally formed with an engagement projection 84 which holds the folded handle part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge used in a liquid ejection apparatus that ejects liquid from a nozzle provided on a head surface to an object.

  A liquid discharge device, for example, an ink jet type color printer device, for example, discharges four color ink liquids of a yellow ink liquid, a magenta ink liquid, a cyan ink liquid and a black ink liquid from a nozzle formed on a head surface in a droplet state, Color printing of images, characters, etc. is performed by landing on a predetermined position of the paper supplied to the printing unit. In the ink jet type color printer apparatus, the four types of ink liquid cartridges filled with the above-described color ink liquids are loaded into the ink liquid cartridge loading section so that predetermined ink liquids are supplied from the respective ink liquid cartridges to the head. To.

  An ink liquid cartridge is generally formed by filling an ink liquid into a rigid cartridge formed of a synthetic resin or the like and provided with an ink supply section at one end (for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2). Such an ink cartridge does not leak even when vibration or impact is applied, and can be positioned and loaded with high accuracy with respect to the ink cartridge loading section.

  On the other hand, in the ink liquid cartridge, an ink pack using a laminate pack container that is relatively inexpensive and can be filled with a larger volume of ink liquid is loaded into a rigid ink pack case to provide impact resistance, etc. The thing which aimed at improvement etc. is also provided (for example, patent document 3). In such an ink pack type ink liquid cartridge, the ink pack is loaded in the ink pack case with the ink supply part protruding outward. The ink cartridge is easy to handle by loading the ink pack into the ink pack case, and the ink supply part is thermally welded to the ink pack case, so that the ink liquid leaks from the joint with the ink pack. Is prevented from occurring.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 4 discloses an ink liquid cartridge in which a thin plate portion is integrally formed on the back surface of a cartridge case via an extremely thin portion. Such an ink liquid cartridge is improved in operability by gripping the thin plate portion and performing an attaching / detaching operation to the cartridge loading portion of the printer apparatus. In addition, such an ink cartridge has a thin plate portion folded through an extremely thin portion, and space efficiency can be improved by expanding the lid by rotating the lid.

JP 2002-361886 A JP 2004-106397 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-138507 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-108550

  When the ink pack type ink liquid cartridge is loaded in the ink liquid cartridge loading section, an ink supply needle is inserted into the ink liquid supply section to supply the ink liquid. Therefore, the ink liquid cartridge is precisely aligned with the ink liquid cartridge loading portion, tightly fitted, and strongly pulled out.

  In the ink cartridge disclosed in Patent Document 4, since the portion to be gripped in the insertion / removal operation is composed of the thin plate portion and the extremely thin portion, the mechanical strength is not sufficient, and there is a risk of breakage. . Further, such an ink cartridge does not use a thin plate portion when carrying it. Further, the ink cartridge has to be provided with a lid for holding the thin plate portion in a folded state, and there is a problem that the number of parts and the structure are complicated.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cartridge that can be easily attached to and detached from the ink cartridge loading section, has improved handling properties, has a simple structure, and is small and low in cost.

  The liquid cartridge according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is formed by integrally forming a lower case and an upper case via thin connection hinge portions formed along opposite side edges, and bending the connection hinge portion. There is provided a cartridge case that constitutes a pack loading space portion in which a liquid pack in which a liquid is sealed is loaded by overlapping the lower case and the upper case. In the liquid cartridge according to the present invention, the cartridge case is connected to a liquid supply hole formed in the liquid cartridge loading portion on one side surface, and a supply portion for supplying the liquid is provided, and the lower case is provided on the other side surface. Alternatively, the upper case is integrally formed with a handle portion that can be folded through a hinge portion whose base end portion is thin, and the upper case or case is folded through the hinge portion so as to face the handle portion. Engaging protrusions for holding the handle portion are integrally formed.

  In the liquid cartridge according to the present invention, the handle portion and the engaging convex portion constitute a holding means that holds the lower case and the upper case that are overlapped by bending the connecting hinge portion.

  According to the liquid cartridge of the present invention, the handle portion that can be folded and the engaging convex portion that holds the folded state are integrally formed on the cartridge case, thereby reducing the number of parts and the assembly process, thereby reducing cost and size. The liquid cartridge loading section can be more reliably inserted into and removed from the liquid cartridge loading section while being easy to handle.

  Hereinafter, an inkjet printer apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as a printer apparatus) 1 shown in the drawings as an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer apparatus 1 has a head unit 3 and a paper cassette 4 attached to and detached from the printer main body 2, and is connected to a personal computer or a peripheral device such as a digital camera. Used. The printer device 1 prints a predetermined document or image instructed to be output from a personal computer, peripheral device, or the like on a predetermined size of paper fed from the paper cassette 4 to the printing unit 5 of the printer main body 2.

  The printer device 1 discharges ink liquid supplied from an ink liquid supply unit 6 assembled in the head unit 3 in a droplet state based on a print instruction, as will be described in detail later, and supplies the paper to the printing unit 5. To make high-speed printing in line units. The printer apparatus 1 performs color printing of a document or an image using each color ink liquid of black ink liquid, magenta ink liquid, cyan ink liquid, and yellow ink liquid. Needless to say, the printer apparatus 1 may use ink liquids of more colors. In the following description, terms such as “front and rear” and “up and down” are used with reference to FIG. 1, and the loading side of the paper cassette 4 is “front”.

  The printer main body 2 includes a casing 7 including an upper casing 7a and a lower casing 7b, and the upper casing 7a rotates with respect to the lower casing 7b at one end in the depth direction by a pivot mechanism that omits details. It is supported freely. The printer main body 2 is opened by rotating the upper casing 7a with respect to the lower casing 7b, and maintenance such as processing of paper jam occurring in the printing unit 5 or replacement of parts or cleaning is performed. Like that.

  The printer main body 2 is provided with a paper cassette loading port 8 that is positioned on the front surface of the housing 7 and into which the paper cassette 4 is inserted and removed. The paper cassette 4 accommodates a large number of sheets in a stacked state inside, and is inserted into the printer main body 2 by being pushed into the inside from the paper cassette loading port 8 and projecting the front part thereof. In the printer body 2, the paper cassette loading port 8 also serves as a paper discharge port on which predetermined printing has been performed, and the printed paper is discharged from the printing unit 5 onto the cassette lid of the paper cassette 4. Like that. Note that, for example, a plurality of paper cassettes 4 are prepared, and papers having different sizes are accommodated therein, so that the paper cassettes 4 are appropriately replaced according to the printing paper size. In the printer main body 2, an upper portion of the paper cassette loading port 8 is configured as a head cap member attaching / detaching opening portion to which a head cap member 9 described later is attached / detached.

  Although not shown, the printer main body 2 takes out the paper from the paper cassette 4 and feeds the paper to the printing unit 5, and transports the paper on which predetermined printing has been performed in the printing unit 5 to the paper cassette loading slot 8. A paper transport mechanism is provided. The paper transport mechanism is provided inside the paper cassette loading port 8 and feeds a sheet one by one from the uppermost paper in the paper cassette 4 and a paper feed mechanism for feeding the taken paper to the printing unit 5. And a paper discharge mechanism for discharging the paper on which predetermined printing has been performed in the printing unit 5 to the paper cassette loading port 8.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer main body 2 has a head unit attaching / detaching opening 10 that is positioned substantially at the center of the upper housing 7 a. The head unit attaching / detaching opening 10 is opened and closed by a lid 11 supported by the upper housing 7a by a hinge mechanism that omits details. The printer main body 2 opens the lid 11 and the black ink liquid cartridge 12B, the magenta ink liquid cartridge 12M, the cyan ink liquid cartridge 12C, or the yellow ink liquid cartridge 12Y (hereinafter referred to as the ink liquid supply unit 6). Unless otherwise described, the ink liquid cartridge 12 is generally referred to as an exchange operation). Further, the printer main body 2 opens the lid 11 to take out the head unit 3 from the inside, take out the jammed paper in the middle of the printing unit 5 or the conveyance path, or perform parts replacement or cleaning.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer body 2 is provided with an operation unit 13 in a region in front of the head unit attaching / detaching opening 10 of the upper housing 7 a. The operation unit 13 includes a power switch, operation buttons for performing various setting operations such as setting of the number of prints and a print start instruction, or a liquid crystal display for displaying a setting state, an operation state, and the like. Although not shown, the printer main body 2 has a control board on which a CPU that outputs control signals for controlling the operation of each component and each unit of the head unit 3 and various memories are mounted in a portion in the depth direction of the lower housing 7b. The control unit 14 or the power supply unit is housed, and an interface unit for connection with a personal computer or the like is provided.

  The control unit 14 stores a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a control program for controlling the overall operation of the printer 1 is recorded, a RAM (Random) that temporarily stores the read control program and the like, and is read out as necessary. Access Memory). The control unit 14 outputs a control signal for controlling each operation to each unit. The control unit 14 instructs the head unit 3 to stop printing based on a detection signal output from an ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 provided in the ink supply unit 6 described later. Although not described in detail, the control unit 14 detects a warning display signal based on detection of the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 12 and outputs various signals such as a display signal for the head cap replacement time by detecting a predetermined number of prints. Thus, a predetermined display is performed on the display. The control unit 14 outputs a control signal for controlling the ejection of each color ink liquid to the head unit 3 so that predetermined printing is performed.

  Although not described in detail, the head unit 3 includes a head frame 16 having a lateral width larger than the paper width of the maximum size paper 6 used in the printer apparatus 1. The head frame 16 is provided with a head unit attaching / detaching opening 10 and a positioning structure or a lock structure which omits details, and is positioned and combined with the printer main body 2. When the head unit 3 is attached to the head unit attaching / detaching opening 10, a connector (not shown) provided on the head frame 16 is coupled to a connector 17 provided on the head unit attaching / detaching opening 10 side to electrically connect the printer main body 2. Combined. The head unit 3 is released from the head unit attaching / detaching opening 10 when the unlocking mechanism provided on the printer body 2 side is operated while the lid 11 is opened. It becomes possible.

  The head unit 3 incorporates a head mechanism for discharging ink liquid in a head frame 16, and an ink liquid supply unit 6 is assembled to the upper part of the head frame 16 and a head cap member 9 is assembled to the lower part as shown in FIG. It is. Although not described in detail, the head unit 3 includes a black head mechanism, a magenta head mechanism, a cyan head mechanism, and a yellow head mechanism arranged in the paper feeding direction.

  In the head unit 3, each head mechanism includes a nozzle sheet having a large number of nozzle holes opened side by side in a width direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction, a control board, and a main surface of the control board. A spacer film is provided that is divided into a number of regions corresponding to the holes. Each head mechanism includes an ink liquid flow path member, a pair of heater chips, or a bonding block provided corresponding to each printing area divided by the spacer film. In each head mechanism, an appropriate circuit pattern for supplying a drive signal to the heater chip is formed on the control board, and a head drive control circuit including a logic IC (Integrated Circuit), a driver transistor, and the like is formed.

  Each head mechanism is fitted with a bush having a through-hole communicating with the ink liquid flow path formed in the ink liquid flow path member on the control board, and a predetermined ink liquid is supplied from the ink liquid supply unit 6. The ink liquid flow path member is formed with an ink liquid reservoir that faces the nozzle hole and stores the ink liquid at the tip of the ink liquid flow path, and faces the ink liquid reservoir to the surface thereof. A heater chip is attached. Each head mechanism is provided with an ink liquid remaining amount detection mechanism in the ink reservoir, and includes a diaphragm mechanism for applying a supply pressure for supplying the ink liquid into the ink reservoir, or a filter for removing impurities from the ink liquid. Is provided.

  When a drive signal is supplied from the control unit 14 to the control board based on a print instruction, each head mechanism operates a head drive control circuit to supply a drive current to a predetermined heater chip, thereby supplying these heater chips. Causes fever. In each head mechanism, as the heater chip generates heat, the ink liquid is heated in the ink liquid pressurizing space portion in the ink liquid reservoir to generate bubbles, thereby bringing the ink liquid pressurizing space portion into a pressurized state. Each head mechanism pushes out the ink liquid from the nozzle hole as the bubble grows in the ink liquid reservoir, and discharges ink droplets by the repelling pressure of the bubble repelling in the nozzle hole. The head mechanism is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various well-known structures can be adopted. Ink droplets are ejected by, for example, a piezoelectric element instead of the heater chip. It may be.

  In the printer apparatus 1, a head cap member 9 is slidably and detachably combined with a bottom surface portion of a head frame 16. Although not described in detail, the head cap member 9 is formed in a horizontally long tray shape having a rectangular opening portion having an opening shape substantially equal to the bottom surface portion of the head frame 16, and the surface of the nozzle sheet is rubbed and cleaned therein. A head cleaning mechanism having a cleaning roller or a blade member is provided. The head cap member 9 normally closes the head mechanism and is combined with the head frame 16, and moves toward the front side with respect to the head frame 16 based on a print instruction to open the head mechanism. The head cap member 9 is held in a standby position until the end of printing, and is returned to a position where the head mechanism is closed when a predetermined printing operation is completed.

  The head cap member 9 closes the head mechanism at the time of non-printing to protect the head surface and the like on which a large number of precise and fine nozzle holes are formed. In addition, the ink in the ink liquid ejecting portion provided in each nozzle hole Provides the function of preventing the liquid from drying. The head cap member 9 is maintained in a combined state with the head frame 16 even when the head unit 3 is removed from the printer main body 2 during maintenance or the like.

  In the printer apparatus 1, the ink liquid ejected from the nozzle holes may be scattered and adhered to the surface of the nozzle sheet, and the ink liquid may be contaminated by dirt or dust. In the printer apparatus 1, an ink lump is generated by drying or thickening and aggregating the ink liquid attached to the surface of the nozzle sheet. In the printer apparatus 1, foreign matters such as ink lumps are removed from the surface of the nozzle sheet by the head cleaning mechanism provided in the head cap member 9 to prevent the occurrence of non-ejection phenomenon or ejection bending phenomenon of ink liquid due to these foreign substances. To ensure precise printing.

  When the head cap member 9 is moved at the time of printing, the head cleaning mechanism rubs the surface of the nozzle sheet to wipe off foreign substances and the like and drop them to the inside. The head cap member 9 is provided therein with an adsorption mat made of a porous sheet such as a sponge sheet or a non-woven fabric, and foreign substances removed by the head cleaning mechanism are captured by the adsorption mat. The head cap member 9 adsorbs the waste ink liquid ejected from each nozzle hole by the adsorption mat when the ink liquid idling operation is performed. The head cap member 9 adsorbs ink liquid dropped or dropped from each nozzle hole by an adsorption mat. Therefore, the head cap member 9 is provided with an adsorbing sheet in the inside thereof, thereby ensuring a capacity for accumulating foreign matters and the like without increasing the entire depth, and preventing the peripheral portion from being soiled.

  In the printer apparatus 1, the ink supply unit 6 constitutes a casing by the ink liquid cartridge case 18, the partition member 19, and the ink liquid flow path member 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The ink supply unit 6 is loaded with the four ink liquid cartridges 12 described above, and detects the loading state of these ink liquid cartridges 12 by the ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism 15. When the ink supply unit 6 detects that all the ink cartridges 12 are not loaded by the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15, the ink supply unit 6 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 14 so that the printing operation is not performed.

  The ink liquid cartridge case 18 is a member formed in a rectangular shape with a horizontally long rectangular shape using a synthetic resin material, and the partition wall member 19 is assembled in the internal space and the ink liquid flow path member 20 constituting the rear side surface 18a. Are combined. The ink liquid cartridge case 18 has an internal space divided into four upper and lower, left and right space portions by assembling a partition member 19, which will be described in detail later, and each space portion inserts and removes the ink liquid cartridge 12. A loading unit 21 is configured. Each ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21 is loaded with an ink liquid cartridge 12, which will be described in detail later, in the same direction.

  In the ink cartridge case 18, the first space on the upper left side in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a black ink cartridge loading portion 21B for loading the black ink cartridge 12B. In the ink liquid cartridge case 18, the second space part on the lower left side is a magenta ink liquid cartridge loading part 21M for loading the magenta ink liquid cartridge 12M. In the ink liquid cartridge case 18, the third space part on the upper right side is a cyan ink liquid cartridge loading part 21C for loading the cyan ink liquid cartridge 12C. In the ink liquid cartridge case 18, the fourth space part on the lower left side is a yellow ink liquid cartridge loading part 21Y for loading the yellow ink liquid cartridge 12Y. The ink liquid cartridge loading unit is generally referred to as an ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21 unless otherwise specifically described below.

  Of course, the ink cartridge loading unit 21 is not limited to the above-described arrangement. Since the amount of black ink liquid used is larger than the amount of other ink liquid used, the ink liquid cartridge case 18 is formed in a large size by extending only the black ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21B laterally or upward. May be. In this case, since the black ink cartridge 12B is formed with a different external shape from the other ink cartridges 12, the ink cartridge case 18 can be identified and cannot be inserted / removed. A cartridge identification unit 25B described later is not required in the black ink cartridge loading unit 21B.

  In the ink liquid cartridge case 18, a large number of front and rear ribs 22 are integrally projected on the inner surfaces of the ceiling wall and the bottom wall constituting each ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21. The ink liquid cartridge case 18 includes a ceiling portion and a bottom portion of the ink liquid cartridge 12 in which the ribs 22 and a large number of ribs 23 in the front-rear direction formed in the partition member 19 are loaded in the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21. The ink cartridge 12 is held.

  By the way, as will be described later, the outer shape of the ink liquid cartridge 12 is formed to have a flat, substantially deformed octagonal shape having a large central portion, in other words, a slightly flat spindle-shaped cross-sectional shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the ink cartridge case 18 and the partition member 19 have the above-described ribs 22 and 23 having a large height on both sides in the length direction and a low portion in the center portion as shown in FIG. Formed to a height. The ink liquid cartridge case 18 and the partition wall member 19 have an opening shape of the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 having a cross-sectional shape substantially the same as the ink liquid cartridge 12 having a substantially spindle shape as indicated by a chain line in FIG. Configure. Each of the ribs 22 and 23 functions as a holding piece for the ink liquid cartridge 12 and also has an effect of improving the mechanical strength in the thickness direction by reducing the thickness and weight of the ink liquid cartridge case 18 and the partition wall member 19. .

  The ribs 22 and 23 are formed in the ink cartridge case 18 and the partition member 19 at different positions in each ink cartridge loading portion 21 as shown in FIG. As will be described in detail later, the ribs 22 and 23 are formed with ribs 75 and 76, which will be described later, formed on the ink liquid cartridge 12 side only when the predetermined ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded into the predetermined ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21. Are combined to enable the loading operation. Accordingly, the ribs 22 and 23 also function as an identifier for identifying the predetermined ink liquid cartridge 12 with respect to the predetermined ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21 in cooperation with the ribs 75 and 76 on the ink liquid cartridge 12 side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ink cartridge case 18 has ink supply holes 24B, 24M, 24C, and 24Y (hereinafter referred to as “fitting”) corresponding to the ink cartridge loading portions 21 on the side surface 18a. Unless otherwise described, these are collectively referred to as ink supply holes 24.) and cartridge identification portions 25B, 25M, 25C, and 25Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as cartridge identification portions 25 except when individually described). ) And are formed. These portions are actually formed on the main surface of the ink liquid flow path member 20, but are described as being formed in the ink liquid cartridge case 18 for convenience of explanation.

  Each of the ink supply holes 24 penetrates the side surface 18a, and the black ink liquid flow path 26B, the magenta ink liquid flow path 26M, and the cyan ink which are formed in the ink liquid flow path member 20 described later in detail on the back side. The liquid flow path 26C and the yellow ink liquid flow path 26Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as the ink liquid flow path 26 unless otherwise described) are communicated with each other.

  The cartridge identification unit 25 is formed at left and right side portions sandwiching the ink supply hole 24, and is composed of convex portions in which three circular convex portions are arranged in the horizontal direction and connected to each other at the outer peripheral portion. The cartridge identification part 25 is selectively formed in a total of six circular convex parts so that the identification holes 27 made of through holes are in a predetermined arrangement. The cartridge identification unit 25 enables predetermined ink liquid cartridges by allowing each of the ink liquid cartridges 12 to be described later to be engaged with all the identifiers 28 provided in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to the identification holes 27. Only the predetermined ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded in the loading unit 21.

  As described above, the cartridge identification unit 25 is configured such that at least one identification hole 27 is formed in the three circular convex portions formed on the left and right sides of the ink supply hole 24. With this structure, the cartridge identification unit 25 allows the ink liquid cartridge 12 to be loaded in a stable state with a balanced left and right in the ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21. In addition, the cartridge identification unit 25 also has the ink liquid cartridge 12 in a stable state in the ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21 by a convex part in which three circular convex parts are provided on the left and right sides of the ink supply hole part 24. To be retained.

  The cartridge identification unit 25 has an identification hole 27 in each ink cartridge loading unit 21 when the circular convex part in which the identification hole 27 is formed is “1” and the circular convex part in which the identification hole 27 is not formed is “0”. Each is uniquely patterned and formed. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, four identification holes 27 are formed in (0, 0, 1) and (1, 1, 1) in the cartridge identification unit 25B formed in the black ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21B. Arranged and formed. The cartridge identification portion 25M formed in the magenta ink cartridge loading portion 21M is formed with four identification holes 27 arranged in (0, 1, 0) and (1, 1, 1). The cartridge identification unit 25C formed in the cyan ink cartridge loading unit 21C is formed with four identification holes 27 arranged in (0, 1, 1) and (0, 1, 1). The cartridge identification portion 25Y formed in the yellow ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21Y has four identification holes 27 arranged in (0, 1, 1) and (1, 0, 1).

  2 and 5, the cartridge case 18 has holding pieces 48B and 48M for holding the ink cartridge 12 loaded in the ink cartridge loading portion 21 on the left and right side walls facing the partition wall member 19, as shown in FIGS. , 48C, 48Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as holding pieces 48). The holding piece 48 is a convex piece that is formed by a substantially U-shaped cutout formed on the side wall of the cartridge case 18 and can be elastically displaced in the thickness direction, and an engagement hole is formed at each tip. . As will be described later, the engagement pin 49 formed on the ink liquid cartridge 12 side is relatively engaged with the holding piece 48 in a state where the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded to a predetermined position in the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21. .

  The partition wall member 19 is made of a synthetic resin material that is the same material as the cartridge case 18, and has a cylindrical base portion 29 having a substantially flat deformed octagonal cross section as shown in FIG. 2, and top and bottom surfaces of the cylindrical base portion 29. The vertical partition walls 30a and 30b are formed integrally with each other, and the horizontal partition walls 30c and 30d are integrally formed from both side edges of the cylindrical base 29. In the partition wall member 19, the cylindrical base portion 29 and each partition wall portion 30 are formed with a depth dimension equivalent to the depth dimension of the cartridge case 18. The partition wall member 19 is assembled inside the ink liquid cartridge case 18 as described above, whereby the cylindrical base portion 29 is positioned at the center of the internal space, and each partition wall portion 30 is located inside the ink liquid cartridge case 18. Are divided into the four ink cartridge loading sections 21 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the partition wall member 19 has ribs 22a and 22b formed so that the upper end of the vertical partition wall portion 30a and the lower end of the vertical partition wall portion 30b are located at the central portion of the ink liquid cartridge case 18, respectively. It is assembled so as to fit between them. The partition wall member 19 is integrally formed with the ribs 23 in the depth direction described above at different heights on the upper and lower surfaces of the horizontal partition wall portions 30c and 30d.

  As described above, the partition wall member 19 has a cylindrical base portion 29 having a flat and substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape, and is located in the central portion that partitions the four ink liquid cartridge loading portions 21 in the ink liquid cartridge case 18. The outer peripheral wall constitutes an inner corner portion of each ink liquid cartridge loading section 21 and holds the outer peripheral portion on the center side of the ink liquid cartridge 12. That is, the cylindrical base portion 29 holds the outer peripheral portion of the ink liquid cartridge 12 in cooperation with the rib 22 on the ink liquid cartridge case 18 side. The cylindrical base 29 is formed with a guide hole 31 penetrating in the depth direction (the direction in which the ink liquid cartridge 12 is attached / detached), and an ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 described later is assembled in the guide hole 31. It is done.

  Accordingly, the ink liquid supply unit 6 has a center that becomes a dead space because each ink liquid cartridge 12 is formed in a substantially spindle shape at the intersection of the partition wall portions 30 of the partition wall member 19 that partitions each ink liquid cartridge loading section 21. The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 is arranged at the site. With this configuration, the ink liquid supply unit 6 is made space efficient, and the structure of the ink liquid cartridge 12 in the ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21 is detected so as to simplify the structure as will be described later. To do.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 includes a detection shaft member 32 and a shaft biasing coil spring 33. The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 includes four detection cam members 34B, 34M, 34C, and 34Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as the detection cam member 34 unless otherwise described), and four cam biases. Coil springs 35B, 35M, 35C, and 35Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as cam biasing coil springs 35 unless otherwise described). The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 includes an optical switch 36.

  The detection shaft member 32 is slidably assembled in a guide hole 31 formed in the cylindrical base portion 29 of the partition wall member 19, and includes a cylindrical shaft member having substantially the same length as the depth dimension of the cylindrical base portion 29. . The detection shaft member 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape in order to reduce the weight, but is not limited to this structure and may be, for example, a rod-shaped body. As shown in FIG. 2, the detection shaft member 32 has four cam grooves 37Y, 37C, 37M, and 37B (which will be individually described below) with different positions in the axial direction and different positions around the circumference. Except for the case, it is generically referred to as a cam groove 37). Each cam groove 37 is formed such that the front cam surface is an inclined surface that gradually inclines toward the rear side, and the rear cam surface is a vertical surface.

  As shown in FIG. 2, four cam grooves 37C, 37Y, 37B, and 37M are formed on the detection shaft member 32 in this order from the front side. The cam groove 37C is formed to open downward, and a detection cam member 34C that detects the cyan ink liquid cartridge 12C is relatively engaged therewith. The cam groove 37Y is formed to open to the rear side and the upper side of the cam groove 37C, and a detection cam member 34Y that detects the yellow ink liquid cartridge 12Y is relatively engaged therewith. The cam groove 37B is formed to open to the rear side and the upper side of the cam groove 37Y, and a detection cam member 34B that detects the black ink liquid cartridge 12B is relatively engaged therewith. The cam groove 37M is formed to open to the rear side and the upper side of the cam groove 37B, and a detection cam member 34M that detects the magenta ink liquid cartridge 12M is relatively engaged therewith. Needless to say, the detection shaft member 32 is not limited to the configuration in which the shape and position of each cam groove 37 are applied.

  On the detection shaft member 32, a plate-like switch operating portion 38 is integrally projected at the rear end portion. A shaft urging coil spring 33 is combined with the detection shaft member 32 in a compressed state at the front end, and the elastic force of the shaft urging coil spring 33 moves in the depth direction (rightward in FIGS. 5 and 6). It is energized. In the state where the ink cartridge 12 is not loaded in the ink cartridge loading section 21, the detection shaft member 32 has the detection cam member 34 relatively engaged with each cam groove 37 as shown in FIGS. Thus, the shaft biasing coil spring 33 is held at a predetermined position against the elastic force.

  The detection shaft member 32 is held by the detection cam member 34 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 when the ink liquid cartridges 12 are loaded in all the ink liquid cartridge loading portions 21 as will be described in detail later. Is released. In this state, the detection shaft member 32 slides in the depth direction by the elastic force of the shaft biasing coil spring 33. The detection shaft member 32 causes the switch operating unit 38 to operate the optical switch 36 by this sliding operation so that a detection signal is output.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the detection cam member 34 includes a cam portion 39 having an inclined cam surface 39a and an operating portion 40 that protrudes integrally from the cam portion 39 in an arm shape. Each is assembled in a guide hole 31 formed in the cylindrical base portion 29 of the partition wall member 19. The detection cam member 34 has a cam portion 39 that passes through a cam hole 31 a formed in the cylindrical base portion 29 of the partition wall member 19, and protrudes into each ink cartridge mounting portion 21 facing the inclined cam surface 39 a toward the front side. Is done.

  3 and 7, the detection cam member 34 includes a detection cam member 34B for detecting the black ink liquid cartridge 12B and a detection cam member 34C for detecting the cyan ink liquid cartridge 12C with respect to the partition wall member 19. The respective cam portions 39 are projected from the upper surface of the cylindrical base portion 29 into the ink liquid cartridge loading portions 21B and 21C. With respect to the partition member 19, the detection cam member 34 includes a detection cam member 34Y for detecting the yellow ink liquid cartridge 12Y and a detection cam member 34M for detecting the magenta ink liquid cartridge 12M. Are protruded into the ink cartridge loading portions 21Y and 21M from the bottom surface.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the detection cam member 34 protrudes into the ink cartridge mounting portion 21 with which the cam portion 39 opposes due to the elastic force of the cam biasing coil spring 35, and the operating portion 40 has the detection shaft member 32. The cam grooves 37 are engaged. The cam biasing coil spring 35 acts on the detection shaft member 32 with an elastic force larger than that of the shaft biasing coil spring 33 as a whole. The detection cam member 34 engages the cam groove 37 of the detection shaft member 32 with the operating portion 40, thereby causing the detection shaft member 32 to resist the elastic force of the shaft biasing coil spring 33 and guide the hole in the cylindrical base 29. The state stored in 31 is held.

  The cam biasing coil spring 35 is not limited to a coil spring, and may be a leaf spring or a torsion spring, for example. Further, the cam biasing coil spring 35 is provided for each detection cam member 34. However, one cam bias coil spring 35 is configured by adopting a structure in which an elastic force is applied to each detection cam member 34 via an appropriate lever mechanism. You may make it do.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the ink cartridge 12 is loaded in the ink cartridge loading portion 21, the detection cam member 34 faces the cam portion 39 against the elastic force of the cam biasing coil spring 35. The operation of moving out from the cam groove 37 is performed while the operation unit 40 is withdrawn from the ink cartridge loading unit 21. The detection cam member 34 releases the holding state of the detection shaft member 32 by this retraction operation, and allows the detection shaft member 32 to slide in the guide hole 31 by the elastic force of the shaft biasing coil spring 33.

  When the ink cartridge 12 is taken out from the ink cartridge loading unit 21, the detection cam member 34 protrudes into the ink cartridge loading unit 21 to which the cam unit 39 faces by the elastic force of the cam biasing coil spring 35. The operating portion 40 also performs an operation of engaging with the cam groove 37. The detection cam member 34 is engaged with the operating portion 40 while pressing the inclined cam surface of the cam groove 37, thereby moving the detection shaft member 32 to the initial position against the elastic force of the shaft biasing coil spring 33. And move.

  Although the detection cam member 34 is formed integrally with the cam portion 39 and the operation portion 40 as described above, the detection cam member 34 may be constituted by a cam member, an operation member, and a hinge mechanism that combines these in a freely rotatable manner. Good. When the cam member is pressed by the ink liquid cartridge 12, the detection cam member rotates to release the engagement state with the cam groove 37. Such a detection cam member can reduce the stroke amount of the cam member operated by the ink liquid cartridge 12 by making the operation member a rotation type. Further, the detection cam member 34 may be formed integrally with the cam portion 39 or the operating portion 40 with a thin elastic piece portion having a function equivalent to that of the cam biasing coil spring 35. Furthermore, the detection cam member 34 may comprise the above-described hinge mechanism by a thin hinge portion.

  The optical switch 36 is disposed on the back surface of the ink liquid flow path member 20 described later so as to face the guide hole 31 via the wiring board 41. Although not described in detail, the optical switch 36 includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element (not shown) sandwiching a slit 42 whose axis coincides with the guide hole 31 as shown in FIGS. On the wiring board 41, an appropriate pattern for mounting the optical switch 36 is formed, and a connector 43 is mounted. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of lead wires 44 are connected to the connector 43 and pulled out, and are guided through the lead guide groove 45 formed in the ink liquid flow path member 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the lead wire 44 is connected to the control unit 14 and supplies an output signal from the optical switch 36.

  The ink liquid supply unit 6 is a member in which the ink liquid flow path member 20 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate having an outer dimension slightly larger than the side surface 18a and a predetermined thickness by the same synthetic resin material as the ink liquid cartridge case 18. And is assembled to the ink cartridge case 18 to form the side surface 18a. As shown in FIG. 4, the ink liquid flow path member 20 is formed with a through hole 46 located on the same axis as the guide hole 31 at the center on the back side, and is formed with the through hole 46 interposed therebetween (not shown). The wiring board 41 is fixed on the stud. The mounted optical switch 36 is fixed to the ink liquid flow path member 20 with the detection portion (slit) facing the through hole 46.

  The ink liquid flow path member 20 is formed with a lead guide groove 45 that guides the lead wire 44 described above by a parallel guide wall that is formed with one end facing the wiring board 41 and the other end being guided laterally. . The ink liquid flow path member 20 surrounds the fixed wiring substrate 41 and has one end opposed to each of the ink liquid cartridge loading portions 21 facing the other and the other end sideward facing the lead-out portion of the lead guide groove 45. An ink liquid flow path 26 constituted by parallel guide walls formed by being guided is formed. Note that a sheet material (not shown) that closes the lead guide groove 45 and the ink liquid flow path 26 is bonded to the ink liquid flow path member 20 over the entire surface in a state where the wiring board 41 is mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ink liquid flow path 26 is formed in the order of a cyan ink liquid flow path 26C, a black ink liquid flow path 26B, a magenta ink liquid flow path 26M, and a yellow ink liquid flow path 26Y. . The cyan ink liquid channel 26C communicates with an ink supply hole 24C formed in the cyan ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21C at one end beyond the substrate fixing unit, and substantially horizontally to one end of the ink liquid channel member 20. Led. The black ink liquid flow path 26B is communicated with one end of the ink liquid flow path member 20 substantially horizontally through an ink supply hole 24B formed in the black ink liquid cartridge loading section 21B at one end. The magenta ink liquid flow path 26M is substantially the same length as the black ink liquid flow path 26B, and an ink supply hole section 24M formed in the magenta ink liquid cartridge loading section 21M is communicated with one end so that the ink liquid flow path member 20 is substantially horizontal. It is led to one side edge part. The yellow ink liquid flow path 26Y is substantially the same length as the cyan ink liquid flow path 26C, and an ink supply hole portion 24Y formed in the yellow ink liquid cartridge loading section 21Y is communicated with one end so that the ink liquid flow path member 20 is substantially horizontal. It is led to one side edge part.

  The ink liquid flow path member 20 is formed with an ink supply nozzle 47 to which a vibrate (not shown) for supplying the ink liquid to the head unit 3 described above is coupled at one end portion where each ink liquid flow path 26 is guided. ing. The ink supply nozzle 47 includes a cyan ink supply nozzle 47C, a black ink supply nozzle 47B, a magenta ink supply nozzle 47M, and a yellow ink supply nozzle 47Y that are formed in order from the top.

  The ink supply unit 6 is configured by combining the ink liquid cartridge case 18, the partition wall member 19, and the ink liquid flow path member 20 as described above, but is not limited to this configuration. Of course not. For example, the ink supply unit 6 integrally forms the corresponding portions of the horizontal partition portions 30c and 30d of the partition wall member 19 in the ink liquid cartridge case 18 and integrally forms the corresponding portion of the ink liquid flow path member 20. Also good. The ink supply unit 6 is configured by a member in which the vertical partition wall portions 30 a and 30 b are integrally formed on the cylindrical base portion 29 so that the partition wall member 19 is positioned and assembled with respect to the ink liquid cartridge case 18. In addition, the ink supply unit 6 may be formed by integrally forming a corresponding portion of the cylindrical base portion 29 in the ink liquid cartridge case 18 and assembling the unitized ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 to this portion. The ink supply unit 6 may be combined with a lid for preventing intrusion of dust or the like on the front surface of the ink liquid cartridge case 18 as necessary.

  In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 configured as described above, the detection cam member 34 is cam biased coil spring 35 in a state where the ink cartridge 12 is not loaded in the ink cartridge loading unit 21 as described above. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the cam portion 39 protrudes into the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 and the operating portion 40 is engaged with the cam groove 37 of the detection shaft member 32. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15, the detection shaft member 32 is accommodated in the guide hole 31 of the cylindrical base portion 29 formed in the partition wall member 19 against the elastic force of the shaft biasing coil spring 33, and the switch operating portion. 38 turns off the optical switch 36.

  For example, when the black ink liquid cartridge 12B is loaded only in the black ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21B, the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 detects the inclined cam surface 39a of the cam portion 39 by the black ink liquid cartridge 12B. Is pressed. In the detection cam member 34B, the cam portion 39B is retracted into the guide hole 31 against the elastic force of the cam biasing coil spring 35, and the operating portion 40B is retracted from the cam groove 37B to hold the detection shaft member 32. Is released.

  However, since the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 has not released the holding state of the detection shaft member 32 by the other detection cam members 34, the detection shaft member 32 is held in the initial state and the optical switch 36 is turned off. Leave in state. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15, the holding state of the detection shaft member 32 by each detection cam member 34 is released by loading the ink cartridge 12 into all the ink cartridge loading portions 21. In the ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism 15, the detection shaft member 32 slides in the guide hole 31 by the elastic force of the shaft biasing coil spring 33, and the switch operating portion 38 moves through the through hole 46 of the ink liquid flow path member 20. The optical switch 36 is turned on by penetrating and entering the slit 42.

  In the printer apparatus 1, as described above, the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 detects the state in which the ink cartridges 12 are loaded in all the ink cartridge loading sections 21, and controls the detection signals as shown in FIG. To the unit 14. Based on this detection signal, the printer apparatus 1 outputs a control signal for printing permission from the control unit 14 to the head unit 3 so that a predetermined printing operation is performed. The printer device 1 can perform a printing operation only when the ink liquid cartridges 12 are loaded in all the ink liquid cartridge loading units 21.

  The printer apparatus 1 divides the interior of the ink liquid cartridge case 18 into four ink liquid cartridge loading portions 21 and loads the ink liquid cartridge described above on the cylindrical base portion 29 of the partition wall member 19 that forms an intersecting portion that becomes a dead space. A detection mechanism 15 is provided. Therefore, the printer device 1 can detect the loading state of the ink cartridge 12 with respect to each ink cartridge loading unit 21 by using one optical switch 36, thereby reducing the number of parts and reducing the cost and space. The size can be reduced by improving the efficiency and simplifying the wiring structure of the lead wires.

  In the printer apparatus 1, the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 is configured to operate the optical switch 36 by the detection shaft member 32 that slides in the guide hole 31 formed in the cylindrical base portion 29 of the partition wall member 19. However, it is not limited to such a structure. The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 50 shown in FIG. 9 detects the ink cartridge 12 inserted into and removed from each ink cartridge loading unit 21, and controls the sliding operation by the detection cam member 34. However, the detection shaft member 32 opens and closes the mechanical switch 51 by the switch operating unit 8 and outputs a detection signal.

  In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 50, a mechanical switch 51 including a pair of elastic contact pieces is disposed on the axis of the detection shaft member 32, for example. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 50, the operating portion 40 of the detection cam member 34 is relatively engaged with the cam groove 37 of the detection shaft member 32 when the ink cartridge 12 is not loaded in each ink cartridge loading portion 21. Then, the detection shaft member 32 is at the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. 9, and the mechanical switch 51 is opened.

  When the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded in each ink liquid cartridge loading section 21, the ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism 50 causes the detection cam member 34 to engage the operating portion 40 and the cam groove 37 as described above. By being released, the detection shaft member 32 slides to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 9 by the elastic force of the shaft biasing coil spring 33. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 50, the detection shaft member 32 causes the switch operating unit 38 to close the mechanical switch 51 to output a detection signal.

  The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 50 operates such that when the ink cartridge 12 is taken out from the ink cartridge loading unit 21, the detection cam member 34 returns to the initial position by the elastic force of the cam biasing coil spring 35 as described above. I do. The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 50 resists the elastic force of the shaft urging coil spring 33 by performing the return operation while the detection cam member 34 presses the inclined cam surface 39a of the cam groove 37 by the operating portion 40. Thus, the detection shaft member 32 is returned to the initial position. Accordingly, the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 50 releases the closed state of the mechanical switch 51 by the detection shaft member 32.

  In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanisms 15 and 50 described above, the switching operations of the switches 36 and 51 are performed by the detection shaft member 32 that performs the sliding operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55 shown in FIG. 10 is provided with a cylindrical detection cylinder shaft member 56 fixed thereto, and a light emitting element 57, a light receiving element 58, and opposite ends of the detection cylinder shaft member 56. Is placed. The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55 is configured as a detection light hole 59 in which the detection cylinder shaft member 56 guides the detection light emitted from the light emitting element 57 in the shaft hole penetrating both ends and causes the light receiving element 58 to receive the detection light. To do.

  In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55, a slit-like cam groove 60 that opens to the detection light hole 59 is formed in the detection cylinder shaft member 56. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55, as with the detection cam member 34 described above, the cam portion is given a habit of protruding into each ink cartridge loading portion 21 by a cam biasing spring (not shown), and a thin plate-like light shielding. The cam projection 62 includes a detection cam member 61 to which engagement behavior with the cam groove 60 is given. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55, the detection cam member 61 closes a part of the detection light hole 59 by a light shielding cam convex portion 62 that engages in the cam groove 60 as shown in FIG.

  In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55, when the ink cartridge 12 is not loaded in each ink cartridge loading portion 21, the light shielding cam convex portion 62 of the detection cam member 61 is detected by the elastic force of the cam biasing spring. The detection light hole 59 is closed by relative engagement with the cam groove 60 of the shaft member 56. Therefore, the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55 is in a state where the detection light emitted from the light emitting element 57 is not received by the light receiving element 58 because it is shielded by the light shielding cam projection 62 in the detection light hole 59.

  The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55 operates such that when the ink cartridge 12 is loaded in each ink cartridge loading portion 21, the detection cam member 61 is driven and the light-shielding convex portion 62 is retracted from the cam groove 60. Is called. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55, the light shielding state by the detection light hole 59 by the light shielding cam convex portion 62 is released, the detection light emitted from the light emitting element 57 is received by the light receiving element 58, and a detection signal is output.

  The ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55 performs an operation of returning the detection cam member 61 to the initial position by the elastic force of the cam biasing coil spring when the ink cartridge 12 is taken out from the ink cartridge loading unit 21. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55, the detection cam member 61 closes the detection light hole 59 with the light shielding cam projection 62, so that the detection light emitted from the light emitting element 57 is not received by the light receiving element 58.

  In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55, the shaft biasing coil spring 33 is not required by including the fixed detection cylinder shaft member 56, and the light shielding cam convex portion 62 of the detection cam member 61 can be formed thin. It becomes possible. In the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 55, the cam biasing coil spring provided corresponding to each detection cam member 61 can be made smaller and less elastic because the shaft biasing coil spring is not required. is there.

  A predetermined ink liquid cartridge 12 is inserted into and removed from a predetermined ink liquid cartridge loading section 21 in the ink liquid supply unit 6, and the ink liquid is supplied to the head unit 3 through the ink liquid flow path member 20. As described above, the ink liquid cartridge 12 includes a black ink liquid cartridge 12B that supplies black ink liquid, a magenta ink liquid cartridge 12M that supplies magenta ink liquid, a cyan ink liquid cartridge 12C that supplies cyan ink liquid, and the like. A yellow ink liquid cartridge 12Y for supplying yellow ink liquid is used. All the ink liquid cartridges 12 have the same outer shape, and the external identification is performed by the identification structure to be described later, and the mechanical and electrical identification is performed when the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded into the corresponding ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21. Further, since each ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded in the ink liquid cartridge loading section 21 in the same direction, the upper / lower determination is performed in cooperation with the ink liquid cartridge case 18.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the ink liquid cartridge 12 includes a cartridge case 65 formed of a synthetic resin such as a polyethylene resin, a urethane resin, or a polystyrene resin, and an ink liquid pack body 66 loaded in the cartridge case 65. Composed. The ink liquid cartridge 12 includes an ink pack 67 in which an ink liquid pack body 66 encloses an ink liquid in a pack container to be described later, an ink liquid supply hole member 68 attached to the ink pack 67, and the ink liquid supply hole member 68. Is fitted through a rubber packing 69, and the above-described identifier 28 is formed integrally with a tank cap member 70 that is engaged with the cartridge identification portion 25 of the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21.

  The cartridge case 65 is integrally formed via a thin connecting hinge portion 73 formed along one side edge in the width direction where the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 having substantially the same outer dimensions are opposed to each other. In the cartridge case 65, a lower case 71 and an upper case 72 are each formed in a rectangular dish shape having a substantially arc-shaped cross section, and the connecting hinge portion 73 is folded and overlapped as shown in FIG. A loading space portion for the ink liquid pack body 66 is formed inside. As shown in FIG. 12, the cartridge case 65 is protruded in a state in which the tank cap member 70 integrated with the ink pack 67 is fixed to one side surface in the depth direction as shown in FIG. 12 is configured.

  The cartridge case 65 causes the ink liquid cartridge 12 to be loaded into the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 as will be described later with the tank cap member 70 thus projected as the loading side. A tank cap member 70 is fixed to the cartridge case 65 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 so that the ink cartridge 12 can be easily carried and taken out from the ink cartridge loading portion 21. A foldable handle portion 74 is integrally formed on the front side surface facing the loading surface.

  By the way, since the cartridge case 65 forms the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 in substantially the same shape and is loaded in the same direction with respect to the respective ink cartridge loading portions 21, the ink cartridge 12 is turned upside down. There is a possibility of loading in the state. The ink liquid cartridge 12 causes problems such as breakage of the ink liquid cartridge case 18 and the partition member 19 due to an unreasonable erroneous loading operation. Further, in the ink liquid cartridge 12, the ink supply hole 24 on the ink liquid cartridge case 18 side and the axis line of the connecting cylinder part 100 may be misaligned, and ink supply failure may occur. Therefore, the ink cartridge 12 has a structure for preventing erroneous loading in the cartridge case 65.

  The erroneous loading prevention structure is formed on the outer side surfaces of the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 of the cartridge case 65 that perform the discrimination described later in cooperation with the rib 22 on the ink cartridge case 18 side and the rib 23 on the partition wall member 19 side. A plurality of ribs 75 and 76 in the depth direction are integrally formed. As shown in detail in FIGS. 11 and 14, the cartridge case 65 is formed with four ribs 75 on the outer surface of the lower case 71 and four ribs 76 on the outer surface of the upper case 72. To do. The cartridge case 65 allows the upper and lower portions to be identified visually or in a gripped state by forming the rib 75 of the lower case 71 and the rib 76 of the upper case 72 at different positions. The cartridge case 65 may be formed with ribs 75 and 76 in the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 in different numbers.

  When the ink liquid cartridge 12 is discriminated up and down and loaded into the ink liquid cartridge loading section 21, the ribs 75 and 76 are formed on the opposing ribs 22 and 23 formed in the ink liquid cartridge case 18 and the partition wall member 19. On the other hand, they are in contact with each other. Therefore, the ink liquid cartridge 12 can be loaded without causing an inclination in the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 by the sliding operation along the opposing ribs 22 and 23 of the ribs 75 and 76, and the loading guide structure Is configured. In addition, the ribs 75 and 76 improve the mechanical strength of the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 of the cartridge case 65 and can also be reduced in thickness.

  The cartridge case 65 may be formed with a plurality of guide grooves in the depth direction on the outer surfaces of the lower case 71 and the upper case 72, for example, instead of the ribs 75 and 76. The cartridge case 65 is formed with these guide grooves facing the ribs 22 and 23 formed in the ink cartridge case 18 and the partition member 19. The ink liquid supply unit 65 forms the ribs 22 and 23 on the ink liquid cartridge case 18 and the partition member 19 side at different positions for each ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 and also applies to the ink liquid cartridge 12 in the same manner. By forming a guide groove having a different position for each color, it is possible to configure an erroneous loading prevention structure for preventing erroneous loading of the ink cartridges 12 of different colors.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a sticker label 77 indicating the color, capacity, manufacturing information, handling information, and other specifications of the ink liquid is attached to the ink liquid cartridge 12 on the outer periphery of the cartridge case 65. The ink liquid cartridge 12 enables color identification by making the seal label 77 color-coded according to the ink liquid. The ink liquid cartridge 12 forms the cartridge case 65 by bending the connecting hinge portion 73 and overlapping the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 as will be described later. The seal label 77 is connected to the connecting hinge portion as shown in FIG. Attached across the outer peripheral portions of the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 facing 73, also functions as a coupling member.

  The seal label 77 has a size that covers and joins at least the abutting portion facing the connecting hinge 73 with respect to the lower case 71 and the upper case 72. Of course, the label body may be affixed so as to wrap around the entire circumference in a state in which 72 is overlapped. As shown in FIG. 12, the ink liquid cartridge 12 has an identifier 28 formed on the tank cap member 70 and ruptured in accordance with the color of the ink liquid at a side edge portion of the seal label 77 facing the tank cap member 70. By providing the guide mark 78 to indicate, the break process of the identifier 28 is surely performed.

  The cartridge case 65 maintains the loaded state without moving the ink pack body 66 inside the loading space portion formed by superposing the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 even if vibration or the like is applied. The cartridge case 65 is formed by superposing the lower case 71 and the upper case 72, and as described above, the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 having a substantially spindle shape constituted by the ribs 22 and 23 of the ink liquid cartridge case 18 and the partition wall member 19. Is substantially the same spindle-shaped outer shape. The cartridge case 65 needs to have a substantially spindle shape when the cartridge case 65 is attached to or detached from the ink cartridge case that does not include the ink cartridge loading detection mechanism 15 shared by the ink cartridge loading units 21 described above. It is sufficient that a substantially spindle-shaped loading space is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the lower case 71 has a substantially arcuate cross section with a deep central region and a shallower width toward both sides. The lower case 71 constitutes a holding region that holds the outer peripheral portion of the ink pack 67 across the entire circumference in cooperation with the outer peripheral portion of the upper case 72 as described later in the inner peripheral portion along the outer peripheral wall. As shown in FIG. 15, the lower case 71 is formed with a pair of fitting portions 79 having fitting holes 79 a that are spaced apart in the depth direction on the inner surface of the side edge portion facing the connecting hinge portion 73. As will be described later, the fitting portion 79 constitutes a portion that maintains the butted state of the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 that are superimposed on the side edge portion side. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, each fitting portion 79 has a corresponding portion opened on the side surface of the lower case 71, and is subjected to a welding process through the opening 79b.

  The lower case 71 is provided with a plurality of first holding ribs 80 positioned between the fitting portions 79, and the first holding ribs 80 are also provided on the inner surface of the side edge portion on the connection hinge portion 73 side. A second holding rib 81 is erected so as to face each other. As shown in FIG. 11, the first holding rib 80 and the second holding rib 81 are chamfered so that the opposite side edges are gradually inclined inward, and in combination with the upper case 72 as will be described later. A holding piece that sandwiches and holds the outer periphery of the pack 67 is configured.

  In the lower case 71, an ink liquid supply hole member 68 of an ink liquid pack body 66 loaded in the cartridge case 65 is positioned outwardly on the one side wall 71a in the depth direction and positioned in the center in the width direction. An arcuate guide recess 82 is formed so as to project to the left. In the lower case 71, a first positioning fitting convex portion 83A and a second positioning fitting convex portion 83B are integrally formed on the outer surface of the side wall 71a so as to be located on both sides in the width direction. These positioning convex portions 83 are pin-shaped convex portions having different shaft diameters, and the tank cap member 70 of the ink liquid pack body 66 is positioned and combined as will be described later.

  In the lower case 71, an engaging convex portion 84 is formed integrally with a front side wall 71b opposite to the side wall 71a so as to be positioned at a substantially central portion of the outer surface. The engaging convex portion 84 is formed to face a handle portion 74 described later formed on the upper case 72 side, and the folded state is maintained by engaging the handle portion 74 in a folded state.

  Engagement pins 49 and 49 are integrally formed on the lower case 71 so as to be located on the side wall 71b and on both side surfaces. These engagement pins 49 are formed in the engagement holes of the holding pieces 48 formed on the ink liquid cartridge case 18 side when the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded to the predetermined position in the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 as described above. Relative engagement.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the upper case 72 has a substantially arcuate cross section with a deep central region and a shallow depth toward both sides. The upper case 72 also forms a holding region in which the inner peripheral portion along the outer peripheral wall cooperates with the outer peripheral portion of the upper case 72 to sandwich and hold the outer peripheral portion of the ink pack 67 over the entire periphery. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, the upper case 72 has a pair of inner surfaces of side edges facing the connecting hinge 73, facing the above-described fitting part 79 on the lower case 71 and spaced apart in the depth direction. The fitting pin 85 is formed. In the state where the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 are overlapped, the fitting pin 85 is fitted into the fitting hole 79a of the opposite fitting portion 79, and the lower case 71 and the upper case on the side edge side. 72 is maintained. The fitting pin 85 is subjected to a welding process at a tip portion protruding from the fitting hole 79a through an opening 79b formed on the lower case 71 side.

  A plurality of first holding ribs 86 are also provided on the upper case 72 so as to be positioned between the fitting pins 85, and these first holding ribs 86 are also provided on the inner surface of the side edge on the connecting hinge portion 73 side. A second holding rib 87 is erected facing each other. As shown in FIG. 11, the first holding rib 86 and the second holding rib 87 are also chamfered so that the opposite side edges gradually incline inward. The first holding rib 86 and the second holding rib 87 are the first holding rib 80 and the second holding rib facing each other on the lower case 71 side in a state where the upper case 72 is superimposed on the lower case 71 as will be described later. Retaining pieces that are respectively abutted with the ribs 81 and sandwich the outer peripheral portion of the ink pack 67 are configured.

  Also in the upper case 72, an arcuate guide recess 88 is formed on the one side wall 72a in the depth direction so as to be positioned at the center in the width direction. The guide recess 88 is abutted against the above-described guide recess 82 on the lower case 71 side in a state where the upper case 72 is overlapped with the lower case 71, and the ink liquid supply hole member 68 of the ink liquid pack body 66 is moved outward. A circular guide hole is formed to project.

  In the upper case 72, a handle portion 74 is formed integrally with a front side wall 72b opposite to the side wall 72a so as to be positioned at a substantially central portion of the outer surface. The handle portion 74 is made of a substantially U-shaped member that protrudes integrally from the side wall 72b through thin-walled hinge portions 89 at both ends. The handle portion 74 is folded along the side wall 72b via the hinge portion 89 in a state where the upper case 72 is overlapped with the lower case 71, and as shown in FIG. To be held in this state. Accordingly, the handle portion 74 does not protrude from the cartridge case 65 when it is unnecessary.

  The handle portion 74 can be easily carried by releasing the engagement state with the engagement convex portion 84 and carrying out the unfolding operation via the hinge portion 89 when carrying the ink liquid cartridge 12. . The handle portion 74 can be easily taken out by the unfolding operation via the hinge portion 89 even when the ink cartridge 12 is taken out from the ink cartridge loading portion 21. The handle portion 74 is not limited to the above-described substantially U-shaped shape, and may be, for example, a substantially L-shaped portion integrally formed with the upper case 72, a box-like shape, a step-like shape, or the like. .

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the ink cartridge 12 has a pair of operating cam portions 90B and 90C integrally formed on the outer surface of the lower case 71, and a pair of operating cam portions 90M on the outer surface of the upper case 72. , 90Y are integrally formed. When the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded into the ink liquid cartridge loading section 21 by the operation cam sections 90 and 91, the above-described pressing operation of the detection cam member 34 is surely performed and the loaded state is maintained.

  As described above, the ink cartridges 12 are divided by the partition member 19 and arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the respective color ink cartridge loading portions in which the detection cam members 34 protrude at different positions in the depth direction. 21 is loaded. As shown in FIG. 2, each ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded in the ink liquid cartridge loading section 21 facing the lower case 71 as the lower side and the side surface assembled with a tank cap member 70 described later as the loading side. Therefore, each ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded into a predetermined ink liquid cartridge loading section 21 with the engagement position with respect to each detection cam member 34 being different for each color.

  When the black ink liquid cartridge 12B is loaded into the black ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21B, the black ink liquid cartridge 12B engages with the detection cam member 34B on the bottom surface of the lower case 71 facing the connecting hinge portion 73. When the magenta ink liquid cartridge 12M is loaded into the magenta ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21M, it engages with the detection cam member 34M on the upper surface of the upper case 72 facing the connecting hinge portion 73. When the cyan ink liquid cartridge 12C is loaded in the cyan ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21C, it engages with the detection cam member 34C on the bottom surface of the lower case 71 on the connecting hinge portion 73 side. When the yellow ink liquid cartridge 12Y is loaded into the yellow ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21Y, the upper surface of the connection hinge portion 73 of the upper case 72 is engaged with the detection cam member 34Y.

  As described above, since the cartridge case 65 is used in common for each color, the ink liquid cartridge 12 corresponds to the detection cam member 34 of each ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 to the lower case 71 and the upper case 72. In addition, a total of four operating cam portions 90 and 91 are previously formed in common at different positions. As shown in FIG. 14, the lower case 71 is formed with an engaging convex portion 90 </ b> C located on the connecting hinge portion 73 side, and an operating smooth portion 90 </ b> B located on the opposite side. The operating cam portion 90B is formed on the rear side with respect to the operating cam portion 90Y. In the upper case 72, an operating cam portion 90Y is formed on the connecting hinge portion 73 side, and an operating cam portion 90M is formed on the opposite side. The working cam portion 90M is formed on the rear side with respect to the working cam portion 90Y and the working cam portion 90B.

  When the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded in the ink liquid cartridge loading section 21, the engagement convex portion 90 abuts against the detection cam member 34 and presses it to resist the elastic force of the coil spring 35. Exit from part 21.

  As will be described later, the cartridge case 65 is loaded with the ink pack body 66 in the internal space of the lower case 71 by fitting the ink liquid supply member 68 into the guide recess 82 and facing the tank cap member 70 outward. . In this state, the cartridge case 65 has the upper case 72 overlapped by bending the connecting hinge portion 73 with respect to the lower case 71. In the cartridge case 65, as described above, the guide recess 82 on the lower case 71 side and the guide recess 88 on the upper case 72 side together form a guide hole that pulls the tank cap member 70 outward. The cartridge case 65 is in a state in which the tank cap member 70 is integrally combined with the side surface 71a of the lower case 71 and the side surface 72a of the upper case 72 as shown in FIG.

  In the cartridge case 65, the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 are abutted against each other at the side surface facing the connecting hinge 73 as shown in FIG. In the cartridge case 65, the fitting pin 85 formed in the upper case 72 is fitted into the fitting hole 79a of the fitting portion 79 formed in the lower case 71, and the abutting portion is fixed. As described above, the cartridge case 65 integrates the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 in which the ink liquid pack body 66 is loaded in the internal space by performing a welding process on the tip of the fitting pin 85.

  The cartridge case 65 does not have to act as a fixing portion where the fitting portion 79 and the fitting pin 85 described above act as a portion for positioning and combining the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 to perform the welding process. The cartridge case 65 is configured such that the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 are coupled by the mark label 77 as described above, so that the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 can be easily removed by replacing the mark label 77. To be done. Thus, the cartridge case 65 is improved in recycling characteristics.

  In the cartridge case 65, the first holding ribs 80 and 86 and the second holding ribs 81 and 87 that are formed to face each other in a state where the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 are integrated are abutted with each other. In the cartridge case 65, the first holding ribs 80 and 86 and the second holding ribs 81 and 87 sandwich the heat seal portion 91 of the ink pack 67 as will be described later. As described above, the cartridge case 65 is formed with chamfers at the side edges facing the first holding ribs 80 and 86 and the second holding ribs 81 and 87, so that the chamfered portions are opened inward in the butted state. A substantially triangular opening is formed. Therefore, the side edge of the cartridge case 65 does not contact the ink liquid filling portion of the ink pack 67 at an acute angle due to the shape of the first holding ribs 80 and 86 and the second holding ribs 81 and 87 as shown in FIG. In this way, the ink pack 67 is prevented from being damaged.

  In the cartridge case 65, the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 are integrally formed via the connecting hinge portion 73, but it goes without saying that they may be formed as independent members. For example, the cartridge case 65 is combined with the upper case 72 in a state where the ink liquid pack body 66 is loaded in the lower case 71, and ultrasonic welding processing is performed on the outer peripheral portion where the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 are abutted, for example, over the entire circumference. To integrate. The cartridge case 65 may be integrated by a seal label 77 that wraps the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 over the entire circumference, for example, as shown by a chain line in FIG.

  In the cartridge case 65 configured as described above, the ink liquid pack body 66 is accommodated in the internal loading space portion, and the ink liquid cartridge 12 is configured. The ink pack 67 constituting the ink liquid pack body 66 uses a so-called laminate sheet formed by integrally laminating a water impermeable layer, a blocking layer, and a reinforcing layer from an inner layer, and encloses a predetermined ink liquid therein. At the same time, the outer peripheral portion is formed by subjecting it to a heat sealing process. That is, the ink pack 67 is a resin film having a water-impermeable layer that is water-impermeable or chemical-resistant and can be sealed by heat sealing treatment, such as an olefin resin, a polyolefin resin, or a polyester resin. Formed by a film.

  The ink pack 67 is formed by covering the water-impermeable layer with an aluminum foil or the like that uses a barrier layer that prevents ingress of gas, moisture, light, or the like from the outside to prevent deterioration of the ink liquid. In the ink pack 67, for example, a nylon resin is used as a reinforcing layer, and the barrier layer and the water-impermeable layer are protected by covering the barrier layer. Although not described in detail, the ink pack 67 overlaps the above-described layered sheet bodies, and performs heat seal processing over the entire length along both side edges in the width direction to form both side heat seal portions 91L and 91R. In addition, the ink liquid supply hole member 68 and the tank cap member 70 are combined with one opening portion and subjected to heat sealing treatment to form an opening seal portion 91K, which is then supplied to the ink filling machine. The ink pack 67 is supplied with a predetermined amount of ink liquid from the open end side by an ink filling machine, and is then subjected to heat sealing processing at a predetermined position in the length direction to form an end seal portion 91E. Seal the liquid.

  As described above, the ink pack 67 uses a laminate pack in which the outer peripheral portion is sealed by the heat seal portion 91 as a pack container. Therefore, the ink pack 67 can be filled with a large amount of ink liquid as compared with a rigid container and is lightweight. It is easy to carry around. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the ink pack 67 is swollen in a substantially spindle shape by being filled with ink liquid in the pack container. The ink pack 67 has an outer shape formed by the heat seal portion 91 that is approximately the same size as the internal space of the cartridge case 65.

  When the ink pack 67 is loaded in the internal space of the cartridge case 65, the inner surfaces of the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 formed in an arc shape that forms a substantially spindle-shaped filling space portion with respect to the outer peripheral portion are entirely covered. It is held by being abutted over. In addition, the ink pack 67 is sandwiched between the first holding portions 80 and 86 that are faced by overlapping the side heat seal portion 91R with the lower case 71 and the upper case 72, and the side heat seal portion 91L is the second holding portion. It is held by being sandwiched between the portions 81 and 87.

  Therefore, the ink pack 67 can suppress the occurrence of a so-called blow-off phenomenon that moves in the cartridge case 65 even when vibration or impact is applied to the ink liquid cartridge 12. The ink pack 67 is prevented from being bent and cracked by hitting each part in the cartridge case 65 due to a blow-off phenomenon, thereby suppressing the occurrence of ink leakage or the like.

  The ink liquid supply hole member 68 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and as shown in FIGS. 11 and 17, a plate-like base 92 formed in a substantially rhombus shape, and integrally protruding on the back side of the base 92. The ink supply hole 94 is formed through the base 92 and the supply cylinder 93. A positioning pin 95 and a positioning hole 96 are formed in the ink liquid supply hole member 68 with the ink liquid supply hole 94 interposed therebetween, and the head cap member 9 is precisely positioned and combined through these positioning portions as will be described later. It is.

  As will be described later, the rubber packing 69 is fitted into the ink liquid hole 97 of the tank cap member 70 to seal the ink liquid hole 97 and prevent ink liquid leakage. The rubber packing 69 is formed to have an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the ink liquid hole 97 and a predetermined thickness, and a circumferential flange portion is formed at the axial center position so as to be in close contact with the inner wall of the ink liquid hole 97. It is inserted like this.

  The tank cap member 70 is composed of a base plate portion 98, a standing wall portion 99, a connecting tube portion 100 having an ink liquid hole 97, positioning fitting portions 101 and 102, six identifiers 28, and a seal tube portion 103. It is integrally formed of a resin material. The tank cap member 70 has a substrate portion 98 having a substantially spindle-shaped outer shape that is substantially the same as the side surface shape of the cartridge case 65, and a side surface that faces the side surface on which the handle portion 74 is formed as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. And a loading side member when the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded into the ink cartridge loading section 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the board portion 98 has a standing wall portion 99, a connecting cylinder portion 100, and a first positioning fit on the main surface 98 a side facing the combination surface of the substrate portion 98 with the cartridge case 65. The joint portion 101 and the second positioning fitting portion 102 and the above-described six identifiers 28a to 28f are integrally formed. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, a seal cylinder portion 103 is integrally formed on the substrate portion 98 on the main surface 98 b side which is a combination surface with the cartridge case 65 of the substrate portion 98.

  A standing wall 99 is integrally formed over the entire outer peripheral edge of the main surface 98a so as to surround each of the above-described portions formed on the main surface 98a side. The standing wall portion 99 has a height larger than the height of each of the above-described forming portions excluding the identifier 28 and protects them, and constitutes a guide portion when the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded into the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21. To do. Notch portions 104 and 104 are formed in the standing wall portion 99 at positions facing the identifier 28, respectively, so that the identifier 28 can be identified from the outside and the operation of breaking the identifier 28 described later can be easily performed. .

  The connecting tube portion 100 is integrally formed on the substrate portion 98 so as to be positioned substantially at the center of the main surface 98a. The connecting cylinder portion 100 is formed with a bottomed cylindrical portion in which an ink liquid hole 97 is formed and the ink liquid hole 97 is closed by a thin ceiling portion. In the connection cylinder portion 100, an ink liquid hole 97 communicates with a seal cylinder portion 103, which will be described later, and is opened on the main surface 98b side, and has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the supply cylinder portion 93 of the ink liquid supply hole member 68. is doing. By inserting the supply cylinder portion 93 of the ink liquid supply hole member 68 into the connection cylinder portion 100 with the rubber packing 69 fitted to the ink liquid hole 97, the ink liquid supply member is inserted into the tank cap member 70. 68 is assembled.

  When the ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded into the ink liquid cartridge loading section 21, the connecting cylinder section 100 abuts the above-described ink supply hole 24 on the ink liquid cartridge loading section 21 side. In this state, the connection cylinder portion 100 is configured so that the ink liquid hole 97 and the above-described ink liquid flow path 26 communicate with each other when a nozzle needle (not shown) provided on the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 side breaks through the ceiling portion. Become.

  The board portion 98 includes a first positioning fitting portion 101 and a second positioning fitting portion 102 which are located on both sides of the main surface 98a and face each positioning fitting convex portion 83 formed on the lower case 71 described above. It is integrally formed. The first positioning fitting portion 101 and the second positioning fitting portion 102 are formed on the lower side as shown in FIG. 18, and on the opposite main surface 98b side as shown in FIGS. Opening fitting holes 101a and 102a are formed. The first positioning fitting portion 101 and the second positioning fitting portion 102 are formed with respective fitting holes 101a and 102a having different inner diameters.

  The tank cap member 70 fits the positioning fitting convex portions 83A and 83B facing the fitting holes 101a and 102a of the first positioning fitting portion 101 and the second positioning fitting portion 102 to the cartridge case 65. Are combined. The tank cap member 70 is aligned with the cartridge case 65 and combined with no vertical error due to the structure of the first positioning fitting portion 101 and the second positioning fitting portion 102 described above. The tank cap member 70 is integrated with the cartridge case 65 by, for example, performing a welding process on the fitted holes 101a and 102a and the positioning fitting protrusions 83A and 83B.

  As shown in FIG. 18, three identifiers 28 a to 28 c are integrally formed on the board portion 98 in a horizontal direction on one side with the connecting cylinder portion 100 sandwiched on the main surface 98 a side and on the other side. Three identifiers 28d to 28f are integrally formed. These identifiers 28 are formed of shaft-shaped convex portions, and are formed so as to face the cartridge identification portion 25 formed in the ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21 described above. These identifiers 28 are broken according to the ink cartridges 12 of the respective colors, and selectively engage with the identification holes 27 formed by patterning the cartridge identification portions 25 according to the respective colors as described above. Only the predetermined ink liquid cartridge 12 is loaded into the predetermined ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21.

  The base plate portion 98 is located at the center portion of the main surface 98b, passes through the ink liquid hole 97 described above, and the outer peripheral portion of the ink pack 67 is heat-sealed to form a seal cylinder portion constituting a part of the opening seal portion 91K. 103 is integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 19, the seal cylinder portion 103 is formed such that the thickness gradually decreases from the central portion toward both sides, and the overall cross-sectional shape is a slightly flat rhombus, and the main surface 98 b of the substrate portion 98 is formed. Are formed integrally with each other through a constricted tube portion 105. The seal cylinder portion 103 is applied with a pair of laminate sheet bodies that form a pack container so as to sandwich the outer peripheral portion thereof, and is subjected to a heat sealing process to form an opening seal portion 91K. By forming the seal cylinder portion 103 into the above-described flat rhombus shape, the opening seal portion 91 </ b> K is configured by pressing the laminate sheet body without generating a gap or an overlapped portion.

  The constricted tube portion 105 is formed of a cylindrical portion left uncut by arc-shaped slits 106 a and 106 b formed along the main surface 98 b from the apexes on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the seal tube portion 103. The constricted tube portion 105 has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the circular guide hole formed by the guide recesses 82 and 88 formed in the lower case 71 and the upper case 72 described above, and the lower case 71. And the upper case 72 side walls 71a and 72a are formed with a space substantially equal to the thickness between the main surface 98b of the substrate portion 98 and the seal cylinder portion 103. The constricted cylindrical portion 105 is fitted in a guide hole formed by the guide concave portion 82 of the lower case 71 and the guide concave portion 88 of the upper case 72 in a substantially press-fitted state, whereby the tank cap member 70 is attached to the cartridge case 65. However, the seal cylinder portion 103 is positioned in the loading space portion, and the substrate portion 98 is projected outward to be combined.

  A positioning hole 107 and a positioning pin 108 are formed in the seal cylinder portion 103 with the opening portion of the ink liquid hole 97 interposed between the front end surface. In the seal cylinder portion 103, the positioning hole 107 and the positioning pin 108 are formed to face the positioning pin 95 and the positioning hole 96 of the ink liquid supply hole member 68. Accordingly, in the tank cap member 70, the ink liquid supply hole member 68 is fitted into the ink liquid hole 97 in which the rubber packing 69 is fitted, and the supply cylinder portion 93 is fitted to the positioning hole 107 and the positioning pin 108. The positioning pin 95 and the positioning hole 96 are fitted and combined. The tank cap member 70 and the ink liquid supply hole member 68 are integrated by, for example, performing a welding process on the fitted positioning hole 107, positioning pin 95, positioning pin 108 and positioning hole 96.

  A plurality of recesses 109 are formed in the seal cylinder portion 103 on the outer peripheral surface inclined toward both sides. The seal cylinder portion 103 is joined by overlapping the above-described sheet bodies constituting the ink pack 67 on the outer peripheral surface and subjected to a heat sealing process, and constitutes a part of the opening seal portion 91K. As described above, the seal cylinder portion 103 is formed with the plurality of concave portions 109 on the outer peripheral surface, so that the occurrence of air accumulation is suppressed when the heat sealing process is performed, and the sheet body is formed on the entire outer peripheral surface. Make sure they are in close contact.

  In the ink cartridge 12, as described above, in the loading space of the cartridge case 65, the inner peripheral surface of the ink pack 67 is held by the inner surfaces of the upper case 71 and the lower case 72, and the first holding rib 80 is held. And the second holding rib 81 sandwich and hold the heat seal portions 91R and 91L on both sides, thereby suppressing the occurrence of a blow-off phenomenon. The ink liquid cartridge 12 has a structure in which the ink cap member 70 is positioned and firmly fixed with respect to the cartridge case 65. In the ink liquid cartridge 12, the ink cap member 70 integrated with the ink pack 67 is pulled out from the cartridge case 65 by press-fitting the constricted tube portion 105 into the guide hole, and thus from the outside through the cartridge case 65. And the force at the time of insertion / removal operation to / from the ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21 are prevented from being applied to the ink pack 67. Therefore, in the ink liquid cartridge 12, the occurrence of inconveniences such as the ink pack 67 being bent and cracked or broken is reliably prevented.

  Hereinafter, the process of forming the ink liquid pack body 66 will be described. In the step of forming the ink liquid pack body 66, as described above, the two laminate sheet bodies are overlapped and heat-sealed along both side edges to form a bag via the both-side heat seal portions 91L and 91R. The formed pack container material is supplied. In the step of forming the ink liquid pack body 66, the assembly of the ink liquid supply member 68, the rubber packing 69, and the tank cap member 70 is combined from one opening portion of the pack container material.

  In the step of forming the ink liquid pack body 66, as shown in FIG. 20, the pack container material has its opening edge abutted against the side surface 98b of the base 98 of the tank cap member 70, and in this state, over the entire length in the width direction. A heat sealing process is performed. The heat sealing process is performed on the pack container material with a width substantially equal to the axial length of the seal cylinder portion 103 of the tank cap member 70 as shown in the figure to form the opening seal portion 91K. In the step of forming the ink liquid pack body 66, after a predetermined amount of ink liquid is supplied from the open end side to the pack container material by the ink filling machine, a heat sealing process is applied to a predetermined position in the length direction to end seal. By forming the portion 91E, the ink pack body 66 in which the ink liquid supply hole member 68 and the tank cap member 70 are combined with the ink pack 67 in which a predetermined amount of ink liquid is sealed is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the ink liquid pack body 66 stores the ink pack 67 in the lower case 71, and the constricted tube portion 105 is fitted into the guide recess 82 in a press-fitted state so that the tank cap member 70 is attached to the side surface 71a. Combined with protruding from. The ink liquid pack body 66 is combined with the tank cap member 70 in a state where the substrate portion 98 is overlapped with the side surface 71a. In this state, the both-side heat seal portions 91 </ b> L and 91 </ b> R of the ink pack 67 are placed on the first holding rib 80 and the second holding rib 81. The ink liquid pack body 66 is accommodated in the internal space portion by superposing the upper case 72 on the lower case 71 via the connecting hinge portion 73 to constitute the ink liquid cartridge 12.

  The ink cartridge 12 is subjected to a welding process on a fitting portion 79 and a fitting pin 85 that are fitted in a state in which the upper case 72 and the lower case 71 are overlapped, and the upper case 72 and the lower case 71. Is integrated. In the ink cartridge 12, in the internal space of the cartridge case 65, as described above, the outer peripheral portion of the ink pack 67 is held by the inner surfaces of the upper case 72 and the lower case 71, and the heat seal portions 91L and 91R on both sides face each other. It is sandwiched and held between the first holding ribs 80 and 86 and the second holding ribs 81 and 87.

  Since the ink liquid cartridge 12 can be loaded only in the predetermined ink liquid cartridge loading section 21 according to the color of the ink liquid filled in the ink pack 67 as described above, the identifier 28 formed on the tank cap member 70 is used. The cutting process is performed. In the black ink cartridge loading portion 21B, as described above, the identification holes 27 are formed in the cartridge identification portion 25B arranged in (0, 0, 1) and (1, 1, 1). Accordingly, in the black ink cartridge 12B, the identifiers 28a to 28d are left corresponding to the arrangement pattern of the identification holes 27 as shown in FIG. 22A, and the identifiers 28e and 28f are cut.

  Further, in the magenta ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21M, the identification holes 27 are formed in the cartridge identification unit 25M arranged in (0, 1, 0) and (1, 1, 1). Therefore, in the magenta ink cartridge 12M, the identifiers 28a to 28c and 28e are left corresponding to the arrangement pattern of the identification holes 27 as shown in FIG. 22B, and the identifiers 28d and 28f are cut. In the cyan ink liquid cartridge loading portion 21C, identification holes 27 are formed in the cartridge identification portion 25C and arranged in (0, 1, 1) and (0, 1, 1). Therefore, in the cyan ink liquid cartridge 12C, the identifiers 28a and 28b and the identifiers 28d and 28e are left and the identifiers 28c and 28f are cut as shown in FIG. In the yellow ink liquid cartridge loading unit 21Y, identification holes 27 are formed in the cartridge identification unit 25Y arranged in (0, 1, 1) and (1, 0, 1). Accordingly, in the yellow ink liquid cartridge 12Y, the identifiers 28a and 28c and the identifiers 28d and 28e are left and the identifiers 28b and 28f are cut as shown in FIG.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the ink jet printer apparatus shown as the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention is applied to various liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject a plurality of types of liquids to an object. The present invention can be applied to, for example, a facsimile, a copying machine, a discharge device for a DNA chip in liquid (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-34560), a liquid discharge device including conductive particles forming a wiring pattern of a printed wiring board, and the like. It is. The liquid may be in the form of a gel, such as a resist that forms an insulating layer of a printed wiring board. The printer device may be a serial type printer as well as a line type printer.

  In the embodiment, the tank cap member 70 of the ink liquid cartridge 12 is also used as a common member, and a plurality of pin-shaped identifiers 28 formed in advance are formed in the cartridge identification section 25 of the predetermined ink liquid cartridge loading section 21. Although the cutting process is performed in accordance with the pattern of the identification hole 27, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The tank cap member 70 is formed as an independent member according to each color, so that the step of cutting the identifier 28 can be omitted.

1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet printer apparatus shown as an embodiment of the present invention with a head unit attaching / detaching opening opened. FIG. It is a principal part exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the ink liquid supply unit with which a head unit is equipped. It is a front view of an ink liquid cartridge case. It is a rear view of an ink liquid cartridge case. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of an ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism loaded with the ink liquid cartridge. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of an ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism loaded with the ink liquid cartridge. It is a principal part block diagram which shows other embodiment of an ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism. FIG. 10 is a main part configuration diagram showing still another embodiment of an ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an ink liquid cartridge. It is a perspective view from the loading part side of an ink liquid cartridge. It is a perspective view from the back side of an ink cartridge. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a combination operation of a cartridge case and an ink pack body. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cartridge case in a state where the lower case and the upper case are expanded. It is sectional drawing of an ink liquid cartridge. FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of an ink liquid supply hole member, a rubber packing, and a tank cap member that constitute an ink supply unit in combination with an ink pack. It is a front view of a tank cap member. It is a rear view of a tank cap member. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the ink pack body with a part cut away. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part in a state where an ink pack body is loaded in a lower case. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of each color ink cartridge with the identifier cut, where FIG. (A) is a black ink cartridge, FIG. (B) is a magenta ink cartridge, FIG. (C) is a cyan ink cartridge, and FIG. D) shows a yellow ink liquid cartridge.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus, 2 Printer main body, 3 Head unit, 5 Printing part, 6 Ink liquid supply unit, 7 Case, 12 Ink liquid cartridge, 15 Ink cartridge loading detection mechanism, 18 Ink cartridge case, 19 Partition member, 20 Ink channel member, 21 Ink cartridge loading unit, 22, 23 Rib, 24 Ink supply hole, 25 Cartridge identification unit, 26 Ink channel, 27 Identification hole, 28 Identifier, 29 Cylindrical base, 30 Bulkhead, 31 Guide hole, 32 Detection shaft member, 33 Shaft biasing coil spring, 34 Detection cam member, 35 Cam biasing coil spring, 36 Optical switch, 37 Cam groove, 38 Switch operating part, 39 Cam part, 40 Operating part, 50 Ink cartridge loading detection mechanism, 51 mechanical switch, 55 Ink liquid cartridge loading detection mechanism, 56 detection cylinder shaft member, 57 light emitting element, 58 light receiving element, 59 detection light hole, 60 cam groove, 61 detection cam member, 62 light shielding cam convex part, 65 cartridge case, 66 ink liquid pack body , 67 Ink pack, 68 Ink liquid supply hole member, 69 Rubber packing, 70 Tank cap member, 71 Lower case, 72 Upper case, 73 Connecting hinge part, 74 Handle part, 75, 76 Hub, 77 Mark label, 78 Guide mark 79, fitting part, 80, 81 holding rib, 82 guide concave part, 83 positioning fitting convex part, 84 engaging convex part, 85 fitting pin, 86, 87 holding rib, 88 guide concave part, 89 hinge part, 90 operation Cam part, 91 Heat seal part, 92 Base part, 93 Supply cylinder part, 94 Ink liquid supply hole, 95 Positioning Pin, 96 Positioning hole, 97 Ink liquid hole, 98 Substrate part, 99 Standing wall part, 100 Connection cylinder part, 101, 102 Positioning fitting part, 103 Sealing cylinder part, 104 Notch part, 105 Constriction cylinder part, 106 Slit, 107 Positioning hole, 108 Positioning pin, 109 Concave

Claims (2)

In a liquid cartridge that is loaded into a liquid cartridge loading unit of a liquid ejection device and supplies a liquid,
By integrally forming the lower case and the upper case via a thin connecting hinge portion formed along the opposite side edge portions, bending the connecting hinge portion and overlapping the lower case and the upper case A cartridge case constituting a pack loading space for loading a liquid pack in which a liquid is sealed is provided.
The cartridge case is connected to a liquid supply hole formed in the liquid cartridge loading portion on one side surface, and a supply portion for supplying a liquid is provided. A handle portion whose base end portion is foldable via a hinge portion having a thin wall is integrally formed, and the upper case or the case is folded via the hinge portion so as to face the handle portion. A liquid cartridge, wherein an engaging convex portion for holding the handle portion is integrally formed.   2. The liquid according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion and the engagement convex portion constitute a holding unit that holds the lower case and the upper case that are folded and overlapped with the connecting hinge portion. cartridge.

Images