JP2013129178A - Printing fluid cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel printing fluid cartridge having a light attenuation plate and an electrical interface.SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 30 includes a body 31 which has a front wall 40 having an ink supply portion 34 provided in a lower part, a rear wall 42 being apart from the front wall 40, and an upper wall 39 and a lower wall 41 disposed in a height direction 52, a lever 80 having a rear end portion 82 disposed on a rear wall 42 side and being turnable around an axis 83 disposed on an upper wall 41 side, a plate 88 projected frontward from the upper wall 39 and attenuating light advancing in the width direction 51, and an IC substrate 74 disposed between the lever 80 and the plate 88 in a depth direction 53 and having a surface extending in the depth direction 53 and the height direction 52. The upper end of the plate 88 is disposed below the IC substrate 74 in the height direction 52.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing fluid cartridge having a light attenuating plate and an electrical interface.

  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 can be mounted on a mounting portion provided in the image recording apparatus (Patent Document 1).

  The ink cartridge may be provided with electronic components such as a memory module in order to individually grasp the color, material, remaining amount, maintenance state, and the like of the ink. The memory module or the like is electrically connected to a contact provided in the mounting portion in a state where the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion, so that stored data can be read (Patent Document 2). For the same purpose, an ink cartridge having a light attenuation plate that can be detected by an optical sensor is known.

JP 2009-1332098 A JP 2000-37880 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel printing fluid cartridge having a light attenuating plate and an electrical interface.

  The printing fluid cartridge according to the present invention has at least a front side in which a cylindrical fluid supply unit is provided at a lower part, a rear side away from the front side, and an upper side and a lower side arranged in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. A main body, one end side is disposed on the rear side, a lever that can be rotated around a fulcrum disposed on the upper side, and a front side projecting on the upper side from the front side, the front-rear direction and the upper and lower directions A light attenuating plate for attenuating light traveling in the left-right direction orthogonal to the direction, and an electrical interface having a surface extending between the lever and the light attenuating plate in the front-rear direction and extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction And. The upper end of the light attenuating plate is disposed below the electrical interface in the vertical direction.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a printer 10 including a cartridge mounting unit 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the cartridge mounting portion 110 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing a modified example of the ink cartridge 30.

  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.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet using an inkjet recording system. 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. An opening 112 opened to the outside is provided on one surface of the cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting part 110 through the opening 112.

  Ink is stored in the ink cartridge 30. The ink cartridge 30 is connected to the recording head 21 via 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 ink supplied from the sub tank 28 from the nozzles 29.

  In the printer 10, a paper feed tray 15, a paper feed roller 23, a transport path 24, a transport roller pair 25, a platen 26, a discharge roller pair 22, and a paper discharge tray 16 are arranged along the transport direction. The recording paper is sent from the paper feed tray 15 to the transport path 24 by the paper feed roller 23. This recording sheet is conveyed onto the platen 26 by the conveying 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.

[Ink cartridge 30]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 is a container for storing ink. A space formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is an ink chamber 36 for storing ink. The ink chamber 36 is formed by the casing of the main body 31 that forms the appearance of the ink cartridge 30, but may be formed by an internal frame that is a separate member from the casing of the main body 31.

  2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 is indicated by an 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. (See FIG. 4, hereinafter referred to as “insertion and removal direction 50”). The insertion and removal direction 50 is along the horizontal direction. The ink cartridge 30 is mounted on or removed from the cartridge mounting unit 110 while standing. This standing state corresponds to the mounting posture. The direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is the insertion direction 56 along the horizontal direction, and the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed is the extraction direction 55. Further, the height direction (vertical direction) 52 in the standing state corresponds to the direction of gravity. In other words, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 along the insertion / removal direction 50 and is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 along the insertion / removal direction 50. In the present embodiment, the insertion and removal direction 50 is along the horizontal direction, but the insertion and removal direction 50 may be a gravity direction or a direction that intersects the horizontal direction and the gravity direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 31 and a subframe 90 constituting the front wall 140 side. The subframe 90 is assembled to the main body 31 to form the outer shape of the ink cartridge 30. The ink cartridge 30 is generally thin in the width direction (left-right direction) 51 and has a flat shape in which the height direction (up-down direction) 52 and the depth direction (front-rear direction) 53 are larger than the width direction 51. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the wall of the subframe 90 that is the front side of the insertion direction 56 is the front wall 140, and the wall of the main body 31 that is the rear side of the insertion direction 56 is the rear wall 42. . The front wall 140 and the rear wall 42 face each other in the insertion and extraction direction 50. The front wall 140 corresponds to a second front wall.

[Main unit 31]
The main body 31 includes a front wall 40, a rear wall 42, side walls 37 and 38, an upper wall 39 and a lower wall 41. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 connect a pair of left and right side walls 37, 38 extending in the insertion and extraction direction 50, the side walls 37, 38 and the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42, and from the upper end of the front wall 40 to the rear wall. An upper wall 39 extending toward the upper end of 42 and a lower wall 41 extending from the lower end of the front wall 40 toward the lower end of the rear wall 42 are connected. These six walls define the outer surface of the main body 31. Note that the insertion and removal direction 50 is parallel to the depth direction 53. The front wall 40 corresponds to the first front wall.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the detection unit 33 is provided near the center of the front wall 40 of the main body 31 in the height direction 52. The distal end of the first projection 85 in the insertion direction 56 of the plate 88, the distal end of the second projection 86 in the insertion direction 56, and the second light blocking unit 89 are arranged behind the detection unit 33 in the insertion direction 56. Has been. The detection unit 33 has a box shape having an opening on one side so that ink can flow through the ink chamber 36. The detection unit 33 transmits light that is emitted from the optical sensor 114 (see FIG. 5) and travels in a direction perpendicular to the insertion and extraction direction 50 (in the present embodiment, the width direction 51), for example, infrared light. And a pair of walls made of translucent resin. The detection unit 33 is exposed to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 on the front wall 40 side through the opening 95 of the subframe 90. Therefore, the light of the optical sensor 114 emitted from the outside of the ink cartridge 30 can pass through the detection unit 33. The light may be infrared light or visible light. In the present embodiment, the detection unit 33 is formed by the main body 31 made of a resin that transmits infrared light. However, the main body 31 having translucency may be covered with a cover or the like. The detection unit 33 corresponds to the expansion unit.

  The pair of left and right walls of the detection unit 33 is hollow so that ink can flow. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60 is positioned between the pair of left and right walls of the detection unit 33. The sensor arm 60 is provided with an indicator part 62 and a float part 63 at both ends of a plate-like arm body 61, respectively. In the ink chamber 36, the sensor arm 60 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 64 extending along the width direction 51. The sensor arm 60 rotates according to the amount of ink present in the ink chamber 36. By rotation of the sensor arm 60, the indicator unit 62 is positioned in a lower position where the indicator unit 62 is located below the detecting unit 33 in the gravity direction, and the indicator unit 62 is positioned above the detecting unit 33 in the gravitational direction. The posture can be changed to a higher posture. Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which the amount of ink is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount and the indicator unit 62 is in the lower posture.

  In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink cartridge 30 proceeds in a direction perpendicular to the insertion and extraction direction 50 (width direction 51 in this embodiment) emitted from the optical sensor 114 provided on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The detection unit 33 changes between a state in which the infrared light to be transmitted is transmitted by a predetermined amount or more and a state in which the infrared light is shielded or attenuated to be less than the predetermined amount. For example, if the indicator unit 62 is in the upper position, the detection unit 33 transmits infrared light, and if the indicator unit 62 is in the lower position, the detection unit 33 blocks or attenuates the infrared light. It is determined that the remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber 36 has become less than a predetermined amount according to the light transmission state of the detection unit 33.

  The detection unit 33 may not have the sensor arm 60. In the optical sensor 114, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are opposed to the width direction (left-right direction) 51 of the ink cartridge 30. The light emitted from the light emitting element travels in the width direction 51 and is received by the light receiving element. In the state where there is ink in the detection unit 33, the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked or attenuated, and in the state where there is no ink in the detection unit 33, the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element is given. You may be comprised so that more than fixed quantity may permeate | transmit. Furthermore, the detection part 33 may be comprised with the soft film and the lever which can be rotated. That is, the film swells in a state where ink is present in the detection unit 33, and the lever is held at a position where the lever blocks infrared light by contacting the rotatable lever with the film. On the other hand, the film may be deflated when there is no ink in the film, and the pivotable lever may be pivoted downward or upward to pivot to a position that does not block infrared light. In addition, when there is ink in the detection unit 33, infrared light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 114 is guided so as not to reach the light receiving element, and when there is no ink in the detection unit 33, light is emitted. For example, a reflection member or a prism may be used so that infrared light emitted from the element is guided so as to reach the light receiving element.

  An air communication port 32 is provided on the upper side of the detection unit 33 disposed on the front wall 40 of the main body 31. The atmosphere communication port 32 is a through hole that penetrates the wall forming the ink chamber 36 in the depth direction 53. The air layer of the ink chamber 36 and the atmosphere can be communicated with each other via the atmosphere communication port 32. The air communication port 32 is disposed closer to the rear wall 42 formed by the main body 31 than the front wall 140 formed by the subframe 90. The atmosphere communication port 32 is accessible from the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the hole 96 by a hole 96 that is a circular hole that penetrates the front wall 40 in the depth direction 53 in the subframe 90. The atmosphere communication port 32 is configured to be opened and closed by an atmosphere communication valve 73, for example. When the atmosphere communication port 32 is opened, the air pressure in the ink chamber 36 maintained at a negative pressure becomes the external pressure.

  An ink supply unit 34 is provided below the detection unit 33 disposed on the front wall 40 of the main body 31. The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape, and protrudes outward along the insertion / removal direction 50 from the front wall 40 of the subframe 90. An ink supply port 71 is formed at the protruding end of the ink supply unit 34. The ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34 is exposed to the outside from the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the hole 97 by a hole 97 that penetrates the front wall 140 in the depth direction 53 in the subframe 90.

  An ink flow path 72 extending from the ink supply port 71 through the internal space of the ink supply unit 34 in the ink outlet direction (insertion direction 56) and leading to the ink chamber 36 is formed. The ink supply port 71 is configured to be opened and closed by an ink supply valve 70. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 110, the ink needle 122 (see FIG. 5) provided in the cartridge mounting section 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 to open the ink supply valve 70. As a result, the ink flows out from the ink chamber 36 through the ink flow path 72 to the ink needle 122 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The ink supply port 71 is not necessarily limited to a configuration that can be opened and closed by the ink supply valve 70. For example, the ink supply port 71 is closed with a film or the like, and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The ink supply port 71 may be opened by the ink needle 122 breaking through the film.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a claw 43 is formed on the lower wall 41 of the main body 31. The front end side of the claw 43 protrudes to both sides of the width direction 51 of the ink cartridge 30. Although not appearing in each figure, a notch extending in the depth direction 53 is formed in the center of the claw 43 in the width direction 51. The nail | claw 43 can be elastically deformed so that the dimension of the width direction 51 may be reduced by this notch. The front end side of the claw 43 comes into contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical inner wall that enters the long holes 91 and 92 of the subframe 90 to form the long holes 91 and 92, respectively. Instead of the claw 43, a claw protruding from the upper wall 39 and the lower wall 41 of the ink cartridge 30 to the upper side and the lower side in the height direction 52 may be used.

  A stopper 45 is formed near the center of the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 in the depth direction 53. The stopper 45 has a first surface 46 that extends in the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 of the ink cartridge 30 and protrudes upward from the upper wall 39. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the first surface 46 is held by a holding member 145 described later. The stopper 45 receives an elastic force that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 55.

  A lever 80 is provided above the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 in the height direction 52. The lever 80 has, for example, a bent flat plate shape, and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is along the depth direction 53 (upper wall 39). The lever 80 has a shaft 83 at its bent position. With this shaft 83 as a fulcrum, it is rotatably supported at a position spaced from the first surface 46 of the main body 31 toward the rear wall 42 side. The lever 80 can rotate around the shaft 83. In the lever 80, a front end portion 81 on the front wall 40 side extends from the shaft 83 to the first surface 46 side. The rear end portion 82 of the lever 80 extends from the shaft 83 to the rear wall 42 side.

  In a state where no external force is applied to the lever 80, the lever 80 is positioned at the uppermost position with respect to the upper wall 39 (the position where the distal end 81 is farthest from the upper wall 39) by its own weight. In this state, the rear end portion 82 is located above the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. The distal end portion 81 is positioned so as to protrude outward from the outer shape of the main body 31. When the distal end portion 81 of the lever 80 is pushed downward, the lever 80 rotates, for example, clockwise in FIG. 6 against its own weight. In a state where the lever 80 is rotated clockwise, the distal end portion 81 is located below the first surface 46. Here, the 1st surface 46 points out the position (area | region) which contacts the holding member 145, and does not point out the whole wall surface.

  The lever 80 may be integrated with the main body 31. In this case, the direction for releasing the contact between the rotating member 145 and the first surface 46 is set to be opposite to the lever 80. Also good. The lever 80 may be urged clockwise by a coil spring. In that case, the lever 80 is rotated counterclockwise against the elastic force of the coil spring by the rear end portion 82 being pushed downward.

  The side walls 37 and 38 of the main body 31 extend from the center in the depth direction 53 on the rear wall 42 side. Specifically, the outer surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38 are flat from the rear wall 42 side to the middle of the front wall 40 side, and are inclined in the depth direction 53 from the middle to the end portions of the side walls 37 and 38. This is a tapered shape. Therefore, the side walls 37 and 38 may not exist on the front wall 40 side from the center in the depth direction 51 of the main body 31, and a part of the main body 31 that defines the ink chamber 36 may be exposed. At the center in the depth direction 53 of the main body 31, step surfaces 47 and 48 corresponding to the thickness of the side walls 37 and 38 extend in the height direction 52. A subframe 90 described later covers the main body 31 on the front wall 40 side from the step surfaces 47 and 48.

  A guide portion 65 extending in the depth direction 53 is provided on the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. The guide portion 65 is constituted by a pair of plates 57 protruding upward from the upper wall 39. The distance between the pair of plates 57 facing the width direction 51 in the guide portion 65 is shorter than the distance between the side walls 37 and 38 in the main body 31. And the space | interval in the width direction 51 of a pair of board 57 which comprises the guide part 65 is wider than the width | variety of the holding member 145 mentioned later. The shaft 83 of the lever 80 is rotatably supported by the plate 57 of the guide portion 65, and the distal end portion 81 of the lever 80 is rotated between the plates 57. In this embodiment, the plate 57 is formed by the main body 31, but the plate 57 may be formed by a member such as an internal frame constituting the main body 31. The guide part 65 corresponds to a first guide part. The plate 57 corresponds to a plate (plate).

  A guide part 66 extending in the depth direction 53 is provided on the lower wall 41 of the main body 31. The guide portion 66 protrudes downward from the lower wall 41 and extends in the depth direction 53. Since the width of the guide portion 66 is shorter than the width of the lower wall 41, a step is formed at the boundary between the guide portion 66 and the lower wall 41. The distance between the pair of side walls facing the width direction 51 in the guide portion 66 is shorter than the distance between the pair of side walls 37 and 38 facing the width direction 51 in the main body 31 and the subframe 90. And the space | interval in the width direction 51 of a pair of guide part 65 is wider than the width | variety of the holding member 145 mentioned later. The guide portions 65 and 66 are inserted into a guide groove 109 described later and moved when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110. The guide part 66 corresponds to a second guide part.

[Subframe 90]
The subframe 90 is a box that can cover the outer side of the front wall 40 side of the main body 31, the side surface on the front wall 40 side from the step surfaces 47 and 48 formed by the side walls 37 and 38, the upper wall 39 and the lower wall 41. In the state attached to the main body 31, the front wall 140 facing the front wall 40, the upper wall 141 facing the upper wall 39, the lower wall 142 facing the lower wall 41, and the side walls 37, 38, respectively. Opposing side walls 143 and 144 are provided. Surrounded by the upper wall 141, the lower wall 142 and the side walls 143, 144, the rear wall side opposite to the front wall 140 is opened, and the front wall of the main body 31 is opened from this opening to the internal space of the subframe 90. A part on the 40 side is inserted. The subframe 90 is formed from, for example, a resin capable of blocking light such as infrared light emitted from the optical sensor 114. In addition, the resin capable of blocking light may be a little light if the thickness of each portion of the subframe 90 is a thickness that can attenuate or reflect infrared light or can be blocked by a colorant. A transparent translucent resin is also included.

  Long holes 91 and 92 extending in the height direction 52 are formed below the side walls 143 and 144 in the subframe 90, respectively. When the subframe 90 is assembled to the main body 31, the tip portions of the claws 43 of the main body 31 enter the long holes 91 and 92, respectively. The dimension of the claw 43 in the height direction 52 is shorter than the dimension of the elongated holes 91 and 92 in the height direction 52. Moreover, the end portions 67 and 68 on the opening side of the subframe 90 extend in the height direction 52, and face the step surfaces 47 and 48 when the subframe 90 is assembled to the main body 31. Further, the end portions 67 and 68 on the opening side of the subframe 90 are over the step surfaces 47 and 48 that form inclined surfaces on the side walls 37 and 38 of the main body 31 when the subframe 90 is assembled to the main body 31. You have entered the position to lap. The sub frame 90 is movable relative to the main body 31 in the height direction 52 within a range in which the claw 43 can slide within the long holes 91 and 92. That is, the distance in the height direction 52 between the claw 43 and the inner walls forming the long holes 91 and 92 is secured in a range in which the subframe 90 can slide in the height direction 52 with respect to the main body 31. End portions 67 and 68 of the subframe 90 are in contact with the step surfaces 47 and 48 of the main body 31. That is, the step surfaces 47 and 48 serve as a guide when the sub frame 90 moves in the height direction 52. Accordingly, the sub frame 90 can be moved relative to the main body 31 in a direction in which the upper wall 141 of the sub frame 90 approaches or moves away from the upper wall 39 of the main body 31.

  On the front wall 140 side of the subframe 90, an opening 95 penetrating in the depth direction 53 is formed in the approximate center of the height direction 52. The opening 95 exposes the detection unit 33 of the main body 31 to the outside (the width direction 51 and the depth direction 53) when the subframe 90 is attached to the main body 31. Therefore, the opening 95 is formed in a position, size, and shape corresponding to the detection unit 33 of the main body 31. A frame of the opening 95 configured to surround the detection unit 33 includes a second light blocking unit 89 extending in the height direction 52, and extending in the depth direction 53 from the lower end of the second light blocking unit 89. And a receiving portion 79 capable of receiving. The receiving portion 79 is spaced from the detection portion 33 when the subframe 90 is supported by the upper wall 39 of the main body 31, and comes into contact with the lower end of the detection portion 33 when the subframe 90 moves upward. That is, the receiving portion 79 may restrict the upward movement range of the subframe 90 relative to the main body 31. In this embodiment, the receiving portion 79 restricts the range in which the subframe 90 moves upward with respect to the main body 31, but the claw 43 and the cylindrical inner wall that forms the long holes 91 and 92 are used. The range in which the subframe 90 moves upward with respect to the main body 31 may be restricted.

  On the front wall 140 side of the subframe 90, a hole 96 penetrating in the depth direction 53 is formed above the height direction 52. The hole 96 becomes a hole for accessing the atmosphere communication port 32 of the main body 31 when the subframe 90 is attached to the main body 31. Therefore, the hole 96 is formed in a position, size, and shape corresponding to the atmosphere communication port 32 of the main body 31. The hole 96 is recessed from the front wall 140 to the rear wall 42 side, and the inner peripheral surface 98 has a cylindrical shape.

  A hole 97 penetrating in the depth direction 53 is formed on the lower side in the height direction 52 on the front wall 140 side of the subframe 90. When the sub frame 90 is attached to the main body 31, the ink supply unit 34 of the main body 31 protrudes from the hole 97. Therefore, the hole 97 is formed in a position, size and shape corresponding to the ink supply part 34 of the main body 31. The hole 97 corresponds to an opening.

  A first protrusion 85 and a second protrusion 86 are provided on the front wall 140 side of the subframe 90. The first protrusion 85 is provided at the upper end of the front wall 140 of the subframe 90 so as to extend in a direction away from the front wall 140 (insertion direction 56). The width of the first protrusion 85 is the same as the width of the front wall 140. The tip of the first protrusion 85 protrudes to the front side in the direction away from the front wall 140 (insertion direction 56) from the ink supply port 71 that is the tip of the ink supply unit 34. In the present embodiment, the first protrusion 85 has the same width as the width of the front wall 140, but may have a plate shape with a width (vertical, horizontal) narrower than the width of the front wall 140. A groove 87 extending in the depth direction 53 is formed at the center of the first protrusion 85 in the width direction 51. The groove 87 opens in the first protrusion 85 in the upward direction in the height direction 52 and in the direction away from the front wall 140 (insertion direction 56). The cross-sectional shape along the height direction 52 of the groove 87 is concave.

  In the inner space of the groove 87, a plate 88 extending in the height direction 52 and the depth direction 53 is provided in the center of the bottom surface of the groove 87 in the width direction 51. The plate 88 extends upward in the depth direction 53 from the bottom surface of the groove 87. Wall surfaces are provided on both sides of the width direction 51 of the plate 88 at a predetermined interval. These wall surfaces are a pair of side surfaces facing the width direction 51 in the groove 87. The rib 85 extends in the direction away from the front wall 140 (insertion direction 56) to the tip of the first protrusion 85. The plate 88 blocks or attenuates light traveling in the width direction 51, for example, infrared light, and can be detected by the optical sensor 116. The plate 88 corresponds to a light attenuating plate.

  The second protrusion 86 is provided at the lower end of the front wall 140 of the subframe 90. The second protrusion 86 is disposed below the ink supply unit 34. The width of the second protrusion 86 is the same as the width of the front wall 140. The second protrusion 86 protrudes in a direction away from the front wall 140 (insertion direction 56). The front end of the second protrusion 86 protrudes to the front side of the ink supply port 71 that is the front end of the ink supply unit 34 in a direction away from the front wall 140 (insertion direction 56). The dimension in which the second protrusion 86 protrudes in the direction away from the front wall 140 (insertion direction 56) is the same as that of the first protrusion 85. Therefore, the tip end of the second protrusion 86 and the tip end of the plate 88 are at substantially the same position in the depth direction 53. In the present embodiment, the second protrusion 86 is indirectly detected in the cartridge mounting portion 110, but a rib such as the plate 88 of the first protrusion 85 described above is provided on the second protrusion 86. The ribs of the second protrusions may be directly detected by the optical sensor 117.

  In the front wall 40 of the main body 31, between the first protrusion 85 and the second protrusion 86 in the height direction 52 and on the front side in the direction away from the rear wall 42 of the detection unit 33 (insertion direction 56), the width direction A second light blocking unit 89 that attenuates or blocks light traveling to 51, for example, infrared light, is provided. For example, the second light blocking unit 89 has substantially the same width as the detection unit 33 in the width direction 51. This width is a dimension that can enter between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the optical sensor 114. The second light blocking unit 89 corresponds to a light blocking member.

  The second light blocking unit 89 and the detection unit 33 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the depth direction 53. This interval allows infrared light traveling in the width direction 51 to pass through without being attenuated below a predetermined amount. The dimension along the depth direction 53 of the second light blocking unit 89 may be changed according to the type of the ink cartridge 30. The type of the ink cartridge 30 includes a difference in ink color, a component such as a pigment or a dye, a difference in the amount of ink initially stored in the ink chamber 36, and the like.

  The first protrusion 85, the second protrusion 86, and the second light blocking unit 89 are all protruded in a direction (insertion direction 56) that is farther from the front wall 140 than the detection unit 33. In other words, in the ink cartridge 30, the first protrusion 85, the second protrusion 86, and the second light blocking unit 89 are disposed on the front side in the insertion direction 56 with respect to the detection unit 33, and the detection unit 33 includes the first protrusion 85. The second projection 86 and the second light blocking portion 89 are disposed in a direction closer to the front wall 140 (the rear side of the insertion direction 56). The detection unit 33 and the ink supply port 71 are both disposed between the first protrusion 85 and the second protrusion 86 in the height direction 52.

  The upper wall 141 of the subframe 90 is provided with a guide portion 93 that extends vertically in the depth direction 53. The guide portion 93 is constituted by a pair of plates 94 protruding upward from the upper wall 141. The guide part 93 is an integral part extending in the depth direction 53 with the guide part 65 in a state where the subframe 90 is assembled to the main body 31. Therefore, the side surfaces of the pair of plates 94 facing the width direction 51 in the guide portion 93 also extend in parallel to the depth direction 53 along with the side surfaces of the plate 57 of the guide portion 65. The distance between the plates 94 is shorter than the distance between the side walls 143 and 144 in the subframe 90. The guide part 93 corresponds to a third guide part.

  A guide part 99 extending in the depth direction 53 is provided on the lower wall 142 of the subframe 90. The guide part 99 is narrower than the width of the lower wall 142 and protrudes downward. The guide part 99 extends continuously in the depth direction 53 with the guide part 66 in a state where the subframe 90 is assembled to the main body 31. Accordingly, the pair of side surfaces facing the width direction 51 in the guide portion 99 also extend in parallel with the side surface of the guide portion 66 in the depth direction 53. The distance between the pair of side walls facing the width direction 51 in the guide portion 99 is shorter than the distance between the pair of side walls 143 and 144 facing the width direction 51 in the subframe 90. The guide portions 93 and 98 are inserted into a guide groove 109 to be described later and moved when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110. The guide part 99 corresponds to a fourth guide part.

  Between the pair of plates 94 constituting the guide portion 93 of the subframe 90, the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 from the plate 88 of the first protrusion 85, and the front wall 40 side from the lever 80 and the stopper 45 of the main body 31. Is provided with an IC substrate 74. The IC substrate 74 is disposed and fixed on the upper wall 141 side of the subframe 90. The IC substrate 74 is electrically connected to the contacts 106 (see FIG. 5) arranged in three along the width direction 51 while the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. Even in this state, the contact 106 is electrically connected. The IC substrate 74 corresponds to an electrical interface.

  On the IC substrate 74, an IC (not shown in each drawing), a HOT electrode 75, a GND electrode 76, and a signal electrode 77 are mounted. The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and stores information about the ink cartridge 30 such as data indicating information such as a lot number, date of manufacture, and ink color in a readable manner.

  The HOT electrode 75, the GND electrode 76, and the signal electrode 77 are electrically connected to the IC. Each of the HOT electrode 75, the GND electrode 76, and the signal electrode 77 extends along the depth direction (front-rear direction) 53 and is spaced apart in the width direction 51. The HOT electrode 75, the GND electrode 76, and the signal electrode 77 are exposed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 74 so as to be electrically accessible. That is, the HOT electrode 75, the GND electrode 76, and the signal electrode 77 are exposed so as to be accessible from the upper side of the ink cartridge 30 in the mounted posture, and have surfaces extending in the width direction 51 and the depth direction 53, respectively.

  The upper surface of the IC substrate 74, that is, the access surface of the HOT electrode 75, the GND electrode 76, and the signal electrode 77 is disposed above the upper end of the plate 88 of the first protrusion 85 in the height direction 52. Therefore, the contact 106 that makes electrical contact with the HOT electrode 75, the GND electrode 76, and the signal electrode 77 does not contact the upper end of the plate 88.

  The IC substrate 74 is fixed to the upper wall 141 of the subframe 90 by hot bonding. Hot bonding is realized by inserting a boss protruding upward from the upper wall 141 into the IC substrate 74, melting the tip of the boss and bringing it into close contact with the upper surface of the IC substrate 74. Hot bonding in the IC substrate 74 is performed on the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 from the HOT electrode 75, the GND electrode 76, and the signal electrode 77. The upper end of the plate 94 of the guide portion 93 located on both sides in the width direction 51 with respect to the IC substrate 74 is set lower in the height direction 52 than the position of the other upper end only at the location where hot bonding is performed. ing. Due to the lower portion of the plate 94, a heating member wider than the distance between the pair of plates 94 can be brought into contact with the tip of the boss to realize hot bonding.

  A bank 49 is provided on the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 from the groove 87 of the first protrusion 85 and on the front wall 140 side of the IC substrate 74 to connect a pair of ribs constituting the guide portion 65 of the subframe 90. . The bank 49 is an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the insertion direction 56 between the pair of plates 57 constituting the guide portion 65. The pair of ribs constituting the guide portion 65 protrude from the IC substrate 74 to the upper side and the insertion direction 56 side, respectively. That is, the pair of plates 57 constituting the guide portion 65 protrudes outward from the IC substrate 74.

  In addition, in the upper part of the ink cartridge 30, a depression 78 is formed that is depressed downward at a boundary portion where the subframe 90 and the stopper 45 face each other. There is no step between the subframe 90 and the stopper 45 at the boundary portion. Thereby, when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion 110, even if the holding member 145 slides on the upper surface of the ink cartridge 30, the holding member 145 is not caught at the boundary portion.

  In the present embodiment, the subframe 90 is formed so as to cover a part of the front wall 40, the upper wall 39, the lower wall 41, and the side walls 37, 38 of the main body 31, but the subframe 90 is formed of the main body 31. Any surface of 31 may be covered. For example, it may have a shape that does not cover the side walls 37 and 38 of the main body 31 or a shape that does not cover the lower wall 41 of the main body 31.

[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.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 101 forming the housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has an opening 112 on the front side of the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is provided on the bottom surface defining the bottom portion of the internal space of the case 101 by inserting the guide portion 65 into the guide groove 109 provided on the top surface defining the top portion of the internal space of the case 101. When the guide portion 66 is inserted into the guide groove 109, the guide groove 109 is guided in the insertion and extraction direction 50. The case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors.

  The case 101 is provided with three plates 102 that partition the internal space into four spaces that are long in the vertical direction. Each color ink cartridge 30 is accommodated in each space partitioned by the plate 102.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a connection portion 103 is provided at the lower portion of the end surface of the case 101. The connection portion 103 is disposed on the end surface at a position corresponding to the ink supply portion 34 of each ink cartridge 30 attached to the case 101. In the present embodiment, four connection portions 103 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101.

  The connection part 103 includes an ink needle 122 and a cylindrical part 121. The ink needle 122 is made of a tubular resin needle. The ink needle 122 is connected to the ink tube 20 on the outer surface side that forms the front and back surfaces of the case 101. Each ink tube 20 drawn out from each ink needle 122 to the outer surface side that is the front and back of the case 101 is extended to the recording head 21 of the printer 10 so that ink can flow. 4 and 5, the ink tube 20 is omitted.

  The cylindrical part 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape. An ink needle 122 is disposed at the center of the cylindrical portion 121. As shown in FIG. 8, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting section 110, the ink supply section 34 is inserted inside the cylinder of the cylindrical section 121. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 121. When the ink supply part 34 is inserted into the cylindrical part 121, the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply part 34. As a result, the ink stored in the ink chamber 36 can flow out. The ink that has flowed out of the ink chamber 36 flows into the ink needle 122.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sensor unit 104 is provided above the connection portion 103 in the gravitational direction on the end surface of the case 101. The sensor unit 104 includes a substrate 113 and an optical sensor 114. The sensor unit 104 is configured by mounting the optical sensor 114 on the substrate 113. The sensor unit 104 is provided with four optical sensors 114. These four optical sensors 114 correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The four optical sensors 114 are arranged in a row in the width direction of the case 101 (matching the width direction 51) between the plates 102.

  Each optical sensor 114 has a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are each surrounded by a casing. The optical sensor 114 has a U-shaped outer shape formed by the casing. The light emitting element can irradiate light from the housing in one direction, in the present embodiment, in a horizontal direction (width direction 51) perpendicular to the insertion and extraction directions 50. The light receiving element can receive light emitted from one direction to the housing. Such a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval in a horizontal direction (width direction 51) perpendicular to the insertion and extraction direction 50 in a U-shaped housing. The detection unit 33 and the second light blocking unit 89 of the ink cartridge 30 can enter the space between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. When the detection unit 33 or the second light blocking unit 89 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 114, the optical sensor 114 can detect a change in the amount of transmitted light by the detection unit 33 or the second light blocking unit 89.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a sensor unit 105 is provided on the end surface side of the top surface of the case 101. The sensor unit 105 includes a substrate 115 and an optical sensor 116. The sensor unit 105 is configured by mounting the optical sensor 116 on the substrate 115. The sensor unit 105 is provided with four optical sensors 116. These four optical sensors 116 correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The four optical sensors 116 are arranged in a row in the width direction of the case 101 (matching the width direction 51) between the plates 102.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the case 101, the plate 88 of the first protrusion 85 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 116. By detecting a change in the signal of the optical sensor 116, the mounting state of the ink cartridge 30 can be determined. Since the optical sensor 116 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element like the optical sensor 114, the detailed description of the optical sensor 116 is omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a contact 106 is provided between the end surface and the opening 112 on the top surface of the case 101. Three contacts 106 are arranged apart from each other in the width direction 51 perpendicular to the insertion and extraction directions 50. The arrangement of the three contacts 106 corresponds to the arrangement of the HOT electrode 82, the GND electrode 83, and the signal electrode 84 of the ink cartridge 30. Each contact 106 is made of a member having conductivity and elasticity, and can be elastically deformed upward in the height direction 52. Four sets of three contacts 106 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101.

  Each contact 106 is electrically connected to the arithmetic unit via an electric circuit. The arithmetic device includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and may be configured as a control unit of the printer 10. When the contact 106 and the HOT electrode 82 are electrically connected, the voltage Vc is applied to the HOT electrode 82. When the contact 106 and the GND electrode 83 are electrically connected, the GND electrode 83 is grounded. When the contact 106 is electrically connected to the HOT electrode 82 and the GND electrode 83, power is supplied to the IC. When the contact 133 and the signal electrode 84 are electrically connected, data stored in the IC can be accessed. The output from the electric circuit is input to the arithmetic unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slide member 135 is disposed in a space 130 formed on the lower end side of the end surface of the cartridge mounting portion 110. In the present embodiment, four slide members 135 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The space 130 is continuous with the internal space of the cartridge mounting unit 110. The slide member 135 is movable in the space 130 along the insertion and removal direction 50. The slide member 135 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The slide member 135 is disposed in the insertion path of the second protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge 30 and can contact the second protrusion 86.

  A coil spring 139 is provided in the space 130. The coil spring 139 moves the ink cartridge 30 by the elastic force of the coil spring 139 toward the opening 112, that is, in the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted from the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, toward the opening 112. is there. When no external force is applied to the slide member 135, the slide member 135 is disposed at a predetermined position on the opening 112 side. In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the second protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge 30 contacts the slide member 135, and the slide member 135 moves horizontally toward the end wall side of the space 130. As a result, the coil spring 139 contracts and the slide member 135 moves horizontally to the position on the end wall side. The ink cartridge 30 moves in the take-out direction 55 through the slide member 135 by the elastic force of the contracted coil spring 139.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an optical sensor 117 is provided on the end surface of the case 101 above the slide member 135 in the gravitational direction. Four optical sensors 117 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. In other words, the four optical sensors 117 correspond to the four slide members 135. The four photosensors 117 are arranged in a line in the width direction of the case 101 (matching the width direction 51) above the space 130.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the case 101, the slide member 135 moves to the optical path (detection position) of the optical sensor 117 toward the end wall side of the space 130 and can be detected by the optical sensor 117. Since the optical sensor 117 includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element as in the optical sensor 114, a detailed description of the optical sensor 117 is omitted here. In FIG. 6, the slide member 135 and the optical sensor 117 are omitted.

  In the cartridge mounting part 110, the detection position of the optical sensor 114 is arranged on the rear side of the insertion direction 56 with respect to any of the detection positions of the optical sensors 116 and 117.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a rod 125 is provided on the end surface of the case 101. The height position of the rod 125 corresponds to the height position of the atmosphere communication valve 73 of the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. Four rods 125 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The rod 125 has a cylindrical shape protruding from the end surface of the case 101 toward the opening 112 along the insertion and removal direction 50. In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rod 125 is inserted into the hole 96 of the sub frame 90 of the ink cartridge 30, and the tip of the rod 125 contacts the atmospheric communication valve 73. Then, the atmosphere communication valve 73 is pushed by the rod 125, and the atmosphere communication port 32 is opened. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the rod 125 contacts the inner peripheral surface 98 of the hole 96 of the subframe 90, whereby the subframe 90 is positioned with respect to the height direction 52.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a holding member 145 is provided on the case 101. The holding member 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 in a mounted state. The holding member 145 is provided above the opening 112 of the case 101.

  The holding member 145 is formed to be swingable about the support shaft 147, for example. The support shaft 147 is provided at, for example, the end of the holding member 145 on the opening 112 side. For example, the support shaft 147 is attached to the case 101. As a result, the holding 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 end 146 is disposed on the other end side of the support shaft 147 of the holding member 145. The end 146 can contact the stopper 45 of the ink cartridge 30. When the end 146 comes into contact with the stopper 45, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the mounting position against the case 101 against the elastic force of the coil spring 139. The rotation position (see FIG. 8) of the holding member 145 where the end 146 can come into contact with the stopper 45 is referred to as a lock position, and the position where the end 146 does not contact the stopper 45 (see FIG. 7) is unlocked. It is called a position.

  The holding member 145 rotates downward in the direction of gravity by its own weight or a coil spring (not shown). When the distal end portion 81 of the lever 80 moves upward, the holding member 145 rotates upward about the support shaft 147 and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. Although not shown in each figure, for example, the movable range of the holding member 145 is restricted from rotating so as not to move downward from the unlock position.

[Installation operation of ink cartridge 30]
Hereinafter, the operation of mounting the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, a part of the upper wall 39 side of the ink cartridge 30 is shown in cross section.

  First, in the present embodiment, a state where the subframe 90 is movable upward with respect to the main body 31 will be described as an initial state. That is, in the initial state, the subframe 90 is supported by the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. As shown in FIG. 6, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 56 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 is positioned with respect to the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 by inserting the guide portions 65 and 66 into the guide groove 109 of the case 101. In a state where the guide portions 65 and 66 are inserted into the guide groove 109, the ink cartridge 30 can slide to the end surface side of the case 101.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the case 101, first, the tip of the first protrusion 85 comes into contact with the end 146 of the holding member 145. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted to the end surface side of the case 101, the end portion 146 of the holding member 145 rides on the bank 49 formed on the front wall 40 side from the IC substrate 74. As a result, the holding member 145 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 6 and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the end surface side of the case 101, the holding member 145 moves in order while contacting the bank 49, the IC substrate 74, and the recess 78.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the end surface side of the case 101, the second light blocking unit 89 passes the detection position of the optical sensor 114. At this time, the detection unit 33 has not reached the detection position of the optical sensor 114. When the optical sensor 114 detects the second light blocking unit 89, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal. After the optical sensor 114 detects the second light blocking unit 89 and before the detection unit 33 reaches the detection position of the optical sensor 114, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal, and again the HI level. Signal.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the end surface side of the case 101, the plate 88 of the first protrusion 85 enters the detection position of the optical sensor 116 as shown in FIG. When the optical sensor 116 detects the plate 88, the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal.

  In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the second protrusion 86 contacts the slide member 135. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the slide member 135 is moved to the end wall side of the space 130 against the elastic force of the coil spring 139. As a result, the slide member 135 is detected by the optical sensor 117.

  Further, the ink supply part 34 of the ink cartridge 30 is in contact with the cylindrical part 121, and the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply part 34. When the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 to contact the valve 70 and the ink cartridge 30 is moved in the insertion direction 56, the valve 70 is pushed by the ink needle 122 and is separated from the ink supply port 71. The main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the case 101 at a predetermined position by inserting the ink supply portion 34 into the cylindrical portion 121 and the ink needle 122 into the ink supply port 71. The Although not shown in each figure, since the ink introduction port is provided at the tip of the ink needle 122, the ink flows from the ink chamber 36 into the ink needle 122 through the ink introduction port.

  After the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71, the rod 125 of the case 101 enters the hole 96 of the subframe 90 of the ink cartridge 30 as shown in FIG. The sub frame 90 is movable in the height direction 52 with respect to the main body 31. When the rod 125 enters the hole 96 and the outer peripheral surface of the rod 125 contacts the upper part of the inner peripheral surface 98 of the hole 96, the subframe 90 slides upward and is guided to a predetermined position. . Then, the sub frame 90 is positioned with respect to the downward direction of the height direction 52.

  On the other hand, the contact 106 contacts the bank 49 of the subframe 90. The bank 49 is inclined so as to rise toward the take-out direction 55, and the subframe 90 is positioned by the rod 125 with respect to the downward direction in the height direction 52, so that the contact 106 is directed upward by being guided by the bank 49. Elastically deforms. When the contact 106 climbs up the bank 49 and reaches the IC substrate 74, the subframe 90 is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the contact 106 and the rod 125 in the height direction 52.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the end surface side of the case 101, each contact 106 comes into contact with the HOT electrode 75, the GND electrode 76, and the signal electrode 77 of the IC substrate 74 as shown in FIG. It will be in the state where it conducted automatically.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position, as shown in FIG. 8, the tip of the rod 125 contacts and pushes into the atmosphere communication valve 73. As a result, the atmosphere communication valve 73 is separated from the atmosphere communication port 32, and the atmosphere can flow into the ink chamber 36 from the atmosphere communication port 32.

  When the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position, as shown in FIG. 8, the first surface 46 of the stopper 45 of the main body 31 passes the end 146 of the holding member 145 in the insertion direction 56. As a result, the holding member 145 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8 and is positioned at the engaging portion 145, and the end portion 146 contacts the first surface 46. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the mounting position against the biasing force of the coil spring 126 and the like, with the holding member 145 engaging the stopper 45. In this way, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed.

  In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the distal end portion 81 of the lever 80 is positioned below the end portion 146 of the holding member 145. Further, the rear end portion 82 of the lever 80 is separated from the bottom surface of the stopper 45 and is positioned above the upper wall 39 of the main body 31.

  When the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position, the plate 88 of the first protrusion 85 of the ink cartridge 30, the detection unit 33, and the rib 138 of the slide member 135 are all detected by the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117. Enter. Therefore, if the indicator unit 62 is in the lower position, the output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 are all LOW level signals. The output signals of the respective optical sensors 114, 116, 117 and information read from the IC board 74 are used for determining the type (ink color, capacity, etc.) and remaining amount of the ink cartridge 30. Since a known method can be employed for the type and remaining amount determination method, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  When the ink in the ink chamber 36 of the ink cartridge 30 is consumed, the used ink cartridge 30 in which the ink has been consumed is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, and a new ink cartridge 30 is mounted.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rear end portion 82 of the lever 80 is pushed downward by the user. As a result, the distal end portion 81 of the lever 80 moves upward and is separated from the bottom surface of the stopper 45. As the distal end portion 81 moves, the holding member 145 is pushed upward by the distal end portion 81 of the lever 80. Accordingly, the holding member 145 is rotated until the end portion 146 of the holding member 145 is above the first surface 46, that is, until the end portion 146 is separated from the first surface 46. That is, the holding member 145 is rotated from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the holding of the ink cartridge 30 by the holding member 145 is released.

  When the end portion 146 of the holding member 145 is separated from the first surface 46, the main body 31 tends to move in the take-out direction 55 by an external force applied to the main body 31, that is, an elastic force by the coil spring 126 or the like. On the other hand, since the user pushes down the lever 80 downward, the elastic force by the coil spring 126 or the like is received by the user's hand through the lever 80. In the process of taking out the ink cartridge 30 in the take-out direction 55, the IC substrate 74 on the subframe 90 is released from the downward elastic force from the contact 106 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. Then, when the rod 125 inserted into the hole 96 comes out of the hole 96, the subframe 90 that has moved upward with respect to the main body 31 moves downward due to the action of gravity or the like. Then, when the user takes out the main body 31 in the removal direction 55, the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

In the initial state, the subframe 90 is movable in the downward direction with respect to the main body 31 as follows.
In the initial state, the subframe 90 is supported by static friction between the end portions 67 and 68 of the subframe 90 and the step surfaces 47 and 48 of the main body 31. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the case 101, initially, the rod 125 does not contact the inner peripheral surface 98 of the hole 96 of the subframe 90, but when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted, the contact 106 and the bank 49. , The subframe 90 is pushed down, the upper portion of the inner peripheral surface 98 of the hole 96 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the rod 125, and the subframe 90 is positioned with respect to the downward direction in the height direction 52.

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, the guide portions 65 and 66 are arranged at the approximate center in the width direction 51 of the ink cartridge 30. However, in order to increase the capacity of the ink chamber 36, FIG. As shown in the drawing, the ink cartridge 30 is extended in the width direction 51, and the printing fluid cartridge according to the present invention is used as the ink cartridge 30 in which the guide portions 65 and 66 are arranged offset from the center of the width direction 51. It may be realized. In the modification, the rear wall 42 has a first surface 58 that is parallel to the front wall 140 and a second surface 59 that is not parallel to the front wall 140. The second surface 59 is continuous with the first surface 58 and is inclined so as to be closer to the front wall 140 side than the first surface 58.

30 ... Ink cartridge (printing fluid cartridge)
31 ... Main body 33 ... Detection part (expansion part)
34 ... Ink supply part (fluid supply part)
36 ... Ink chamber (printing fluid chamber)
39 ... Upper wall (upper side)
40 ... front wall (front side, first front wall)
41 ... Lower wall (lower side)
42 ... rear wall (rear side)
45 ... Stopper 58 ... First surface 59 ... Second surface 65 ... Guide part (first guide part)
66 ... Guide part (second guide part)
74 ... IC board (electrical interface)
80 ... Lever 82 ... Rear end (one end side)
83 ... axis (fulcrum)
88 ... Rib (light attenuation plate)
86 ... 2nd protrusion (protrusion)
89 ... Detected element (light blocking member)
90 ... subframe 93 ... guide part (third guide part)
94 ... ribs
95 ... hole (opening)
96 ... hole (circular hole or circular recess)
99 ... Guide part (4th guide part)
140 ... front wall (second front wall)

Claims (15)

A main body having at least a front side in which a cylindrical fluid supply unit is provided in a lower part, a rear side away from the front side, and an upper side and a lower side arranged in a vertical direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction;
One end side is arranged on the rear side, and a lever that can rotate around a fulcrum arranged on the upper side,
A light attenuating plate that protrudes forward from the front side on the upper side and attenuates light traveling in the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction;
An electrical interface disposed between the lever and the light attenuating plate in the front-rear direction and having a surface extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction;
A printing fluid cartridge in which an upper end of the light attenuating plate is disposed below the electrical interface in the vertical direction.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a first front wall is disposed on the front side of the main body, and an upper wall is disposed on the upper side.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising a subframe that is provided on a first front wall side of the main body and has a second front wall facing the first front wall.   The printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front end of the light attenuating plate is disposed at a position away from the rear side from the front end of the fluid supply unit. The lever is arranged on the rear side in the front-rear direction from the electrical interface, and rotates around a fulcrum extending in the left-right direction.
The printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a stopper including a surface extending in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is provided between the lever and the electrical interface in the front-rear direction. The main body extends from the upper end of the first front wall on the front side to the rear side in the front-rear direction, and has a first guide part having a distance shorter than the distance in the left-right direction from the first front wall; A second guide portion extending from the lower end of the front wall to the rear side and having a distance shorter than the distance in the left-right direction of the first front wall;
The sub-frame includes a third guide portion having a pair of side surfaces extending in a parallel direction continuous with the first guide portion, and a fourth guide portion having a pair of side surfaces extending in a parallel direction continuous with the second guide portion. The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, comprising:   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the third guide portion includes a plate extending from the front end of the electrical interface toward the rear side. The electrical interface is fixed to the subframe,
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 7, wherein portions of the fixing portion of the electrical interface at the upper end of the plate located on both sides in the left-right direction are lower than other upper ends.   4. The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein a circular hole or a circular recess is formed on a lower side in the vertical direction of the light attenuating plate on the second front wall of the subframe. The sub-frame is provided at the lower end of the second front wall or in the vicinity of the lower end, and is formed on the front side in the front-rear direction and on the upper side of the projection, so that the fluid supply unit can pass therethrough. An opening, and
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 3 or 9, wherein a tip of the protrusion is substantially in the same position as the tip of the light attenuation plate in the front-rear direction.   An expansion having a space protruding from the front side of the first front wall, which is the front side of the main body, in the up-down direction, continuously to the front side of the printing fluid chamber provided in the main body and through which the printing fluid can flow. The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a portion.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein a light blocking member is provided on the sub-frame, spaced apart from the inflating portion in the front-rear direction. The main body is made of light transmissive resin,
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the subframe is made of a resin capable of blocking light.   The printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 3, 9, 10 and 13, wherein the sub-frame is immovable in the left-right direction and relatively movable in the up-down direction with respect to the main body. The main body includes the first front wall and a rear wall spaced from the front surface in the front-rear direction, and includes a chamber for storing printing fluid.
The fluid supply unit is disposed on the first front wall to establish a flow of printing fluid between the room and the outside.
The rear wall includes a first surface parallel to the first front wall and a second surface not parallel to the first front wall in the front-rear direction,
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the second surface is disposed closer to the first front wall than the first surface.

Images