JP2007268869A - Ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect a condition that an amount of residual ink is markedly reduced by preventing a width from being increased. <P>SOLUTION: An ink reservoir chamber 61 for reserving ink is equipped with a displacement mechanism 70 capable of being displaced along with the reduction of the amount of the ink reserved in the reservoir chamber 61. The displacement mechanism 70 comprises a guiding member 71 having formed thereon an inclined face 74a, the guide member 71 intersecting a float 72 with a gravity smaller than that of the ink and a horizontal face and having the horizontal position at a prescribed vertical level which is moved along with the displacement of the float 72 due to the reduction of the ink. The displacement mechanism 70 further comprises a restriction member 71a for restricting the displacement of the guiding member 71 so as to displace the guiding member 71 in the vertical direction, and a sliding member 77 which is supported by a support member 77a to be movable in the horizontal direction at the prescribed vertical level and has formed thereon a pin 78 which is pressed against the inclined face 74a of the guiding member 71 along with the displacement of the float 72 due to the reduction of the ink. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink cartridge that stores ink.

  2. Related Art Inkjet printers that perform printing by ejecting ink from nozzles toward a recording sheet are known. Some ink jet printers include a removable ink cartridge. Patent Document 1 discloses an ink cartridge in which an ink outlet for supplying ink in an ink storage chamber to a printer head is provided on one side wall in a mounting state of the printer.

  By the way, when the ink jet head tries to eject ink while the ink in the ink cartridge is empty, not only printing is not performed, but air may enter the ink jet head. If air enters the ink jet head, the head becomes unusable in the worst case. In order to prevent such a situation from occurring, the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge is always grasped, and when the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge becomes almost zero, ink ejection from the head is prohibited. It is necessary to control.

Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for detecting the remaining amount of ink in an ink cartridge. That is, in the ink cartridge described in Patent Document 2, a displacement member having a specific gravity smaller than that of ink is accommodated in the ink storage chamber. Since the position of the displacement member along the vertical direction changes in accordance with the remaining amount of ink, detecting the position of the displacement member with a sensor provided on the printer side indicates that the remaining amount of ink has decreased. Can be detected.
JP-A-7-68776 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-1819 (FIG. 7)

  Ink using a displacement member as described in Patent Document 2 in an ink cartridge in which an ink outlet is provided on a side wall in a mounted state as described in Patent Document 1 described above. In the case of applying the remaining amount detection method, it is conceivable that the ink outlet and the detection position of the displacement member are located on the same wall surface side of the ink cartridge in consideration of attachment to the printer. In such a case, the detection position of the displacement member and the position of the ink outlet are on the same virtual straight line along the vertical direction, that is, when the displacement member is displaced in the vertical direction above the ink outlet, Since the displacement member is blocked by the ink outlet and cannot be displaced below the upper part of the ink outlet, it is impossible to accurately detect the state where the remaining amount of ink is very small. Further, when the detection position of the displacement member and the position of the ink outlet are not on the same virtual straight line along the vertical direction, that is, when they are located on different virtual straight lines along the vertical direction, The length along the direction, that is, the width of the ink cartridge is increased.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge capable of accurately detecting a state in which the remaining amount of ink is extremely small while avoiding an increase in width.

  The ink cartridge of the present invention includes an ink storage chamber in which ink is stored, and a displacement mechanism that displaces in the ink storage chamber as the amount of stored ink decreases. An ink cartridge that supplies ink stored in an ink storage chamber to a printer through an ink outlet, wherein the displacement mechanism intersects with a surface having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink, and the surface is reduced due to a decrease in the amount of ink. A guide member formed with a first surface such that a horizontal position at a predetermined height level moves in accordance with the displacement of the guide member, a restricting member for restricting the displacement of the guide member, and a horizontal direction at the predetermined height level. And is urged against the first surface of the guide member as the ink is displaced due to a decrease in the amount of ink. And a slide member which pin is formed.

  Note that “horizontal” means a horizontal direction in a posture in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the printer.

  According to this configuration, the slide member can be moved in the horizontal direction as the ink amount decreases. Therefore, by using the end portion of the slide member as the detected portion, the detected portion is positioned at the same height level as the detected position from the detected position near the wall surface of the ink storage chamber as the ink amount decreases. It can be moved to the non-detection position or from the non-detection position to the detection position. Therefore, in an ink cartridge in which the ink outlet and the detected position of the detected part are located on the same wall side, even if the detected position of the detected part is located above the ink outlet, Even if the member is in a freely displaceable position, the movement of the slide member having the detected portion is not hindered by the ink outlet, so that it is possible to accurately detect a state in which the remaining amount of ink is very small. . Further, since it is not necessary to dispose the detection position of the detected portion and the ink outlet on different virtual straight lines along the vertical direction, the width of the ink cartridge does not increase.

  In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the regulating member may regulate the displacement of the guiding member so that the guiding member moves in the vertical direction.

  Note that “vertical” means a vertical direction in a posture in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the printer.

  According to this configuration, for example, the region in which the guide member is displaced becomes narrower than when the guide member swings. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in designing the ink cartridge is increased.

  In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the first surface intersects obliquely with respect to a horizontal plane, is formed continuously from the lower end of the first surface to the first surface, and extends in the vertical direction. You may further provide the 2nd surface.

  The upper and lower sides of the ink cartridge are the upper and lower sides of the ink cartridge in a posture attached to the printer.

According to this configuration, the second surface moves in the vertical direction as the guide member is displaced in the vertical direction due to a decrease in the ink amount. Therefore, while the second surface is at a predetermined height level at which the slide member is supported, the pins of the slide member are not pressed in the horizontal direction. When the guide member is further displaced downward and the first surface moves to the position of the predetermined height level, the pin of the slide member is pressed in the horizontal direction for the first time, and the slide member moves in the horizontal direction. Become. Therefore, the slide member can be moved immediately before the ink runs out.

  In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the regulating member may pivotally support the guide member so that the guide member swings around a horizontal axis. According to this configuration, since the guide member can be supported by a single rotating shaft, for example, compared to a case where the guide member is supported by two plate-like guide members so as to be displaced in the vertical direction. The number of members for supporting the guide member can be reduced.

  In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the ink storage chamber is formed in a substantially rectangular cubic case, and the case has an ink outlet formed on the lower side of one side wall, and an upper portion thereof. The predetermined height level is formed with a light-transmitting protrusion having an internal space communicating with the ink storage chamber, and the slide member has a large amount of ink in the ink storage chamber. At this time, one end thereof is located in the internal space of the projecting portion, and at least the one end may have light shielding properties.

  The “side wall” of the ink cartridge means the side wall of the ink cartridge that is in a posture mounted on the printer.

  According to this configuration, since the movement of the slide member is not hindered by the ink outlet, by detecting one end of the slide member that is located in the protruding portion having light transmittance from the outside of the ink cartridge, The remaining amount of ink can be detected easily and accurately.

  In the ink cartridge according to the aspect of the invention, the printer includes a transmissive optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light emitting portion, and the protruding portion is connected to the light emitting portion and the light emitting portion when the ink cartridge is attached to the printer. You may provide in the position pinched | interposed into a light-receiving part. According to this configuration, the remaining amount of ink can be reliably detected with a simple mechanism.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the ink cartridge shown in FIG.

  The ink cartridge 1 is formed by a bottomed box-shaped main body 10 having a main opening 11 and a lid 50 that closes the main opening 11 of the main body 10, and an ink storage chamber 61 in which ink is stored is formed. A substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 60 and a displacement mechanism 70 that displaces in the ink storage chamber 61 as the amount of stored ink decreases. That is, the case 60 is configured by approximately six surfaces including a pair of substantially rectangular surfaces having a maximum area and side surfaces located in four directions connecting the pair of surfaces. In the following description, a direction along the long sides of a pair of substantially rectangular surfaces that are the maximum areas of the six surfaces is referred to as a longitudinal direction, and a direction connecting the pair of surfaces is referred to as a width direction. The main body 10 and the lid 50 that form the case 60 are made of a resin material (for example, polypropylene), and are each manufactured by injection molding. The main body 10 and the lid body 50 are welded without a gap so that the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 61 does not leak. The case 60 is light transmissive.

  Further, the ink cartridge 1 includes an ink supply unit 120 that supplies the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 61 to the outside (specifically, the ink jet printer 1000 (see FIG. 5)), and the ink storage chamber 61. And an atmosphere introduction unit 130 for introducing the atmosphere.

  The state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a posture in which the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the ink jet printer 1000 (see FIG. 5). In other words, the ink cartridge 1 is mounted in such a posture that the surface having the maximum area is vertical and the long side of the surface having the maximum area is along the horizontal direction. At this time, the ink supply unit 120 and the atmosphere introduction unit 130 are formed on the same side surface, the ink supply unit 120 is located on the bottom side, and the atmosphere introduction unit 130 is located on the ceiling side. Hereinafter, the bottom side in the mounted state of the ink cartridge 1 is simply referred to as “bottom side”, and the ceiling side in the mounted state is simply referred to as “ceiling side”. Further, when simply referred to as “vertical direction (vertical direction)” and “horizontal direction”, it means the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the horizontal direction when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted in the inkjet printer 1000. .

  An ink outlet 20 that communicates with the ink storage chamber 61 is provided on the bottom side of the wall facing the main opening 11 of the main body 10, and an air communication passage 30 that communicates with the ink storage chamber 61 is provided on the ceiling side. . Here, the direction from the wall facing the main opening 11 of the main body 10 toward the outside of the ink storage chamber 61 is simply referred to as “external direction”.

  Each of the ink outlet 20 and the atmosphere communication passage 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the longitudinal direction. A part of the ink supply mechanism 80 is inserted into the ink outlet 20. Thus, the ink supply unit 120 is configured. A part of the atmosphere introduction mechanism 90 is inserted in the atmosphere communication path 30. Thereby, the air introduction part 130 is comprised.

  In the state where the ink cartridge 1 is not attached to the ink jet printer 1000, the ink supply mechanism 80 closes the ink flow path, is attached to the ink jet printer 1000, and the ink extraction tube 1015 (see FIG. 5) of the ink jet printer 1000 is provided. When inserted, the ink flow path is opened. Therefore, the ink supply unit 120 can supply the ink in the ink storage chamber 61 to the ink jet printer 1000 when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the ink jet printer 1000.

  The atmosphere introduction mechanism 90 has a rod-shaped valve opening 30 a that protrudes outside the atmosphere communication path 30 in a state where a part of the atmosphere introduction mechanism 90 is housed in the atmosphere communication path 30. The air introduction mechanism 90 closes the air flow path and is attached to the ink jet printer 1000 in a state where the ink cartridge 1 is not attached to the ink jet printer 1000, and the valve opening portion 30 a is the attachment surface 1013 of the ink jet printer 1000. (Refer to FIG. 5), and the air flow path is opened when pressed toward the atmosphere communication path 30. Therefore, the atmosphere introduction unit 130 can communicate the interior of the ink storage chamber 61 with the atmosphere when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the inkjet printer 1000.

  In addition, a detection unit 40 that protrudes outward is provided between the ink outlet 20 and the atmosphere communication path 30 on the wall of the main body 10 where the ink outlet 20 and the atmosphere communication path 30 are provided. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the length of the detection unit 40 along the width direction is shorter than the length of the ink cartridge 1 (case 60) along the width direction. A space communicating with the ink storage chamber 61 is formed inside the detection unit 40.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the inkjet printer 1000, the detection unit 40 includes a light emitting unit 1014 a and a light receiving unit 1014 b of a transmissive ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014 provided in the inkjet printer 1000. It is provided at a position between the two. More specifically, the vicinity of the lower end of the detection unit 40 extending in the vertical direction is provided at a position sandwiched between the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b. Therefore, the vicinity of the lower end of the detection unit 40 is a detection position that can be detected by the ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014.

  Further, a stepped portion 62 is provided at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction on the bottom wall of the case 60. Since the step portion 62 is provided, the bottom wall of the case 60 is lower on the side where the ink supply unit 120 is provided along the longitudinal direction than the lid 50 side. As a result, the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 61 moves smoothly to the vicinity of the ink supply unit 120.

  Here, the displacement mechanism 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. The displacement mechanism 70 includes a guide member 71, a pair of restricting members 71 a that restrict the displacement of the guide member 71, a slide member 77, and four support members 77 a that support the slide member 77.

  The guide member 71 is made of a resin material (for example, styrene resin) having a specific gravity smaller than the specific gravity of the ink, and has a cylindrical shape 72 extending along the width direction of the ink cartridge 1 and a part of a curved surface of the cylindrical shape 72. And an extending portion 73 that is inclined and extends to the opposite side to the side on which the detection portion 40 is formed. The volume of the uki 72 is sufficiently larger than the volume of the extending portion 73. Here, the volume ratio of the uki 72 in the guide member 71 is that the buoyancy generated in the guide member 71 is larger than the gravity when the uki 72 is located in the ink liquid, and a part of the uki 72 is ink. When exposed from the liquid, the buoyancy generated in the guide member 71 is set to be equal to the gravity.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the extending portion 73 of the guide member 71 is formed with an opening 74 that is substantially similar to the outer shape of the extending portion 73 from the vicinity of one end to the vicinity of the other end. . One of the two opposing surfaces extending in the extending direction of the opening 74 formed in the opening 74 (the one closer to the detection unit 40 on the right side in FIG. 3) is an operation surface that operates the slide member 77. An inclined surface 74a (first surface) and a vertical surface 74b (second surface) are provided. That is, the inclined surface 74a is a flat surface extending in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and the vertical surface 74b is a flat surface extending in the vertical direction. More specifically, the inclined surface 74a is a surface whose lower end is located on the side where the detection unit 40 is formed compared to the upper end, and the vertical surface 74b is continuous from the lower end of the inclined surface 74a to the inclined surface 74a. It is a surface that is formed and extends in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the regulating member 71 a is a pair of plate-like members that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the case 60 and extend in parallel along the vertical direction, and have a maximum area of the case 60. It is provided so as to connect between the side walls. A space 72 of the guide member 71 is disposed between the pair of regulating members 71a. Here, since the distance between the pair of restricting members 71a is slightly larger than the diameter of the face 72 of the guide member 71, the face 72 can be smoothly displaced in the vertical direction between the pair of restricting members 71a. As shown in FIG. 2, since a gap is formed between the lower end of the regulating member 71a and the case 60, the ink in the ink storage chamber 61 passes through the gap and is near the ink supply unit 120. Move smoothly to.

  The slide member 77 is a rod-like member that has light blocking properties and extends in the longitudinal direction, and extends at a predetermined height level corresponding to the detection position near the lower end of the detection unit 40 by the support member 77a. It is supported so as to be movable along the direction (horizontal direction). A pin 78 extending in the width direction and inserted through the opening 74 formed in the extending portion 73 of the guide member 71 is provided in the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the slide member 77. In addition, since the stopper 78 a formed wider than the width of the opening 74 is provided at the end of the pin 78, the pin 78 does not come out of the opening 74.

  Further, one end of the slide member 77 located on the detection unit 40 side is a detected portion 79 that is detected by a remaining ink detection sensor 1014 (see FIG. 5) of the ink jet printer 1000. When the pin 78 is in contact with the vertical surface 74b in the opening 74, the detected portion 79 is positioned at a detection position in the detection portion 40 (see FIG. 4A), and the pin 78 is open. In the case of abutting against the end of the inclined surface 74a in 74 (the end opposite to the side on which the vertical surface 74b is formed), the detection unit 40 is at the same height level as the detection position. Positioned at the non-detection position retracted from the inside (see FIG. 4C).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support member 77 a is a rod-like member that connects a pair of side walls having the maximum area of the case 60, and a longitudinal direction that sandwiches the position where the pin 78 of the slide member 77 is provided. Two are provided at two locations along the vertical direction, that is, four in total. Since the interval between the pair of support members 77a adjacent in the vertical direction is slightly wider than the length along the vertical direction of the slide member 77, the slide member 77 slides smoothly between the pair of support members 77a. be able to.

  Here, a method of detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, ink is sufficiently stored in the ink storage chamber 61 (at least, as shown in FIG. 4A, the lower end portion of the opening 74 is in a position where it abuts the pin 78 of the slide member 77. When the guide member 71 is stored in such a manner that the surface 72 of the guide member 71 is not exposed from the ink surface, the buoyancy generated in the guide member 71 is larger than the gravity, and therefore the guide member 71 receives an upward force. As a result, the pin 78 of the slide member 77 is in contact with the end of the vertical surface 74b formed in the opening 74 of the guide member 71 (the end opposite to the side where the inclined surface 74a is formed). Touch. Therefore, the detected part 79 of the slide member 77 is located at the detection position in the detection part 40. At this time, the light emitting portion 1014a and the light receiving portion 1014b of the ink remaining amount detecting sensor 1014 provided in the ink jet printer 1000 (see FIG. 5) are blocked by the detected portion 79 of the slide member 77 having light shielding properties. The This state is a state with ink, and the presence of ink is determined on the control board (not shown) of the inkjet printer 1000.

  Then, as the ink level in the ink storage chamber 61 decreases, the ink liquid level drops, and when a portion of the surface 72 of the guide member 71 is exposed from the ink liquid level, the buoyancy generated in the guide member 71 is reduced by gravity. Will be equal. Thereafter, when the ink level further decreases, the guiding member 71 is displaced downward following the decrease in the ink level. While the guide member 71 is lowered from the position shown in FIG. 4A to a position where the pin 78 of the slide member 77 contacts the boundary portion of the vertical surface 74b with the inclined surface 74a, the pin 78 of the slide member 77 is Abuts with a vertical surface 74b extending in the vertical direction. At this time, the slide member 77 does not move, and the detected portion 79 is located at a detection position in the detection portion 40. Therefore, the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b of the ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014 provided in the ink jet printer 1000 (see FIG. 5) are blocked, and the control board (not shown) of the ink jet printer 1000 continues. The presence of ink is determined.

  Further, when the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 61 is reduced and the guide member 71 is lowered to a position where the pin 78 of the slide member 77 contacts the inclined surface 74a as shown in FIG. 4B. The horizontal position of the inclined surface 74a at the predetermined height level where the slide member 77 is supported moves to the opposite side of the detection unit 40 as the guide member 71 is lowered. Therefore, the pin 78 is pressed to the side opposite to the detection unit 40 by the inclined surface 74 a, and the slide member 77 slides to the side opposite to the detection unit 40.

  And as shown in FIG.4 (c), it is a guidance member to the position where the pin 78 of the slide member 77 contact | abuts the edge part (end part on the opposite side to the side in which the vertical surface 74b is formed) of the inclined surface 74a. When 71 is lowered, the detected portion 79 is displaced to the non-detection position in the ink storage chamber 61. At this time, light passes between the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b of the ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014 provided in the inkjet printer 1000 (see FIG. 5). This state is a state without ink, and it is determined that there is no ink on the control board (not shown) of the inkjet printer 1000.

  Here, the mounting of the ink cartridge 1 to the ink jet printer 1000 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, an ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014 is disposed in a mounting portion 1010 in which an ink cartridge in the ink jet printer 1000 is mounted. The ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014 is formed in a substantially U-shape, and one open end of the U-shape is a light emitting unit 1014a that emits light, and the other end receives light. Part 1014b. The light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b are attached so as to protrude from the mounting surface 1013. The remaining ink detection sensor 1014 does not output a signal to a control board (not shown) provided in the inkjet printer 1000 when the light receiving unit 1014b receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 1014a ( Or output), and when the light emitted from the light emitting unit 1014a is blocked and the light receiving unit 1014b cannot receive light, the signal is output (or not output) to the control board.

  In addition, an ink extraction tube 1015 is provided on the side corresponding to the ink supply unit 120 of the mounting surface 1013 (the lower side in FIG. 5A), while the side corresponding to the air introduction unit 130 of the mounting surface 1013 ( In FIG. 5 (a) upper side, the mounting surface 1013 is formed into a flat surface. An ink flow path 1013a is connected to the ink extraction tube 1015, and ink is supplied to an ejection port (not shown) through the ink flow path 1013a. An atmosphere introduction path 1013b is formed on the mounting surface 1013 on the atmosphere introduction unit 130 side, and the atmosphere is introduced into the ink cartridge 1 (ink storage chamber 61) through the atmosphere introduction path 1013b.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the attachment portion 1010, the valve opening portion 30a of the atmosphere introduction portion 130 comes into contact with the attachment surface 1013 first to introduce the atmosphere. Immediately after that, the ink extraction tube 1015 is inserted into the ink supply unit 120 so that the ink can be supplied, and the detection unit 40 is provided between the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b of the ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014. Is placed, and the ink remaining amount can be detected.

  As described above, the ink cartridge 1 according to the present embodiment includes the displacement mechanism 70 that is displaced as the amount of ink stored in the ink storage chamber 61 in which ink is stored. The ink stored in the ink storage chamber 61 when being attached to the inkjet printer 1000 is supplied to the inkjet printer 1000 via the ink outlet 20. The displacement mechanism 70 intersects the uki 72 having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink and the horizontal plane, and the inclined surface 74a whose horizontal position moves at a predetermined height level as the uki 72 is displaced due to a decrease in the ink amount. Are supported by a guide member 71 formed with a guide member 71, a restricting member 71a for restricting displacement of the guide member 71, and a support member 77a so as to be movable in a horizontal direction at a predetermined height level. And a slide member 77 formed with a pin 78 that is pressed against the inclined surface 74a of the guide member 71 in accordance with the displacement of 72. Further, the detection position for detecting the detected portion 79 provided at one end of the slide member 77 is located above the ink outlet 20 on the same side wall as the one side wall where the ink outlet 20 is provided. Therefore, the slide member 77 can be moved in the horizontal direction as the ink amount decreases. Therefore, as the ink amount decreases, the detected portion 79 provided at the end of the slide member 77 can be moved between the non-detection position and the detection position that are located at the same height level. . As a result, as long as the guide member 71 is in a freely displaceable position, the movement of the slide member 77 having the detected portion 79 is not hindered by the ink outlet 20, so that the amount of remaining ink is very low. Can be detected accurately. Further, since it is not necessary to arrange the detection position of the detected portion 79 and the ink outlet 20 on different virtual straight lines along the vertical direction, the width of the ink cartridge 1 does not increase.

  Further, in the ink cartridge 1 of the present embodiment, the regulating member 71a is a pair of plate-like members that are separated in the longitudinal direction of the case 60 and extend in parallel along the vertical direction, and the guide member 71 is in the vertical direction. The displacement of the guide member 71 is restricted so that the Therefore, for example, the region where the guide member 71 is displaced becomes narrower than in the case where the guide member swings. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the ink cartridge 1 is increased.

  Further, in the ink cartridge 1 of the present embodiment, the inclined surface 74a intersects obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction, is formed continuously from the lower end of the inclined surface 74a to the inclined surface 74a, and extends in the vertical direction. A vertical surface 74b is provided. Therefore, while the vertical surface 74b is at a predetermined height level where the slide member 77 is supported, the pin 78 of the slide member 77 is not pressed in the horizontal direction. Then, when the guide member 71 is further displaced downward and the inclined surface 74a moves to the position of the predetermined height level, the pin 78 of the slide member 77 is pressed in the horizontal direction for the first time, and the slide member 77 moves in the horizontal direction. Will be. Therefore, the slide member can be moved immediately before the ink runs out.

  Further, in the ink cartridge 1 of the present embodiment, the ink storage chamber 61 is formed inside a case 60 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped light transmittance. In addition, an ink outlet 20 is formed on the lower side of one side wall of the case 60, and a detection unit 40 in which an internal space communicating with the ink storage chamber 61 is formed at a predetermined height level above the outlet 20. Has been. The slide member 77 has a light shielding property, and when the ink is sufficiently stored in the ink storage chamber 61, the detected portion 79 provided at one end thereof is in the detection portion 40. To position. Therefore, it is possible to easily and accurately detect that the remaining amount of ink is sufficiently large by detecting the detected portion 79 located in the detection portion 40 from the outside of the ink cartridge 1.

  In addition, the ink jet printer 1000 to which the ink cartridge 1 of this embodiment is mounted includes a transmissive ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014 having a light emitting unit 1014a and a light receiving unit 1014b. When the cartridge 1 is mounted on the inkjet printer 1000, the cartridge 1 is provided at a position sandwiched between the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect the remaining amount of ink with a simple mechanism.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink cartridge 201 according to the present embodiment. The configuration of the ink cartridge 201 according to the second embodiment is mainly different from the configuration of the ink cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment. In the ink cartridge 1, the regulating member 71a of the displacement mechanism 70 is guided. Although the displacement of the guiding member 71 is regulated so that the member 71 moves in the vertical direction, in the ink cartridge 201 of the present embodiment, the regulating member 271a of the displacement mechanism 270 causes the guiding member 71 to swing around the horizontal axis. Thus, the guide member 271 is pivotally supported. Since the configuration other than the displacement mechanism 270 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. In the following description, components having the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the displacement mechanism 270 of the present embodiment includes a guide member 271, a regulation member 271 a that regulates displacement of the guide member 271, a slide member 277, and a support member 277 a that supports the slide member 277. have.

  The guide member 271 is made of a resin material (for example, styrene resin) having a specific gravity smaller than that of ink. In addition, the guide member 271 is connected to the first arm 273a extending in one direction and the end of the first arm 273a, and the second arm extending in a direction different from the extending direction of the first arm 273a. The extended portion 273 formed in a dogleg shape and opened to the side opposite to the side on which the detection unit 40 is provided as a whole, and the second arm 273b side of the first arm 273a It is provided at one end portion on the opposite side, and is configured by a columnar shape 272 extending along the width direction of the ink cartridge 1. In the present embodiment, the angle formed by the first arm 273a and the second arm 273b of the extending portion 273 is an acute angle.

  A through hole 273c through which the regulating member 271a is inserted is formed in a bent portion of the dog-shaped extending portion 273. Here, the restricting member 271a is a rod-like member that extends in the horizontal direction and connects between a pair of side walls having the maximum area of the case 60, and the diameter thereof is that of the through hole 273c formed in the guide member 271. Slightly smaller than the diameter. Therefore, the guide member 271 can swing smoothly around the bent portion of the extending portion 273.

  Further, the volume of the snow 272 is sufficiently larger than the volume of the extending part 273. When the volume ratio between the extending portion 273 and the uki 272 is such that the uki 272 is located in the ink liquid, the clockwise moment in FIG. 6 generated in the guiding member 271 by gravity and buoyancy is the counterclockwise moment. When a portion of the uki 272 is exposed from the ink liquid, the buoyancy generated in the uki 272 is reduced, and the clockwise moment and the counterclockwise moment are set equal to each other. . Therefore, after a portion of the uki 272 is exposed from the ink liquid, the uki 272 moves downward following the liquid level as the ink level further decreases as the ink decreases. When the uki 272 moves downward, the guide member 271 rotates around the bent portion of the extending portion 273 as a support shaft.

  An elliptical opening 274 along the extending direction of the second arm 273b is formed near the end of the extending portion 273 opposite to the first arm 273a of the second arm 273b. One of the two opposing surfaces extending in the extending direction of the formed opening 274 (the one closer to the detection unit 40 on the right side in FIG. 6) is an inclined surface 274a (first surface) that operates the slide member 277. 1 side). The inclined surface 274a is a plane that always extends in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, even when the guiding member 271 is in any rotational position that can be taken.

  The slide member 277 has the same configuration as that of the slide member 77 of the first embodiment, and its extending direction (horizontal direction) at a predetermined height level corresponding to the detection position of the detection unit 40 by the four support members 277a. ) Is supported so as to be movable along. The pin 278 of the slide member 277 is inserted through the opening 274 of the guide member 271. In the present embodiment, when the extending direction of the first arm 273a is horizontal, the pin 278 of the slide member 277 is in contact with the lower end of the inclined surface 274a.

  And the to-be-detected part 279 provided in the end located in the detection part 40 side of the slide member 277 is as shown in the continuous line in FIG. 6, when the pin 278 contact | abuts the lower end part of the inclined surface 274a. Is located at a detection position in the detection unit 40, and as shown by a broken line in FIG. 6, when the pin 278 contacts the upper end of the inclined surface 74a, the vicinity of the detection unit 40 in the ink storage chamber 61 is detected. It is located at the non-detection position at the same height level as the detection position.

  Therefore, in the ink cartridge 201 of the present embodiment, ink is sufficient in the ink storage chamber 61 (at least the lower end portion of the inclined surface 274a contacts the pin 278 of the slide member 277 as shown by the solid line in FIG. When the position of the guide member 271 in the guide member 271 is stored so that the guide member 271 is not exposed from the ink liquid level, the clockwise moment generated in the guide member 271 is larger than the counterclockwise moment, and thus the guide member 71. Receives a clockwise force. As a result, the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b are disconnected from each other, and the presence of ink is determined on the control board of the inkjet printer 1000.

  Thereafter, as the ink level in the ink storage chamber 61 decreases, the ink liquid level drops, and when a portion of the surface 272 is exposed from the ink liquid level, the clockwise moment generated in the guide member 271 and the counterclockwise direction are generated. The moments of are equal. Thereafter, when the ink liquid level further decreases, the uki 272 follows the drop of the ink liquid level and is displaced downward, and the extending part 273 rotates counterclockwise around the bent part as a support shaft. At this time, the horizontal position of the inclined surface 274a at the predetermined height level where the slide member 277 is supported moves to the opposite side of the detection unit 40 as the extending portion 273 rotates. Therefore, the pin 278 is pressed to the opposite side to the detection unit 40 by the inclined surface 274a, and the slide member 277 slides to the opposite side to the detection unit 40.

  As indicated by a broken line in FIG. 6, when the extending portion 273 rotates to a position where the pin 278 of the slide member 277 contacts the upper end portion of the inclined surface 274a, the detected portion 279 becomes the ink storage chamber. 61 is displaced to a non-detection position in At this time, light passes between the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b of the ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014 provided in the ink jet printer 1000. This state is a state of no ink, and the control board of the ink jet printer 1000 determines whether there is no ink.

  As described above, the ink cartridge 201 according to the present embodiment can accurately detect a state where the remaining amount of ink is very low, and can reduce the thickness of the thin ink, as with the ink cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment. A cartridge can be provided.

  Further, in the ink cartridge 201 of the present embodiment, the regulating member 271a pivotally supports the guide member 271 so that the guide member 271 swings around the horizontal axis. Therefore, since the guide member 271 can be supported by the restricting member 271a which is a single rod-shaped member serving as the rotation axis thereof, for example, the guide member can be displaced in the vertical direction by two plate-like guide members. As compared with the case of supporting the guide member 271, the number of members for supporting the guide member 271 can be reduced.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made as long as they are described in the claims. Is. For example, in the above-described first and second embodiments, when the ink is sufficiently stored in the ink storage chamber 61, the detected portion 79 (279) of the slide member 77 (277) is at the detection position. Although the case where the detected portion 79 (279) of the slide member 77 (277) moves to the non-detection position when the ink remaining amount is reduced has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. The extending direction of the extending part 73 of the first embodiment is changed so as to extend upward from a part of the ground 72 and further extend inclined to the side where the detecting part 40 is formed. Alternatively, by changing the opening direction of the dog-shaped extension portion 273 of the second embodiment and changing it to a dog-shaped shape that opens on the side where the detection unit 40 is provided, the ink is sufficient. The detected portion 79 (279) is located at the non-detection position when stored, and the detected portion 79 (279) moves to the detection position when the remaining amount of ink decreases. Good. In this case, if the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 61 is light transmissive, the remaining amount of ink in the inkjet printer 1000 is reduced when the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b are blocked. Judge that it has decreased. If the ink has a light shielding property, in the ink jet printer 1000, the ink liquid level is lower than the detection position from the state where the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b are blocked by the ink, and the light emitting unit 1014a After the light passes through the light receiving unit 1014b, it is determined that the remaining amount of ink has decreased when the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b are blocked again by the detected unit 79 (279). To do.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the case 60 has the light transmission property and the slide member 77 (277) has the light shielding property. Is not limited. For example, in the case 60, only the detection unit 40 may have light transmission properties, and other portions may have light shielding properties. Further, in the slide member 77 (277), only the detected portion 79 (279) may have a light shielding property, and other portions may have a light transmitting property.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the case where the vertical surface 74b is formed continuously from the lower end of the inclined surface 74a to the inclined surface 74a and extends in the vertical direction has been described. The surface 74b may be omitted.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet printer 1000, the light emitting unit 1014a and the light receiving unit 1014b of the ink remaining amount detection sensor 1014 provided in the ink jet printer 1000 are provided. Although the detection part 40 is provided in the position pinched | interposed between these, and the case where the to-be-detected part 79 (279) in the detection part 40 is detected with a transmission type sensor was demonstrated, it is not restricted to this. For example, the detected portion 79 (279) may be detected by a reflective sensor.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the inclined surfaces 74a and 274a are flat surfaces extending in the direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction has been described. It does not have to be.

  In addition, although the case where the inclined surface 74a (274a) is formed in the opening 74 (274) has been described in the first and second embodiments described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the first embodiment, the inclined surface 74a may be formed on the side surface of the extending portion 73 (the surface facing the lid 50). Moreover, in 2nd Embodiment, the inclined surface 274a may be formed in the side surface (surface facing the cover body 50) of the 2nd arm 273b.

1 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. It is the induction | guidance | derivation member and slide member shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage chamber shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining mounting of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1 to an ink jet printer. It is a schematic block diagram of the ink cartridge concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,201 Ink cartridge 20 Ink outlet 40 Detection part (protruding part)
60 Case 61 Ink storage chamber 70, 270 Displacement mechanism 71, 271 Guide member 71a, 271a Restriction member 72, 272 Uki 74a, 274a Inclined surface 74b Vertical surface 77, 277 Slide member 77a, 277a Support member 78, 278 Pins 79, 279 Detected part 1000 Inkjet printer (printer)
1014 Ink remaining amount detection sensor (light sensor)
1014a Light emitting unit 1014b Light receiving unit

Claims (6)

An ink storage chamber in which ink is stored;
A displacement mechanism that displaces as the amount of ink stored in the ink storage chamber decreases, and supplies the ink stored in the ink storage chamber to the printer via an ink outlet when the ink storage chamber is mounted. An ink cartridge,
The displacement mechanism is
A guide member having a first surface on which a horizontal surface at a predetermined height is moved in accordance with a displacement of the surface having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink and a displacement of the surface due to a decrease in the amount of ink. ,
A regulating member that regulates the displacement of the guiding member;
A slide that is supported so as to be movable in the horizontal direction at the predetermined height level, and that is formed with a pin that is pressed against the first surface of the guide member as the space is displaced due to a decrease in ink amount. And an ink cartridge.   The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the restricting member restricts displacement of the guide member so that the guide member moves in a vertical direction. The first surface intersects obliquely with respect to a horizontal plane;
The ink cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising a second surface formed continuously from the lower end of the first surface to the first surface and extending in a vertical direction.   2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member pivotally supports the guide member so that the guide member swings around a horizontal axis. The ink storage chamber is formed inside a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case, and the case has the ink outlet formed on one side wall on the lower side and the predetermined height level above the ink outlet. Is formed with a light-transmitting protrusion in which an internal space communicating with the ink storage chamber is formed,
When the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber is large, one end portion of the slide member is located in the internal space of the protruding portion, and at least the one end portion has a light shielding property. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The printer includes a light-emitting unit and a transmissive optical sensor having a light-emitting unit, and the protrusion is positioned between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit when the ink cartridge is mounted on the printer. The ink cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the ink cartridge is provided.

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