JP2012206408A - Printing fluid cartridge and recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing fluid cartridge or a recording apparatus that includes a structure which is configured at least either to prevent ink scattering when a printing fluid cartridge is extracted from a cartridge mounting part or to achieve the reduction of a device size.SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 30 includes: an operation member 60 which is movable to a first position where engagement with an engaging member 145 is released and to a second position where the engagement with the engaging member 145 is not released; and a holding member 65 which holds the engaging member 145 whose engagement is released by the operation member 60 at the first position in a state of being released from the engagement.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing fluid cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion and a recording apparatus.

  Conventionally, an image recording apparatus that records an image on recording paper using ink is known. This image recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head, and selectively ejects ink droplets from a nozzle of the recording head toward a recording sheet. The ink droplets land on the recording paper, whereby a desired image is recorded on the recording paper. This image recording apparatus is provided with an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head. The ink cartridge is detachable from a mounting portion provided in the image recording apparatus.

  When the ink in the ink cartridge runs out, the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting portion of the image recording apparatus, and a new ink cartridge for storing ink is mounted on the mounting portion. There is a known lock structure for positioning the ink cartridge in the mounting portion and for holding the mounting state of the ink cartridge. Also, a biasing member that biases the ink cartridge in a direction in which the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting portion in a state where the ink cartridge is locked by the lock structure is known. When the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting portion, the lock by the lock structure is released, and the ink cartridge moves toward the opening by the force received from the urging member. This makes it easy for the user to take out the ink cartridge from the mounting portion.

  Further, the ink cartridge may jump out of the mounting portion due to the force that the ink cartridge receives from the biasing member via the slider. There is a possibility that the ink cartridge may fall on the floor or the like and be damaged. In order to prevent these, a configuration for preventing the ink cartridge from popping out is known (Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-110777 A

  In the configuration described in Patent Literature 1, the mounting mechanism (29) is provided with an operation lever (30). The control lever (30) is provided with a restricting locking portion (30b). The restricting locking portion (30b) serves as a concave portion of the ink cartridge (22) when the ink cartridge (22) is detached. It is latched by the regulated latching portion (22a). This prevents the ink cartridge (22) from being urged in the attaching / detaching direction by the spring (36).

  However, when the mounting mechanism (29) is provided with an operation lever, it is necessary to secure a space where the user can operate the opening mechanism around the opening of the mounting mechanism (29). It has become.

  Further, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 merely stops the movement of the ink cartridge (22) that has popped out vigorously by the biasing of the spring at the locked portion (22a) for restriction, and the ink cartridge ( Since the movement of 22) is not decelerated, the ink supply needle is vigorously detached from the ink cartridge (22). At this time, there may be a problem that ink scatters in the mounting mechanism (29).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent ink from scattering when the printing fluid cartridge is taken out from the cartridge mounting portion, or to reduce the size of the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing fluid cartridge or a recording apparatus having a structure that can be solved.

  The present invention relates to a printing fluid cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion having an engaging member capable of engaging a printing fluid cartridge against an external force. An operation member slidable between a first position where the engagement with the engagement member is released, and a second position where the engagement with the engagement member is not released, and the operation member is engaged in the first position. A holding member that holds the released engaging member in a released state.

  In the mounted state in which the printing fluid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the printing fluid cartridge receives an external force. The engaging member engages with the printing fluid cartridge to hold the printing fluid cartridge in the mounted state against an external force.

  When the printing fluid cartridge is replaced, the user slides the operating member to the first position. As a result, the engagement between the printing fluid cartridge and the engaging member is released. Since the user is operating the operating member, the printing fluid cartridge that is moved by the external force is stopped by the user's hand. Moreover, since the engagement member released from engagement is held by the holding member, the engagement member is not engaged again.

According to the present invention, at least one of the following effects can be obtained.
When the user slides the operation member, the engagement between the engagement member and the print fluid cartridge is released, so the print fluid cartridge popping out by an external force can be held by the user's hand and prevented from dropping from the cartridge mounting portion. it can.

  Alternatively, since it is not necessary to provide a space for operating the engaging member in the cartridge mounting portion, the apparatus can be reduced in size.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a printer 10 having a cartridge mounting portion 110 as one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge mounting part 110 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is taken out from the cartridge mounting portion 110. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is taken out from the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting part 110 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example in which the present invention is embodied, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet based on an ink jet recording method. The printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 is provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The cartridge mounting portion 110 is provided with an opening 112 whose one surface is open to the outside. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting part 110 through the opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 corresponds to a printing fluid cartridge.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores ink that can be used by the printer 10. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected by the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub tank 28. The sub tank 28 temporarily stores the ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 selectively ejects the ink supplied from the sub tank 28 from the nozzles 29 by the ink jet recording method.

  The recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 15 to the transport path 24 by the paper feed roller 23 is transported onto the platen 26 by the transport roller pair 25. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto a recording sheet that passes over the platen 26. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording paper. The recording sheet that has passed through the platen 26 is discharged by a discharge roller pair 22 to a discharge tray 16 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path 24.

  Note that the schematic configuration of the printer 10 according to the present embodiment is merely an example. For example, other configurations in a known inkjet printer may be employed for the recording paper feeding method, the conveying method, the shape of the conveying path, and the like. Needless to say, it is good.

[Ink supply apparatus 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply device 100 is provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21 provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge mounting unit 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Ink cartridge 30]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 has an ink chamber 36 in which at least ink is stored. Ink is stored in a space formed inside the ink cartridge 30. The ink chamber 36 may be, for example, a space formed by the casing 31 that forms the appearance of the ink cartridge 30, or may be a member that is disposed inside the casing 31 and that is different from the casing 31. It may be a space to be formed. In this case, the ink cartridge does not have an ink chamber, but is included in the printing fluid cartridge of the present invention. The ink chamber 36 corresponds to a liquid chamber.

  The ink cartridge 30 is in the standing state shown in FIG. 2, that is, the direction indicated by the arrow 50 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the lower surface in the drawing as the bottom surface and the upper surface in the drawing as the top surface. (Hereinafter referred to as “insertion and removal direction 50” (see FIG. 5)). That is, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 along the insertion and removal direction 50 in the standing state, and is pulled out from the cartridge mounting portion 110 along the insertion and removal direction 50 in the standing state. This standing state corresponds to a mounting posture in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. As shown in FIG. 5, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 is the insertion direction 56, and the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted is the extraction direction 55. Needless to say, the insertion direction 56 and the extraction direction 55 are parallel to the insertion and extraction direction 50. In the present embodiment, the insertion and removal direction 50 is along the horizontal direction. That is, the insertion direction 56 and the extraction direction 55 are directions along the horizontal direction.

  The ink cartridge 30 includes, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 31. The casing 31 is, for example, a flat shape that is short in the width direction 51 and whose height direction 52 and depth direction 53 are longer than the width direction 51. The width direction 51 and the depth direction 53 are along the horizontal direction when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture. The height direction 52 is along the vertical direction when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the depth direction 53 is parallel to the insertion and removal direction 50, and the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 are orthogonal to the insertion and removal direction 50. .

  The housing 31 has a front wall 40 on the front side in the insertion direction 56 and a rear wall 42 on the rear side in the insertion direction 56. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110, the wall of the casing 31 that is the front side of the insertion direction 56 is the front wall 40, and the wall of the casing 31 that is the rear side is the rear wall 42. is there. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 face each other in the depth direction 53 (insertion and extraction direction 50). The housing 31 further includes a pair of side walls 37 and 38 that connect the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 and extend in the insertion and extraction direction 50. The side walls 37 and 38 may face each other in the width direction 51. The casing 31 further connects the side walls 37, 38 to the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 and extends from the upper end of the front wall 40 toward the upper end of the rear wall 42, and the lower end of the front wall 40. May have a lower wall 41 extending toward the lower end of the rear wall 42. The upper wall 39 and the lower wall 41 may face each other in the height direction 52. The outer surface of the housing 31 constituted by the front wall 40 corresponds to the front surface. The outer surface of the housing 31 constituted by the rear wall 42 corresponds to the rear surface. More specifically, an outer surface of the front wall 40 and a member (for example, an ink supply unit 43 described later) provided on the front wall 40 corresponds to the front surface. Further, the outer surface of the rear wall 42 and the member provided on the rear wall 42 (not necessarily provided in the present invention) corresponds to the rear surface. Further, the outer surface of the casing 31 constituted by the upper wall 39 corresponds to the upper surface. In the standing state, the ink supply unit 43 disposed on the front wall 40 is disposed on the lower side with the lower wall 41 facing down.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink supply unit 43 is provided below the height direction 52 of the front wall 40 of the housing 31, for example. The ink supply unit 43 has, for example, a cylindrical outer shape, and protrudes from the front wall 40 in the direction away from the ink chamber 36 or the insertion direction 56 along the depth direction 53 (insertion and extraction direction 50). For example, the ink supply port 71 is formed to open to the outside of the housing 31 in the vicinity of the tip 72 of the ink supply unit 43. As shown in FIG. 3, an ink flow path 44 is formed inside the ink supply unit 43. The ink flow path 44 extends from the ink supply port 71 in the depth direction 53 (insertion and extraction direction 50) and communicates with the ink chamber 36.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ink supply port 71 is configured to be opened and closed by a valve 70, for example. The valve 70 is provided in the ink flow path 44 of the ink supply unit 43 so as to be movable along the depth direction 53 (insertion and extraction direction 50). The valve 70 is urged toward the ink supply port 71 by a coil spring 73. Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied to the valve 70, the valve 70 is positioned at a closed position where the ink supply port 71 is closed liquid-tightly. The portion surrounding the ink supply port 71 at the tip 72 of the ink supply unit 43 is formed of an elastic member such as rubber, for example. When the biased valve 70 comes into contact with the elastic member, the elastic member is elastically deformed, and the ink supply port 71 is closed liquid-tightly. In this state, a part of the valve 70 is exposed from the ink supply port 71 to the outside of the ink supply unit 43, that is, to the outside of the ink cartridge 30. The valve 70 and the coil spring 73 are not essential, and a film or a rubber plug may be provided instead of the valve 70.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink supply pipe 122 provided on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71, whereby the coil spring 73 is elastically deformed and the valve 70 is coiled. It moves to the open position away from the ink supply port 71 against the urging of 73 (see FIG. 6A). As a result, the ink supply port 71 is opened, and ink can flow out from the ink chamber 36 into the ink supply pipe 122 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110 through the ink flow path 44. Note that the casing 31 is provided with, for example, an air introduction unit, and the ink introduction unit 122 is provided with the ink flowing out from the ink chamber 36 into the ink supply pipe 122 provided in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The air is introduced into the ink chamber 36 through the air. Note that the air introduction unit is not essential, and for example, the ink chamber 36 may be formed of a bag, and the volume may be reduced in accordance with a decrease in ink.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower end of the front wall 40 of the housing 31 is provided with a protrusion 32 that protrudes in the insertion direction 56. The protrusion 32 protrudes to the front side from the protruding end of the ink supply unit 43 provided on the front wall 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a locking portion 45 is formed near the center of the upper wall 39 of the housing 31 in the depth direction 53. The locking portion 45 is a recess having a locking surface 46 that extends in the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 of the ink cartridge 30. An engagement member 145 described later is engaged with the locking surface 46 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the surface on the front wall 40 side of the upper wall 39 of the housing 31 is closer to the engaging member when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110. 145 is the upper surface 47 in contact. The upper surface 47 is a surface that extends in the width direction 51 and the depth direction 53, for example. In addition, an inclined surface 48 that is inclined with respect to the upper surface 47 and the front wall 40 is formed at the boundary between the upper surface 47 and the front wall 40, for example. The inclined surface 48 guides the engaging member 145 to the upper surface 47. The inclined surface 48 may not be provided, or a projection that protrudes in the insertion direction 56 may be provided like the projection 32 instead of the inclined surface 48.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation member 60 is provided on the upper side in the height direction 52 on the rear wall 42 side of the housing 31, for example. The operation member 60 has, for example, an elongated rod shape, and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is along the depth direction 53. A long hole 49 into which the operation member 60 can be inserted is formed in the rear wall 42 of the casing 31 so as to extend along the depth direction 53. For example, the long hole 49 extends from the rear wall 42 to a locking portion. 45 is penetrated.

  For example, the operation member 60 is guided by the long hole 49 and can slide along the insertion and extraction directions 50. In the operation member 60, the front end portion 61 on the front wall 40 side reaches, for example, the locking portion 45. For example, the rear end 62 of the operation member 60 can protrude from the rear wall 42. A disc-shaped plate 63 is provided at the rear end 62 in order to restrict pushing more than necessary.

  The operation member 60 is provided with a holding member 65 that restricts movement of the operation member 60. The holding member 65 is a well-known ratchet (knock) mechanism in, for example, a knock ballpoint pen. The holding member 65 restricts the operation member 60 from moving in the insertion direction 56 in a state where the distal end portion 61 of the operation member 60 is located at the most rear side of the insertion direction 56. This position is referred to as the second position. In this state, the position of the distal end portion 61 only needs to be behind the insertion direction 56 from the position of an engagement end portion 146 of an engagement member 145 described later. When the plate 63 of the operation member 60 is pushed in the insertion direction 56, the holding member 65 allows the operation member 60 to slide in the insertion direction 56. In a state where the operation member 60 is pushed most into the insertion direction 56, the distal end portion 61 approaches the locking surface 46 of the locking portion 45. This position is referred to as the first position. When the operation member 60 is slid from the second position to the first position, the ratchet mechanism of the holding member 65 operates, and the holding member 65 is restricted from moving the operation member 60 from the first position to the take-out direction 55. To do. Then, when the plate 63 of the operation member 60 is pushed again in the insertion direction 56, the ratchet mechanism of the holding member 65 operates to return the operation member 60 from the first position to the second position. In short, the ratchet mechanism uses a force that pushes the operation member 60 with a fingertip and a spring, combines the internal claw and a tooth-shaped part, and repeats sliding, holding, and opening movements. That is, when the operation member 60 is pressed once, the operation member 60 slides in the insertion direction 56 and the operation member 60 is fixed by the claw as the holding member 65 (first position). When pushed again, the claw as the holding member 65 is released, and the operation member 60 slides by the force of the coil spring and slides toward the rear wall 42 (second position).

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIG. 4, a case 101 as a housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has a box shape having an opening 112 on the front side of the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. In the case 101, for example, four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black can be accommodated. In each drawing shown in each embodiment, only the case 101 corresponding to one ink cartridge 30 is illustrated.

  The case 101 has an end surface 102 that faces the opening 112 in the insertion and extraction direction 50 and faces the internal space of the case 101. As shown in FIG. 4, the connection portion 103 is provided below the end surface 102 of the case 101. The connection unit 103 is disposed on the end surface 102 at a position corresponding to the ink supply unit 43 of each ink cartridge 30 attached to the case 101.

  The connection unit 103 includes an ink supply pipe 122 and a holding unit 121. Although not shown in the drawing, the ink supply pipe 122 is connected to the ink tube 20 on the outer surface side of the case 101 that forms the front and back surfaces of the case 101. Each ink tube 20 connected to each ink supply pipe 122 is connected to the recording head 21 of the printer 10 so that ink can be distributed.

  The holding part 121 is formed on the end surface 102 of the case 101, for example, and a part of the end surface 102 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The ink supply tube 122 is arranged in the insertion and extraction direction 50 at the center of the holding portion 121. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the cylindrical ink supply unit 43 is inserted into the cylindrical holding unit 121. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply unit 43 is in contact with, for example, in close contact with the surface defining the holding unit 121. When the ink supply unit 43 is inserted into the holding unit 121, the ink supply tube 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 43, and the ink supply tube 122 moves the valve 70. As a result, the valve 70 in the closed position is moved to the open position against the bias of the coil spring 73, and the ink stored in the ink chamber 36 can flow out to the outside. The ink that has flowed out of the ink chamber 36 flows into the ink supply pipe 122 due to a water head difference or the like, and flows to the recording head 21 through the ink tube 20.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the engaging member 145 is provided in the case 101. The engaging member 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a mounted state. The engaging member 145 is provided above the opening 112 of the case 101.

  For example, the engaging member 145 is formed to be swingable about the support shaft 147. The support shaft 147 is provided, for example, at the end of the engagement member 145 on the opening 112 side. For example, the support shaft 147 is attached to the case 101. As a result, the engaging member 145 is rotatably supported on the upper side of the case 101 near the opening 112 so as to approach / separate from the opening 112 side around the support shaft 147. The engagement end 146 is disposed on the other end side of the support shaft 147 of the engagement member 145. The engagement end 146 can be engaged with the locking portion 45 of the ink cartridge 30. When the engaging end 146 engages with the locking portion 45, the ink cartridge 30 is held at the mounting position against the case 101 against the urging force of the slide member 123. The rotation position (see FIG. 6A) of the engagement member 145 at which the engagement end 146 can be engaged with the engagement portion 45 is referred to as a lock position, and the engagement end 146 is the engagement portion. A position that does not engage with 45 (see FIG. 6B) is referred to as an unlock position.

  In the engaging member 145, a convex portion 148 is formed between the engaging end portion 146 and the support shaft 147 and on the lower surface side, that is, the surface side facing the locking portion 45 of the ink cartridge 30. . The convex portion 148 is formed in a triangular shape in the longitudinal direction of the engaging member 145. The surface of the convex portion 148 facing the distal end portion 61 of the operation member 60 is inclined so as to have an acute angle with respect to the insertion and extraction direction 50. This inclined surface is referred to as a first surface 149.

  Although not shown in each drawing, a coil spring is attached to the engagement member 145, and the engagement member 145 is urged downward in the gravitational direction by the coil spring. When the plate 63 of the operating member 60 moves to the front wall 40 side, the engaging member 145 rotates upward about the support shaft 147 and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. Although not shown in each drawing, for example, the movable range of the engagement member 145 is restricted so as not to move downward from the unlock position.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the internal space of the cartridge mounting portion 110 is enlarged in the insertion direction 56 on the lower end side of the end surface 102. In this expanded space, a slide member 123 is provided so as to be slidable (horizontal movement) in the insertion and extraction direction 50. For example, the slide member 123 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a protruding piece 124 protrudes upward from the upper surface thereof. The protruding piece 124 overlaps the entry path of the protrusion 32 of the ink cartridge 30, and can contact the protrusion 32 in the process of mounting the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  A coil spring 126 is provided in a compressed state between the end surface 125 of the space in which the slide member 123 is accommodated and the slide member 123. The slide member 123 is biased in the take-out direction 55 by the coil spring 126. Therefore, the movement of the slide member 123 is restricted by contacting the front surface 127 facing the end surface 125 at a position where no external force is applied, for example. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted from the state in which the protrusion 32 of the ink cartridge 30 is in contact with the protrusion 124, the coil spring 126 is contracted as the slide member 123 moves.

[Installation operation of ink cartridge 30]
Hereinafter, the operation of attaching and detaching the ink cartridge 30 to and from the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 from the front wall 40 side of the ink cartridge 30 through the opening 112. At this time, the holding member 65 holds the operation member 60 in the second position. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the inclined surface 48 of the housing 31 contacts the engaging member 145. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the engaging member 145 contacts the upper surface 47. Thereby, the engaging member 145 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5A and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position against the urging force.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, in the middle of mounting the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110, the ink supply unit 43 is in contact with the holding unit 121, and the ink supply pipe 122 is supplied with ink from the ink supply unit 43. It is inserted into the mouth 71. At this time, the engaging member 145 is not yet engaged with the locking portion 45 of the housing 31. When the ink supply pipe 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 to contact the valve 70 and the ink cartridge 30 is further moved in the insertion direction 56, the valve 70 is moved to the ink supply pipe 122 as shown in FIG. And is moved from the closed position to the open position against the bias of the coil spring 73. Then, the ink supply unit 43 is inserted into the holding unit 121 and the ink supply tube 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71, whereby the ink cartridge 30 is mounted at a predetermined position with respect to the cartridge mounting unit 110. The Although not shown in each figure, an ink introduction port is provided at the tip of the ink supply tube 122, so that the ink supply tube 122 passes through the ink introduction port from the ink chamber 33 through the ink flow path 44. Ink flows into.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position, the locking surface 46 of the locking portion 45 of the housing 31 inserts the engagement end 146 of the engagement member 145 into the insertion direction 56. Pass by. As a result, the engagement end 146 of the engagement member 145 is not supported by the upper surface 47, and therefore the engagement member 145 is rotated clockwise in FIG. The end portion 146 contacts the locking surface 46. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is held at the mounting position against the biasing force of the coil springs 73 and 126 by the engagement member 145 engaging the locking portion 45. In this way, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed. The force applied to the casing 31 by the coil spring 73 of the ink cartridge 30 and / or the coil spring 126 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 corresponds to an external force. This external force acts on the protrusion 32 on the front wall 40 side of the housing 31. As an external force, a coil spring is provided outside the housing 31 in place of the coil spring 73 that opens and closes the valve 70 inside the housing 31, and the tip of the coil spring is the end surface 102 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 or the like. The ink cartridge 30 may be urged toward the removal direction 55 by hitting the optical sensor or the like.

  When the ink in the ink chamber 36 of the ink cartridge 30 is consumed, the used ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 and a new ink cartridge 30 is mounted. As described above, in the state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the distal end portion 61 of the operation member 60 is positioned behind the engagement end portion 146 of the engagement member 145 in the insertion direction 56. Has been.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting part 110, the plate 63 of the operation member 60 is pushed toward the rear wall 42 of the housing 31 by the user. Since the plate 63 of the operation member 60 is located on the front side of the rear wall 42, the user can operate the operation member 60 from the rear wall 42 side of the ink cartridge 30. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6B, the distal end portion 61 of the operation member 60 comes into contact with the first surface 149 of the engagement member 145. When the operation member 60 is further pushed, the distal end portion 61 of the operation member 60 approaches the locking surface 46, and the engagement member 145 causes the first surface 149 to ride on the distal end portion 61 of the operation member 60. And pushed up. As a result, the engagement member 145 is rotated until the engagement end 146 of the engagement member 145 is above the locking surface 46, that is, until the engagement end 146 is separated from the locking surface 46. That is, the engagement member 145 is rotated from the lock position to the unlock position, and the holding of the ink cartridge 30 by the engagement member 145 is released.

  By separating the engagement end 146 of the engagement member 145 from the locking surface 46, the housing 31 is caused by the external force applied to the housing 31, that is, the biasing force by the coil spring 73 and / or the coil spring 126. Attempt to move to take-out direction 55. On the other hand, since the user pushes the operation member 60 in the insertion direction 56, the urging force by the coil springs 73 and 126 is received by the user's hand via the operation member 60.

  Even when the user releases his / her hand from the operation member 60, the operation member 60 is held at the first position by the holding member 65, so that the engagement end 146 of the engagement member 145 may come into contact with the locking surface 46 again. Absent. 7B, the casing 31 is moved in the take-out direction 55 by the slide member 123 until the slide member 123 comes into contact with the front surface 127 by the bias of the coil spring 126. As shown in FIG. This movement is slight, and only the urging force of the coil spring 126 acts on the casing 31, so that the casing 31 does not jump out of the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the user releases his / her hand from the operation member 60, the coil spring 64 is urged to slide the operation member 60 to a position where the plate 63 is farthest from the rear wall 42 of the housing 31. Then, when the user takes out the housing 31 in the take-out direction 55, the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110. Instead of the slide movement of the operation member 60, the operation member 60 is rotated around an insertion direction that coincides with the axial direction, or the operation member 60 is swung like a seesaw so that the holding member 65 and the operation member 60 may be engaged. In this case, when the operation member 60 is in the first position, the engagement member 145 may not be engaged with the engagement portion 45 again even if the user releases the operation member 60.

[Effect of the first embodiment]
According to the first embodiment, when the user slides the operation member 60, the engagement between the engagement member 145 and the ink cartridge 30 is released, so that the ink cartridge 30 that moves in the take-out direction 55 by the external force is the user. And is prevented from jumping out of the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  Further, since it is not necessary to provide the engaging member 145 with a configuration for the user to operate the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink supply device 100 can be reduced in size.

  In addition, since the operation member 60 is held at the first position by the holding member 65, even if the user releases the operation member 60 after the operation member 60 is slid from the second position to the first position, the operation member 60 is engaged. The member 145 does not engage with the locking portion 45 again.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment described above, the operating member 60 is held at the first position by the holding member 65 and the engaging member 145 is held at the unlocked position. Thus, the magnets 66 and 150 are provided, and the engaging member 145 may be held in the unlocked position.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the case 101 is provided with a magnet 150 on the lower surface side of the engaging member 145. The magnet 150 is arranged so that the end surface 102 side of the case 102 is an S pole and the opening 112 side is an N pole.

  The operation member 60 of the ink cartridge 30 has a leading end portion 61 extending below the locking portion 45. A magnet 66 is provided on the upper surface side of the tip portion 61. The magnet 66 is arranged so that the front wall 40 side is an N pole and the rear wall 42 side is an S pole. In other words, in the insertion and extraction direction 50, the arrangement of the magnet 150 described above and the north and south poles is reversed. Note that the operation member 60 is provided so as to be slidable along the depth direction 53 below the locking portion 45 without appearing in and out of the locking portion 45.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the engaging member 145 engages with the locking portion 45 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. In this state, the operation member 60 is located in a state where the distal end portion 61 is located at the most rear side in the insertion direction 56, that is, in the second position. In this state, the magnet 66 provided on the operation member 60 and the magnet 150 provided on the engagement member 145 face each other such that the N pole and the S pole face each other. Accordingly, a magnetic force that attracts the magnets 66 and 150 to each other is generated, so that the engaging member 145 is held in a state of being engaged with the locking portion 45.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the operation member 60 is pushed from the second position to the first position, that is, the operation member 60 is pushed most into the insertion direction 56. In this position, the magnet 66 provided on the operation member 60 and the magnet 150 provided on the engagement member 145 face each other such that the north and south poles face each other. Therefore, the magnetic force which separates the magnets 66 and 150 from each other is generated, so that the engaging member 145 is held away from the locking portion 45.

  Even with such a configuration, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In each embodiment, the remaining amount detection unit is omitted. However, the ink cartridge 30 may be provided with a remaining amount detection unit. The remaining amount detection unit is arranged so as to protrude from the front wall 40 of the ink cartridge 30 in a direction away from the ink chamber 36. The remaining amount detection unit is made of a light transmissive resin. It is possible to view the inside of the ink chamber 36 from the outside via the remaining amount detecting unit and visually recognize the remaining amount or to detect it with an optical sensor. The distance between the pair of side walls constituting the remaining amount detection unit when using the optical sensor is set to be smaller than the distance between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the optical sensor. A light shielding plate that moves according to the amount of ink may be provided in the remaining amount detection unit. In place of the light shielding plate, the amount of light reaching the light receiving element is reduced by reflecting, diffracting, or attenuating all or part of the light emitted from the light emitting element according to the amount of ink in the ink chamber 36. It may be allowed.

  Further, in each of the embodiments, a mode in which ink is stored in the ink cartridge 30 as a printing fluid corresponding to the ink jet printer 10 is shown. However, the printing fluid is not limited to ink. The present invention can also be applied to a cartridge containing toner as a printing fluid corresponding to a photographic image forming apparatus.

30 ... Ink cartridge (printing fluid cartridge)
31 ... Case 36 ... Ink chamber 39 ... Upper wall (upper surface)
40 ... Front wall (front)
42 ... rear wall (rear surface)
45 ... engaging portion 46 ... locking surface 47 ... upper surface 60 ... operating member 65 ... holding member 66, 150 ... magnet (holding member)
73, 126 ... Coil spring (biasing member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Ink supply apparatus 110 ... Cartridge mounting part 145 ... Engagement member 146 ... Engagement end part 147 ... Spindle

Claims (8)

A printing fluid cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion having an engaging member capable of engaging a printing fluid cartridge against an external force,
An operation member movable to a first position where the engagement with the engagement member is released, and a second position where the engagement with the engagement member is not released;
A printing fluid cartridge comprising: an engaging member that is disengaged by the operation member at a first position; and a holding member that holds the disengaged state. A locking portion engageable with the engaging member;
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the operation member moves the engagement member to release the engagement with the locking portion. It has a front surface that is the front side for insertion and a rear surface that is separated from the front surface,
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is disposed at a position where the operation member can be moved from the rear surface side.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein an interface on which the external force acts is provided on the front side in order to move the printing fluid cartridge when the engagement between the engagement portion and the locking portion is released. .   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is positioned at a first position by being slid toward the front surface. A cartridge mounting portion having an engaging member capable of engaging the printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1,
The engaging member is engageable with the locking portion disposed on an upper surface connecting the front surface and the rear surface,
The operating member is moved while the tip is in contact with the engaging member to separate the engaging member from the locking portion, and the printing fluid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. A recording apparatus in which the engagement member is disposed between the distal end of the operation member and the locking portion in the state. A recording apparatus comprising a cartridge mounting portion to which the printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1 can be mounted,
The cartridge mounting part is
An urging member for applying an external force acting in the take-out direction on the printing fluid cartridge;
An engaging member capable of engaging the printing fluid cartridge against the external force. The recording apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the engaging member is rotatably provided on a support shaft, and is rotated about the support shaft by the operation member.

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