JP2013139142A - Cartridge and recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a configuration advantageous for preventing contact failure between an electrical contact and an electrical interface.SOLUTION: A substrate 182 mounting a terminal and a lock unit for locking a cartridge 40 to a mounting part are provided at the mounting part (space C) of a printer. The cartridge 40 is provided with a substrate 142 mounting the terminal, and an engaged part 48 engaging with a roller 148c of the lock unit. The roller 148c moves while coming into contact with each surface of the engaged part 48 so as to move the cartridge 40 in a mounting direction such that the terminals of the substrates 142, 182 may come into contact with each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge and a recording apparatus having a mounting portion to which the cartridge can be mounted.

  Patent Document 1 is known as a technical document related to a cartridge and a recording apparatus. According to Patent Document 1, the ink cartridge 40 is provided with contacts 85-1 ′ to 85-6 ′ (electrical contacts), and the contacts 85-1 ′ to 85-6 ′ are provided on the mounting portion of the recording apparatus. Contacting contacts 80-1 ′ to 80-6 ′ (electrical interfaces) are provided. The electrical contacts are arranged in a direction crossing the mounting direction. In Patent Document 1, it is described that an electrical contact and an electrical interface come into contact with each other when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion.

JP 2003-11388 (particularly, paragraph 0055, FIG. 18, FIG. 21, FIG. 22)

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, poor contact between the electrical contact and the electrical interface may occur due to a dimensional error in the mounting direction of the cartridge or the mounting portion.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge and a recording apparatus having an advantageous configuration for suppressing poor contact between an electrical contact and an electrical interface.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge that can be mounted on a mounting portion of a recording apparatus that includes an electrical interface and a moving member that moves to move the cartridge. An electrical contact disposed in a direction intersecting the mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the mounting portion; and a first portion that contacts the moving member; and the first portion contacts the moving member. A cartridge is provided that is configured to move the cartridge in the mounting direction such that the electrical contact and the electrical interface are in contact.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a mounting portion capable of mounting a cartridge, and an electrical contact of the cartridge provided in the mounting portion and arranged in a direction intersecting the mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the mounting portion An electrical interface that contacts the first portion of the cartridge to move the cartridge in the mounting direction so that the electrical contact and the electrical interface are in contact with each other. And a moving member that moves.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a mounting portion to which a cartridge can be mounted, an electrical interface provided in the mounting portion and directed in a direction opposite to the mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the mounting portion, and provided in the mounting portion. A moving member that is biased by an elastic member and moves to move the cartridge in the mounting direction, and the cartridge has an electrical contact that contacts the electrical interface; and The first portion configured to contact the moving member so as to move in the mounting direction and the end portion on the mounting direction side of the first portion are continuous, and the elastic force of the elastic member is increased. A second portion configured to contact the moving member, and the moving member is mounted when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion. The second portion and the first portion are contacted in this order, and a contact portion with the first portion of the moving member and a contact portion with the electrical contact of the electrical interface are arranged in the mounting direction. An end portion of the first portion on the mounting direction side and a contact portion of the electrical contact with the electrical interface are disposed in this order in the mounting direction, and In the mounting direction, the distance between the contact portion of the moving member with the first portion and the contact portion of the electrical interface with the electrical contact is the distance between the end portion of the first portion on the mounting direction side and the electrical portion. A recording device is provided that is greater than the distance of the contact of the mechanical contact with the electrical interface.

  According to the first to third aspects, by bringing the moving member into contact with the first portion, the cartridge can be moved in the mounting direction so that the electrical contact and the electrical interface are brought into contact with each other. That is, the configurations according to the first to third aspects are advantageous in suppressing contact failure between the electrical contact and the electrical interface.

  In the cartridge according to the present invention, the moving member is biased by an elastic member, and before the first portion comes into contact with the moving member, the moving member and the moving member are increased so that the elastic force of the elastic member is increased. The second portion configured to contact may be provided. A recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an elastic member that urges the moving member, and the moving member has an elastic force of the elastic member before the first portion contacts the moving member. It may move in contact with the second part of the cartridge so as to increase. According to each configuration described above, when the cartridge is moved by the elastic force, it is possible to smoothly apply the elastic force to the first portion and to move the cartridge more reliably in the mounting direction, and thus the electrical contact and the electrical contact. It is possible to more reliably suppress a contact failure with the target interface.

  In the cartridge according to the present invention, the second portion is continuous with an end of the first portion on the mounting direction side, and the elastic force of the elastic member increased by the second portion is the first portion. May be added to the part.

  In the cartridge according to the present invention, the first portion includes a first surface that is continuous with the second portion, and a second surface that is continuous with an end of the first surface opposite to the mounting direction. The angle formed by the first surface with respect to a straight line extending in parallel with the mounting direction and passing through the end portion on the mounting direction side of the first portion is an angle formed with the second surface with respect to the straight line. Smaller than that. In the recording apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the first portion includes a first surface that is continuous with the second portion, and a second surface that is continuous with an end of the first surface on the opposite side to the mounting direction. An angle formed by the first surface with respect to a straight line that extends in parallel with the mounting direction and passes through an end portion of the first portion on the mounting direction side. The moving member is in contact with the second surface, the first surface, and the second portion in this order when the cartridge is removed from the mounting portion. The distance between the contact portion of the moving member with the first portion and the contact portion of the electrical contact of the electrical interface is such that the end of the first portion on the mounting direction side and the electrical contact May be larger than the distance to the contact with the electrical interfaceIn the case of each configuration described above, the cartridge can be easily detached from the mounting portion with a small force.

The cartridge according to the present invention is provided in the vicinity of the electrical contact, and the electrical interface is orthogonal to the mounting direction and approaches the electrical contact before the first portion contacts the moving member. A guide portion that contacts the electrical interface may be further provided. In the recording apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the electrical interface is provided in the mounting portion in a state movable in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and the cartridge is provided in the vicinity of the electrical contact. A guide portion that contacts the electrical interface so as to move the electrical interface in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction and approaching the electrical contact, and the electrical interface of the electrical contact with the electrical interface End portions on the mounting direction side of the contact portion and the guide portion are arranged in this order in the mounting direction. In the mounting direction, the contact portion with the first portion of the moving member and the electrical interface The distance between the first contact portion and the contact portion of the electrical contact is the end portion on the mounting direction side of the first portion and the end portion on the mounting direction side of the guide portion. It may be smaller than the distance. In the case of each configuration described above, the reliability of contact between the electrical contact and the electrical interface can be improved. Specifically, when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion, the movement member may move in contact with the first portion, thereby causing a displacement of the cartridge with respect to the mounting portion. Therefore, when the electrical interface moves in contact with the guide portion after the first portion comes into contact with the moving member, the electrical interface moves in a state where the cartridge has already been displaced, and the electrical contact There is also a problem that misalignment occurs between the electrical contact and the electrical interface, and proper contact between the electrical contact and the electrical interface cannot be realized. On the other hand, in the said structure, after an electrical interface contacts a guide part and moves to the direction approaching an electrical contact, since a 1st part contacts a moving member, the said problem is reduced. In addition, a predetermined stroke is required after the electrical interface starts to move in contact with the guide portion and until the electrical contact and the electrical interface come into contact with each other. In the configuration in which the cartridge includes the first part and the second part, when the electrical interface moves in contact with the guide portion after the first part comes into contact with the moving member, the first part is used to ensure a predetermined stroke. It is necessary to increase the length in the mounting direction. If the length of the first portion in the mounting direction is increased, there may arise a problem that the cartridge is enlarged and the moving member is also enlarged. On the other hand, in the above configuration, the problem can be reduced.

  The cartridge according to the present invention includes a front surface provided with the electrical contacts, and a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, and the first portion includes the first portion, It may be provided at a position closer to the front surface than the rear surface in the mounting direction. In this case, when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion, the cartridge can be moved in the mounting direction by bringing the first portion into contact with the moving member at a relatively early stage. Thereby, the cartridge can be quickly mounted.

  The cartridge according to the present invention includes a first side surface and a second side surface that are spaced apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and the first portion is an abbreviation of the first side surface and the second side surface. It may be provided at an intermediate position. In the recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the mounting portion includes a first side wall and a second side wall that are spaced apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction and in which the cartridge can be disposed. The moving member may be provided at a substantially intermediate position between the first side wall and the second side wall. The cartridge according to the present invention includes an upper surface and a lower surface that are spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction, and the first portion is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the upper surface and the lower surface. Good. In the recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the mounting portion includes an upper wall and a lower wall that are disposed apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and in which the cartridge can be disposed, and the movement The member may be provided at a substantially intermediate position between the upper wall and the lower wall. In the case of each configuration described above, a force acts on the entire cartridge in a balanced manner via the first portion and the moving member in contact therewith. As a result, it is possible to perform more reliably than the mounting of the cartridge.

The cartridge according to the present invention may further include a concave part that can be inserted by a user's hand, and the concave part and the first part may be arranged apart from each other on a straight line substantially parallel to the mounting direction. In this case, the user can easily mount and remove the cartridge while inserting a hand into the recess. Moreover, since the concave portion and the first portion are arranged as described above, the cartridge can be properly mounted while the first portion is positioned with respect to the moving member.

  The cartridge according to the present invention is provided on the front surface provided with the electrical contact, a first side surface that is continuous with the end portion of the front surface and extends in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, and is provided on the first side surface. You may provide the communication part which connects an inside and the exterior. Further, in the recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the mounting portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction and moves in the orthogonal direction, thereby communicating between the inside and the outside of the cartridge. You may provide the needle inserted in a part. In the case of each configuration described above, the contact between the electrical contact and the electrical interface and the insertion of the needle into the communication portion can be performed independently of each other.

  In the cartridge according to the present invention, the first portion may be provided so as to be positioned above the electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion.

  In the recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the electrical interface is biased in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, and is movable in the mounting direction against the biasing. After the electrical contact and the electrical interface are in contact, the cartridge and the electrical interface may be moved in contact with the first portion of the cartridge to move the cartridge and the electrical interface in the mounting direction. In this case, the reliability of the contact between the electrical contact and the electrical interface can be improved. In this case, in the configuration in which the electrical interface is biased in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, the burden on the user when mounting the cartridge is reduced. If the electrical interface is biased in the direction opposite to the mounting direction and there is no moving member, the user needs to move the cartridge against the mounting portion against the bias when mounting the cartridge. Yes, great power is required. In contrast, in the above configuration, since the moving member moves the cartridge in the mounting direction, the user can perform the mounting operation of the cartridge with a relatively small force.

  In the recording apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the electrical interface is urged by a predetermined urging force in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, and is generated at a contact portion of the first portion with the moving member. The direction force may be larger than the predetermined biasing force. In this case, the burden on the user or the like when the cartridge is mounted can be further reduced.

  According to the present invention, the cartridge can be moved in the mounting direction so that the electrical contact and the electrical interface are brought into contact with each other by bringing the moving member into contact with the first portion. That is, the configuration according to the present invention is an advantageous configuration for suppressing poor contact between the electrical contact and the electrical interface.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet printer that is an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of a printer. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating an ink cartridge that is an embodiment of the cartridge according to the present invention, in which FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of the cartridge viewed from different directions, FIG. These are the elements on larger scale of the area | region IIID shown in FIG.3 (c). It is the schematic which shows the inside of a cartridge. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a portion that defines a mounting portion in the printer and a cartridge that is mounted to the mounting portion. It is the schematic which shows the process from mounting | wearing of a cartridge to communication formation of a cartridge and a head. (A) is the elements on larger scale of area VIIA shown in Drawing 6 (a). (B) is the elements on larger scale of the area | region VIIB shown in FIG.6 (b). (C) is the elements on larger scale of area | region VIIC shown in FIG.6 (c). It is a time chart which shows the condition of each part from mounting | wearing of a cartridge to communication formation of a cartridge and a head. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a cartridge and a printer main body. (A) is the elements on larger scale of the area | region XA shown in FIG. (B) is the figure seen from the XB direction of Fig.10 (a). It is sectional drawing along the XI-XI line of FIG.7 (c). FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a portion for determining a mounting portion in a printer and a cartridge mounted on the mounting portion, which are modifications of the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, an overall configuration of an ink jet printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The printer 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped casing 1a. A paper discharge unit 31 is provided on the top of the casing 1a. Three openings 10d, 10b, and 10c are formed in order from the top on the front surface of the housing 1a (the surface on the left front side in FIG. 1). The opening 10b is for inserting the paper feeding unit 1b, and the opening 10c is for inserting the cartridge 40 (see FIG. 2) into the housing 1a. A door 1d that can be opened and closed with the horizontal axis at the lower end as a fulcrum is fitted into the opening 10d. The door 1d is disposed to face the transport unit 21 (see FIG. 2) in the main scanning direction of the housing 1a (direction orthogonal to the front surface of the housing 1a). The opening 10c is also provided with a cover 1c that can be opened and closed with the horizontal axis at the lower end as a fulcrum. By closing the cover 1c with the cartridge 40 inserted into the housing 1a, it is possible to prevent the cartridge 40 from falling off the housing 1a.

  Next, the internal configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The internal space of the housing 1a can be divided into spaces A, B, and C in order from the top. In the space A, two heads 2 that respectively discharge black ink and pretreatment liquid (hereinafter may be collectively referred to as “liquid”), a transport unit 21 that transports paper P, and each part of the printer 1 A controller 100 for controlling the operation is arranged. In the spaces B and C, a paper feeding unit 1b and a cartridge 40 are arranged, respectively. That is, the space C is a portion (mounting portion) where the cartridge 40 is mounted in the printer main body (portion other than the cartridge 40 of the printer 1). Inside the printer 1, a paper conveyance path for conveying the paper P is formed along the thick arrow shown in FIG. 2 from the paper supply unit 1 b toward the paper discharge unit 31.

The controller 100 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory: including a nonvolatile RAM), an I / F (Interface), and the like in addition to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which is an arithmetic processing unit. The ROM stores programs executed by the CPU, various fixed data, and the like. The RAM can temporarily store data (image data or the like) necessary for executing the program. The controller 100 performs data transmission / reception with the memory 141 and the hall element 71 of the cartridge 40 and data transmission / reception with an external device (such as a PC connected to the printer 1) via the I / F.

The sheet feeding unit 1 b includes a tray 23 and a roller 25. The tray 23 can be attached to and detached from the housing 1a in the main scanning direction. The tray 23 is a box that opens upward, and can accommodate a plurality of types of paper P. Under the control of the controller 100, the roller 25 is rotated by driving a paper feed motor 125 (see FIG. 9), and feeds the paper P that is on the uppermost side of the tray 23. The paper P sent out by the roller 25 is guided by the guides 27 a and 27 b and sent to the transport unit 21 while being sandwiched by the feed roller pair 26.

  The transport unit 21 includes two rollers 6 and 7 and an endless transport belt 8 wound so as to be bridged between the rollers 6 and 7. The roller 7 is a driving roller, and is rotated by driving a conveyance motor 127 (see FIG. 9) connected to the shaft under the control of the controller 100, and rotates clockwise in FIG. The roller 6 is a driven roller and rotates clockwise in FIG. 2 as the conveyor belt 8 travels due to the rotation of the roller 7. A rectangular parallelepiped platen 19 is disposed in the loop of the conveyor belt 8 so as to face the two heads 2. In the upper loop of the conveyor belt 8, the outer peripheral surface 8a of the conveyor belt 8 extends in parallel with the lower surface 2a while being separated from the lower surface 2a of the head 2 (an ejection surface on which many ejection ports for ejecting liquid are formed) 2a. Thus, it is supported by the platen 19 from the inner peripheral surface side. A weak adhesive silicon layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface 8 a of the conveyor belt 8. The paper P sent from the paper supply unit 1b to the transport unit 21 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 8a of the transport belt 8 by the pressing roller 4, and then is held on the outer peripheral surface 8a by the adhesive force while being filled with a black arrow. Along the sub-scanning direction.

  Here, the main scanning direction is a longitudinal direction of the lower surface 2a of the head 2 and is a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. The sub-scanning direction is a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and parallel to the horizontal plane.

  When the paper P passes just below the head 2, the head 2 is driven under the control of the controller 100, and liquid (black ink and depending on the situation) is directed from the lower surface 2 a of the head 2 toward the surface of the paper P. As a result, the desired image is recorded on the paper P. Then, the paper P is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface 8a of the transport belt 8 by the peeling plate 5, guided by the guides 29a and 29b, and transported upward while being sandwiched between the two pairs of feed rollers 28, and formed on the top of the housing 1a. The paper is discharged from the opened opening 30 to the paper discharge unit 31. One roller of each pair of feed rollers 28 is rotated by the drive of a feed motor 128 (see FIG. 9) under the control of the controller 100.

For example, the pretreatment liquid has a density improving effect (an effect of improving the density of the ink ejected onto the paper P), ink bleeding and back-through (the ink landed on the surface of the paper P penetrates the layer of the paper P). It is a liquid having a function of preventing the phenomenon of bleeding on the back surface, an effect of improving the color development and quick drying of ink, and a function of suppressing wrinkles and curling of the paper P after ink landing. As the pretreatment liquid, for example, a liquid containing a polyvalent metal salt such as a cationic polymer or a magnesium salt may be used. The head 2 that discharges the pretreatment liquid is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P than the head 2 that discharges the black ink.

  The head 2 is a line type elongated in the main scanning direction, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The two heads 2 are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the sub-scanning direction and are supported by the housing 1a via the frame 3. In each head 2, a joint to which a flexible tube is attached is provided on the upper surface, a number of discharge ports are formed on the lower surface 2 a, and inside the cartridge 40 via the flexible tube and the joint. A flow path is formed from the liquid supplied from the corresponding reservoir 42 to the discharge port.

  The cartridge 40 includes two reservoirs 42 that respectively store black ink and pretreatment liquid (see FIG. 4). The liquids respectively stored in the reservoirs 42 of the cartridge 40 are supplied to the corresponding heads 2 through flexible tubes and joints. The cartridge 40 can be attached to and detached from the housing 1a in the main scanning direction. Therefore, the user of the printer 1 can remove the used cartridge 40 from the housing 1a, replace it with a new cartridge 40, and attach it to the housing 1a.

  Next, the configuration of the cartridge 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  The cartridge 40 includes a housing 41, a black ink unit 40B corresponding to black ink, a pretreatment liquid unit 40P corresponding to pretreatment liquid, and a substrate 142. The units 40B and 40P each include a reservoir 42, a discharge pipe 43, etc., and have substantially the same configuration except that the size of the reservoir 42 is different.

  The housing 41 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the inside of the housing 41 is partitioned and two rooms R1 and R2 are formed. A reservoir 42 of each unit 40B, 40P is arranged in the right room R1, and a discharge pipe 43 of each unit 40B, 40P is arranged in the left room R2.

  The reservoir 42 is a bag for storing liquid, the reservoir 42 of the unit 40B stores black ink, and the reservoir 42 of the unit 40P stores pretreatment liquid. The proximal end of the discharge pipe 43 is connected to the opening of the reservoir 42.

  The discharge pipe 43 defines a flow path for supplying the liquid stored in the reservoir 42 to the head 2. As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, the discharge pipe 43 has a tip protruding outside the housing 41. A plug 50 made of an elastic material such as rubber is provided in a compressed state at the tip so as to close the opening of the discharge pipe 43 (not shown). A cap 46 is provided outside the tip and the stopper 50. In the center of the cap 46, the plug 50 is exposed through an opening provided in the opening.

  The housing 41 has surfaces 41a to 41h and the like. The front surface 41a and the rear surface 41b are substantially parallel to each other, and both are substantially perpendicular to the mounting direction (the direction in which the cartridge 40 moves relative to the space C when the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C), and are mutually in relation to the mounting direction. It is facing away. The rear surface 41b is disposed on the opposite side of the mounting direction from the front surface 41a. The side surfaces 41c and 41d are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction (the direction in which the hollow needle 153 moves relative to the discharge tube 43 when the hollow needle 153 is inserted into the discharge tube 43). That is, both are substantially orthogonal to the front surface 41a and the rear surface 41b, and are opposed to each other with respect to the insertion direction. Both the side surfaces 41c and 41d are arranged between the front surface 41a and the rear surface 41b in the mounting direction. A discharge pipe 43 is provided on the side surface 41c. The upper surface 41h and the lower surface 41e (see FIG. 2) are substantially parallel to each other and are both substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction, that is, are substantially orthogonal to any of the surfaces 41a to 41d, and are spaced apart from each other with respect to the vertical direction. doing. Both the upper surface 41h and the lower surface 41e are disposed between the front surface 41a and the rear surface 41b in the mounting direction and between the side surface 41c and the side surface 41d in the insertion direction. The upper surface 41h is continuous with the upper end of the side surface 41c and extends in the insertion direction. The lower surface 41e is continuous with the lower end of the side surface 41c and extends in the insertion direction. The front surface 41a is continuous with the end of the side surface 41c on the mounting direction side and extends in the insertion direction. Both the surfaces 41f and 41g are substantially parallel to the upper surface 41h and the lower surface 41e, and are disposed between the upper surface 41h and the lower surface 41e in the vertical direction and between the upper surface 41h and the lower surface 41e in the mounting direction. The surfaces 41f and 41g are opposed to the lower surface 41e with respect to the vertical direction. The distance from the lower surface 41e in the vertical direction is larger on the surface 41f than on the surface 41g. The surfaces 41f and 41g do not overlap when viewed from the vertical direction.

  In this embodiment, the mounting direction is parallel to the main scanning direction, and the insertion direction is parallel to the sub-scanning direction. The mounting direction and the insertion direction are orthogonal to each other.

  The housing 41 further includes an engaged portion 48 and a grip portion 49.

  The engaged portion 48 engages with the roller 148c of the lock unit 148 (see FIG. 5). The engaged portion 48 connects the surfaces 41f and 41g in the housing 41, and is constituted by a surface orthogonal to the surface 41f and the surface 41g, and includes a portion 48a and surfaces 48b to 48e (see FIG. 3D). . The surface 48b has a component in a direction opposite to the mounting direction (downward in FIG. 3D) and a direction opposite to the insertion direction in a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction (a plane parallel to the paper surface in FIG. 3D). It extends in a direction including the component in the left direction in FIG. Both of the surfaces 48d and 48e are components in a direction opposite to the mounting direction (downward in FIG. 3 (d)) and a component in the insertion direction (rightward in FIG. 3 (d)) in a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction. It extends in the direction including. The surface 48c includes two surfaces 48d and 48e. The surface 48d is continuous with the portion 48a, and the surface 48e is continuous with the surface 48d. The surface 48c is provided at a position closer to the front surface 41a than the rear surface 41b in the mounting direction, and is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the side surface 41c and the side surface 41d and a substantially intermediate position between the upper surface 41h and the lower surface 41e. ing. The portion 48a is a boundary portion between the surface 48b and the surface 48d, and is an end portion on the mounting direction side of the surface 48c. The surfaces 48b, 48d, and 48e form angles θb, θd, and θe (θd <θb <θe <90 °) with respect to the mounting direction, respectively.

  The grip part 49 is a recess into which a user's hand can be inserted. The grip portion 49 is formed at a corner portion between the upper surface 41h and the rear surface 41b along a side opposite to the mounting direction on the upper surface 41h.

  A recess 41a1 is formed in the vicinity of the end of the front surface 41a opposite to the insertion direction. The recess 41a1 faces the room R2 (see FIG. 4) in the main scanning direction. A substrate 142 is disposed on the bottom surface of the recess 41a1. The substrate 142 is a substantially rectangular plate member, and has a memory 141 on the back surface and eight terminals 170c to 177c on the front surface (see FIGS. 10A and 10B). The terminals 170c to 177c are exposed to the outside of the housing 41 through the recess 41a1. The surfaces of the terminals 170c to 177c are contact surfaces that contact the terminals 170p to 177p, respectively, and extend in the sub-scanning direction and the vertical direction. The surface 48c is provided so as to be positioned above the terminals 170c to 177c when the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c is electrically connected to the Hall element 71 of the unit 40B, and the sensor signal output terminal (SP) 171c is electrically connected to the Hall element 71 of the unit 40P. The data output terminal (DO) 172c and the data input terminal (DI) 173c are electrically connected to the memory 141, and the power input terminal (V) 174c is electrically connected to the two Hall elements 71 and the memory 141. The two ground terminals (G) 175c, 176c, and 177c are electrically connected to the memory 141, the hall element 71 of the unit 40P, and the hall element 71 of the unit 40B. Electrical connection between the terminals 170c, 171c, 174c, 175c, 176c, and 177c and each Hall element 71 is performed through wiring of a flexible cable (not shown). The terminals 172c, 173c, 174c, 175c, 176c, 177c and the memory 141 are electrically connected to each other through a conductive material filled in a through hole that penetrates the substrate 142.

  The hall element 71 is attached to the upper wall of the discharge pipe 43, converts a magnetic field generated from a magnet (not shown) attached to the lower wall of the discharge pipe 43 into an electric signal, and generates an electric signal. The hall element 71 generates an electrical signal having a magnitude corresponding to the position of a valve (not shown) disposed inside the discharge pipe 43. The valve is movable between an open position for opening the flow path inside the discharge pipe 43 and a closed position for closing the flow path. The valve and plug 50 are provided in series in the liquid flow direction in the discharge pipe 43.

The memory 141 is composed of an EEPROM or the like, and stores in advance data relating to the remaining amount of liquid in each reservoir 42, sensor output values (output values from each Hall element 71), and the like. When the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C, the controller 100 can read the data stored in the memory 141 and can also acquire data regarding the remaining amount of liquid in each reservoir 42 stored in the memory 141. It can be rewritten.

  Next, the configuration of the mounting portion (space C) will be described with reference to FIG.

  The space C is defined by the walls 1aa, 1ac, 1ad, 1ae, and 1ah of the housing 1a. The front wall 1aa is substantially orthogonal to the mounting direction and faces the front surface 41a when the cartridge 40 is mounted. A substrate 182 is attached to the front wall 1aa via a spring 182s. The side walls 1ac and 1ad are substantially parallel to each other, are both substantially orthogonal to the mounting direction, are spaced apart from each other in the insertion direction, and face the side surfaces 41c and 41d, respectively, when the cartridge 40 is mounted. The side wall 1ac is provided with two hollow needles 153 respectively corresponding to the units 40B and 40P, and two supports 154 that respectively support the hollow needles 153. Each support body 154 can move in the insertion direction and the direction opposite to the insertion direction with respect to the housing 1a by driving of the moving mechanism 155 (see FIG. 9). The hollow needle 153 can selectively take a non-insertion position not inserted into the discharge pipe 43 and an insertion position inserted into the discharge pipe 43 by the movement of the support 154. The two hollow needles 153 communicate with each of the head 2 that discharges black ink and the head 2 that discharges the pretreatment liquid via a tube and a joint. The upper wall 1ah and the lower wall 1ae (see FIG. 2) are substantially orthogonal to the walls 1aa, 1ac, and 1ad, extend between the side walls 1ac and the side walls 1ad, and are spaced apart from each other.

  The substrate 182 is substantially the same size as the substrate 142, and is disposed at a position facing the substrate 142 when the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C. On the surface of the substrate 182, eight terminals 170p to 177p that are in contact with the terminals 170c to 177c are provided. As shown in FIG. 9, the sensor signal receiving terminal (SB) 170p, the sensor signal receiving terminal (SP) 171p, the data receiving terminal (DO) 172p, and the data transmitting terminal (DI) 173p are electrically connected to the controller 100. The power output terminal (V) 174p is electrically connected to the power source 158, and the three ground terminals (G) 175p, 176p, 177p are grounded. The power source 158 is provided in the housing 1a.

  One end of the spring 182s is fixed to the back surface of the substrate 182, and the other end is fixed to the front wall 1aa. The substrate 182 is supported on one end of the spring 182s, so that it can move in a plane parallel to the sub-scanning direction and the vertical direction.

  In the space C, a lock unit 148 is further provided (see FIG. 5). The lock unit 148 includes a lever 148a, a shaft 148b, a roller 148c, and a spring 148d. The shaft 148b is fixed to the upper wall 1ah and extends downward from the upper wall 1ah in the vertical direction (see FIG. 11). The lever 148a is supported at the lower end of the shaft 148b and is rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction about the shaft 148b. The spring 148d has one end fixed to the side of the lever 148a and the other end fixed to the housing 1a. The roller 148c is rotatably provided on the lower surface of the tip of the lever 148a (the end opposite to the end where the shaft 148b is fixed), and is supported so as to be movable in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. Yes. The roller 148c is at a substantially intermediate position between the side wall 1ac and the side wall 1ad (see FIG. 5), and is at a substantially intermediate position between the upper wall 1ah and the lower wall 1ae (see FIG. 11).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 and the like, a process from mounting of the cartridge 40 to the space C to formation of communication between the cartridge 40 and the head 2 will be described. In FIG. 9, the power supply line is indicated by a thick line, and the signal line is indicated by a thin line.

  When the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C, the user of the printer 1 first opens the cover 1c (see FIG. 1) (time t0 in FIG. 8). Thereafter, the user moves the cartridge 40 in the mounting direction while holding the grip portion 49 with one hand, for example, and inserts it into the space C (see FIG. 6). FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D show the situation at each point of time of VIA, VIB, VIC, and VID shown in FIG.

  When the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C, first, the roller 148c comes into contact with the surface 48b of the engaged portion 48 (time t1 in FIG. 8). Thereafter, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5, the roller 148c moves toward the portion 48a while being in sliding contact with the surface 48b. During the movement of the roller 148c, the wall (guide portion) that defines the recess 41a1 contacts the side surface of the substrate 182, and moves the substrate 182 in a direction approaching the substrate 142 in a plane parallel to the sub-scanning direction and the vertical direction. Let The substrate 182 is guided by the guide portion in this way, and enters the recess 41a1 together with the terminals 170p to 177p (time point t2 in FIG. 8). Thereafter, as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 5, the roller 148c contacts the portion 48a (time point t3 in FIG. 8), further contacts the surface 48d beyond the portion 48a, and faces the surface 48e while sliding on the surface 48d. Move. During the movement of the roller 148c, the terminals 170p to 177p come into contact with each of the terminals 170c to 177c in the mounting direction (time t4 in FIG. 8).

  Thereby, electrical connection between the terminals 170c to 177c and 170p to 177p is realized, and power is supplied from the power source 158 to the hall element 71 and the memory 141 via the terminals 174p and 174c. Further, the controller 100 receives a signal from the Hall element 71 of the unit 40B via the terminals 170c and 170p, receives a signal from the Hall element 71 of the unit 40P via the terminals 171c and 171p, and passes through the terminals 172c and 172p. The data can be read from the memory 141, and the data can be written and rewritten to the memory 141 via the terminals 173c and 173p.

  After time t4, as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 5, the roller 148c further moves in sliding contact with the surface 48d and contacts the boundary portion between the surface 48d and the surface 48e (time t5 in FIG. 8). Thereafter, the roller 148c contacts the surface 48e beyond the boundary, and moves toward the end of the surface 48e in the direction opposite to the mounting direction while slidingly contacting the surface 48e. During the movement of the roller 148c, the front surface 41a contacts the front wall 1aa (time t6 in FIG. 8). At this time t6, the mounting of the cartridge 40 is completed. At this time, the roller 148c stops at the surface 48e, and the casing 41 is fixed (locked) so as not to move with respect to the space C unless a force of a predetermined value or more is applied in a direction opposite to the mounting direction. .

  During the period from time t1 to time t6, as shown in FIG. 7, the lever 148a is urged in the rotational direction by the elastic force of the spring 148d, and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction about the shaft 148b. Move. While the roller 148 c is engaged with the engaged portion 48, the roller 148 c applies an urging force F to the engaged portion 48, and thus the casing 41.

  The urging force F is a component of the urging force Fd that the spring 148d applies to the roller 148c. The direction of the urging force Fd is a tangential direction of the locus (circle around the shaft 148b) of the roller 148c when the lever 148a rotates about the shaft 148b. The urging force F is a component in the normal direction of the portion of the engaged portion 48 with which the roller 148c is in contact with the urging force Fd. Further, the urging force F can be divided into a component force Fx parallel to the mounting direction and a component force Fy parallel to the insertion direction (see FIG. 7C).

When the roller 148c is in contact with the surface 48b, the biasing force F includes a component in the direction opposite to the mounting direction and a component in the insertion direction (see FIG. 7A). Roller 148c is surface 48d or surface 48
When in contact with e, the urging force F includes a component in the mounting direction and a component in the insertion direction (see FIG. 7C). When the roller 148c is in contact with the portion 48a, the urging force F shifts from the component including the component in the direction opposite to the mounting direction to the component including the component in the mounting direction (see FIG. 7B). Therefore, the urging force F that moves the casing 41 in the direction opposite to the mounting direction and the insertion direction acts on the casing 41 during the period from the time point t1 to the time point t3. A biasing force F is applied to move the lens in the mounting direction and the insertion direction. As described above, since the biasing force F in the insertion direction acts on the casing 41 after the time point t1, the side surface 41d of the casing 41 is surely in contact with the side wall 1ad. In addition, after the time point t3, the urging force F in the mounting direction acts on the housing 41, so that the front surface 41a of the housing 41 is surely in contact with the front wall 1aa.

  The magnitude of the biasing force Fd is proportional to the extension of the spring 148d from the natural length. During the period from the time point t1 to the time point t3, the spring 148d is gradually extended, and the biasing force Fd is also gradually increased. That is, during the period, the elastic force of the spring 148d is generated and accumulated. Then, after time t3, when the roller 148c contacts the surfaces 48d and 48e beyond the portion 48a, the spring 148d contracts and the accumulated large biasing force Fd is applied to the surfaces 48d and 48e (and thus the casing 41). Works.

  During the period from time t4 to time t6, the spring 182s contracts, and the biasing force Fs in the direction opposite to the mounting direction by the spring 182s acts on the housing 41 via the terminals 170p to 177p and 170c to 177c (FIG. 7 (c)). The biasing force Fs increases with an increase in the amount of contraction of the spring 182s, but is set so that the component in the mounting direction of the biasing force F is always greater than the biasing force Fs after time t4.

  After the time t6, when the user closes the cover 1c (see FIG. 1) (time t7 in FIG. 8), the mounting detection switch 159 (see FIG. 9) outputs an ON signal. The controller 100 determines that the mounting of the cartridge 40 is completed by receiving the ON signal. The mounting detection switch 159 has a convex portion provided on a wall surface that defines an opening 10c (see FIG. 1) in the housing 1a. The projecting portion is in a protruding state when the cover 1c is open, and is pushed back by the cover 1c when the cover 1c is closed. The attachment detection switch 159 outputs an OFF signal when the convex portion is in the protruding state, and an ON signal when the convex portion is in a state of being retracted into the wall surface.

  When the controller 100 determines that the mounting of the cartridge 40 is completed, the controller 100 reads data (data relating to the remaining amount of liquid in each reservoir 42, sensor output value, etc.) from the memory 141, and further moves the moving mechanism 155 (see FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 6 (d), each support 154 is moved together with the hollow needle 153 in the insertion direction.

  After the movement of the hollow needle 153 is started, in each unit 40B, 40P, first, the hollow needle 153 passes through the plug 50 provided at the tip of the discharge pipe 43 in the main scanning direction. At this time, the plug 50 shifts from a closed state where the flow of the liquid in the discharge pipe 43 is blocked to an open state where the flow of the liquid is allowed. Further, in each unit 40B, 40P, the hollow needle 153 moves while pushing the valve body of the valve disposed inside the discharge pipe 43, so that the valve moves from the closed position to the open position, and the discharge pipe 43 Thus, communication between the reservoir 42 and the head 2 is formed (time t8 in FIG. 8).

Based on the output value read from the memory 141 and the signal received from the Hall element 71 of each unit 40B, 40P, the controller 100 arranges the valve in the discharge pipe 43 at the open position in each unit 40B, 40P. It is judged whether it was done. When it is determined that the valves of the units 40B and 40P are arranged at the open positions, the controller 100
It is determined whether or not a recording command is received from an external device. When the recording command is received, the controller 100 determines whether or not the usage amount of each of the black ink and the pretreatment liquid is less than the remaining amount. The amount of liquid used is the amount of liquid to be ejected during recording according to the recording command, and is calculated based on image data included in the recording command. Data read from the memory 141 is used as the remaining amount of liquid. When the usage amount is equal to or greater than the remaining amount, the controller 100 issues an error notification by the output unit 160 (see FIG. 9) such as a display or a speaker of the printer 1 and stops the operation of each unit of the printer 1. When the usage amount is less than the remaining amount, the controller 100 controls driving of the paper feed motor 125, the transport motor 127, the feed motor 128, the head 2, and the like so that an image based on the image data is recorded on the paper P.

  When taking out the cartridge 40 from the space C, the user of the printer 1 first opens the cover 1c (see FIG. 1). At this time, the mounting detection switch 159 outputs an OFF signal, and the controller 100 controls the moving mechanism 155 (see FIG. 9) in response to the reception of the OFF signal, and inserts each support 154 together with the hollow needle 153 in the insertion direction. Move it in the opposite direction. Thereby, in each unit 40B, 40P, the hollow needle 153 moves in the direction opposite to the insertion direction together with the valve body of the valve, so that the valve moves from the open position to the closed position, and the hollow needle 153 is further plugged. And is separated from the discharge pipe 43. Based on the output value read from the memory 141 and the signal received from the Hall element 71 of each unit 40B, 40P, the controller 100 places the valve in the discharge pipe 43 in the closed position in each unit 40B, 40P. It is judged whether it was done. Thereafter, the user moves the cartridge 40 in a direction opposite to the mounting direction while holding the grip portion 49 with one hand, for example, and removes it from the space C.

  When the cartridge 40 is removed from the space C, the series of operations described above are performed in the reverse order. That is, when the cartridge 40 in the state shown in FIG. 6C is moved in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, the roller 148c receives the urging force of the spring 148d via the lever 148a and slides on the surface 48e. Move towards 48d. During the movement of the roller 148c, the front surface 41a is separated from the front wall 1aa. The roller 148c is in contact with the surface 48d, and further moves toward the portion 48a while being in sliding contact with the surface 48d. During the movement of the roller 148c, the terminals 170p to 177p are separated from the terminals 170c to 177c. Thereafter, the roller 148c contacts the portion 48a, further contacts the surface 48b beyond the portion 48a, and moves toward the mounting direction end portion of the surface 48b while slidingly contacting the surface 48b. During the movement of the roller 148c, the substrate 182 is disposed outside the recess 41a1. The roller 148c is separated from the engaged portion 48 after reaching the mounting direction end of the surface 48b. Thereafter, the cartridge 40 is removed from the space C.

As described above, in the cartridge 40 of the present embodiment, the surface 48c is in contact with the roller 148c so that the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p are in contact with each other in the mounting direction. It is configured to move. The printer 1 according to this embodiment is provided in the space C and moves in contact with the surface 48c of the cartridge 40 so as to move the cartridge 40 in the mounting direction so that the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p are in contact with each other. A roller 148c is provided. In the printer 1 of this embodiment, the roller 148c contacts the surface 48b and the surface 48c in this order when the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C. The contact portion with the surface 48c of the roller 148c and the surfaces of the terminals 170p to 177p (contact portions with the terminals 170c to 177c) are arranged in this order in the mounting direction, and the portion 48a and the terminals 170c to 170c The surface of 177c (contact portion with the terminals 170p to 177p) is arranged in this order in the mounting direction. Furthermore, in the mounting direction, the distance D1 between the contact portion of the roller 148c with the surface 48c and the surfaces of the terminals 170p to 177p is larger than the distance D2 between the portion 48a and the surfaces of the terminals 170c to 177c (see FIG. 5). According to each of the above configurations, the cartridge 40 is arranged so that the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p are brought into contact with each other by bringing the roller 148c into contact with the surface 48c.
Can be moved in the mounting direction. That is, each of the above configurations is a configuration that is advantageous for suppressing poor contact between the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p.

  In the cartridge 40, the roller 148c is biased by a spring 148d, and the surface 48b configured to come into contact with the roller 148c so that the elastic force of the spring 148d increases before the surface 48c contacts the roller 148c. It has. The printer 1 includes a spring 148d that biases the roller 148c, and the roller 148c moves in contact with the surface 48b of the cartridge 40 so that the elastic force of the spring 148d increases before the surface 48c contacts the roller 148c. To do. According to each configuration described above, when the cartridge 40 is moved by the elastic force, it is possible to smoothly apply the elastic force to the surface 48c and move the cartridge 40 more reliably in the mounting direction, and thus the terminals 170c to 177c. And the terminals 170p to 177p can be more reliably suppressed.

  In the cartridge 40, the surface 48c includes a surface 48d that is continuous with the surface 48b, and a surface 48e that is continuous with an end portion on the opposite side to the mounting direction of the surface 48d. An angle θd formed by the surface 48d with respect to a straight line extending in parallel with the mounting direction and passing through the portion 48a is smaller than an angle θe formed by the surface 48e with respect to the straight line. In the printer 1, when the cartridge 40 is removed from the space C, the roller 148c contacts the surface 48e, the surface 48d, and the surface 48b in this order. In the mounting direction, the distance D1 between the contact portion with the surface 48c of the roller 148c and the surfaces of the terminals 170p to 177p (contact portions with the terminals 170c to 177c) is the surface of the portion 48a and the terminals 170c to 177c (terminal 170p). Is larger than the distance D2 (refer to FIG. 5). In the case of each configuration described above, the cartridge 40 can be easily removed from the space C with a small force. In this embodiment, the distance D1 changes when the cartridge 40 is mounted (see FIG. 7). However, if the relationship of distance D1> distance D2 is established at least until the time point t3 when the roller 148c contacts the portion 48a, the above effect is obtained. Can be obtained.

  The cartridge 40 has a guide portion (a wall that defines the recess 41a1 in the present embodiment) provided in the vicinity of the terminals 170c to 177c. In the guide portion, the terminals 170p to 177p approach the terminals 170c to 177c in the vertical direction and the sub-scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the mounting direction) before the time t3 when the surface 43c contacts the roller 148c (time t2). In contact with the substrate 182. In the printer 1, the terminals 170p to 177p are provided in the space C so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and the cartridge 40 includes the guide portion. And the surface of terminal 170c-177c and the edge part of the mounting direction side of a guide part are arrange | positioned in this order in the mounting direction. In the mounting direction, the distance D1 between the contact portion of the roller 148c with the surface 48c and the surfaces of the terminals 170p to 177p is smaller than the distance D3 between the portion 48a and the end portion of the guide portion on the mounting direction side. In the case of each said structure, the reliability of the contact between terminal 170p-177p, 170c-177c can be improved. Specifically, when the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C, the roller 148c moves in contact with the surface 48c, so that a positional shift of the cartridge 40 with respect to the space C may occur. Therefore, when the terminals 170p to 177p are moved by the guide of the guide portion after the roller 148c comes into contact with the surface 48c, the terminals 170p to 177p are moved in a state where the cartridge 40 has already been displaced, and the terminals 170p 177p and 170c to 177c are also misaligned, which may cause a problem that proper contact between the terminals 170p to 177p and 170c to 177c cannot be realized. On the other hand, in the above configuration, since the terminals 170p to 177p are moved by the guide of the guide portion at the time t2 and moved in a direction approaching the terminals 170c to 177c, the roller 148c comes into contact with the surface 48c. Is done.

Further, a predetermined stroke is required from the time when the terminals 170p to 177p start to move by the guide of the guide portion to the time when the terminals 170p to 177p contact the terminals 170c to 177c. In the configuration in which the cartridge 40 includes the surfaces 48b and 48c, the roller 148c
When the terminals 170p to 177p are moved by the guide of the guide portion after the contact with the surface 48c, it is necessary to increase the length of the surface 48c in the mounting direction in order to ensure a predetermined stroke. If the length of the surface 48c in the mounting direction is increased, there may arise a problem that the cartridge 40 is enlarged and the lock unit 148 is also enlarged. On the other hand, in the above configuration, the problem can be reduced. Further, in the configuration in which the surface 48c includes the surfaces 48d and 48e, it is conceivable to reduce the angle θd in order to secure a predetermined stroke. In this case, however, the lock unit is in a state where the roller 148c is in contact with the surface 48d. There may be a problem that the urging force in the mounting direction by 148 becomes small. On the other hand, in the above configuration, the problem can be reduced.

  In the cartridge 40, the surface 48c is provided at a position closer to the front surface 41a than the rear surface 41b in the mounting direction (see FIG. 5). In this case, when the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C, the roller 148c can be brought into contact with the surface 48c and moved in the mounting direction at a relatively early stage. Thereby, the cartridge 40 can be quickly mounted.

  In the cartridge 40, the surface 48c is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the side surface 41c and the side surface 41d. In the printer 1, the roller 148c is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the side wall 1ac and the side wall 1ad. In the cartridge 40, the surface 48c is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the upper surface 41h and the lower surface 41e. In the printer 1, the roller 148c is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the upper wall 1ah and the lower wall 1ae. In the case of each configuration described above, force acts on the entire cartridge 40 in a well-balanced manner through the surface 48c and the roller 148c in contact therewith. As a result, it is possible to perform more reliably than the mounting of the cartridge 40.

  The cartridge 40 further includes a grip portion 49 into which a user's hand can be inserted. The grip portion 49 and the surface 48c are spaced apart from each other on a straight line substantially parallel to the mounting direction (see FIG. 5). In this case, the user can easily mount and remove the cartridge 40 while inserting a hand into the grip portion 49. Moreover, since the grip portion 49 and the surface 48c are arranged as described above, the cartridge 40 can be properly mounted while positioning the surface 48c with respect to the roller 148c.

  The cartridge 40 includes a front surface 41a provided with terminals 170c to 177c and a discharge pipe 43 provided on the side surface 41c. In the printer 1, the space C includes a hollow needle 153 that extends in the insertion direction and is inserted into the discharge pipe 43 by moving in the insertion direction. In the case of each configuration described above, the contact between the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p and the insertion of the hollow needle 153 into the discharge pipe 43 can be performed independently of each other.

  In the printer 1, the terminals 170p to 177p are biased in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, and can move in the mounting direction against the biasing. The roller 148c moves in contact with the surface 48c of the cartridge 40 so as to move the cartridge 40 and the terminals 170p to 177p in the mounting direction after the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p contact each other. In this case, the reliability of contact between the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p can be improved. In this case, in the configuration in which the terminals 170p to 177p are biased in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, the burden on the user when the cartridge 40 is mounted is reduced. If the terminals 170p to 177p are biased in the direction opposite to the mounting direction and the roller 148c is not provided, the user moves the cartridge 40 relative to the space C against the bias when the cartridge 40 is mounted. It is necessary to make it, and big power is necessary. On the other hand, in the above configuration, since the roller 148c moves the cartridge 40 in the mounting direction, the user can perform the mounting operation of the cartridge 40 with a relatively small force.

  In the printer 1, the terminals 170p to 177p are biased by a predetermined biasing force Fs in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, and the force in the mounting direction generated at the contact portion of the surface 48c with the roller 148c is larger than the predetermined biasing force Fs. . In this case, the burden on the user or the like when the cartridge 40 is mounted can be further reduced.

  Next, a modification of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In this modification, the main difference from the above-described embodiment is the attachment position of the hollow needle 153, the support 154 that supports the hollow needle 153, and the discharge pipe 43 of the cartridge 40.

  The hollow needle 153 and the support body 154 that supports the hollow needle 153 are provided on the front wall 1aa of the housing 1a. In the above-described embodiment, the support 154 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the hollow needle 153 by driving the movement mechanism 155. However, the support 154 is fixed to the front wall 1aa without providing the movement mechanism 155. May be. That is, the hollow needle 153 may be immovable with respect to the front wall 1aa.

The cartridge 40 includes a housing 41, a black ink unit 40B corresponding to black ink, and a substrate 142. In the above-described embodiment, the pretreatment liquid unit 40P corresponding to the pretreatment liquid is provided, but in the present modification, it is not provided. The discharge pipe 43 corresponding to the black ink unit 40B and the plug 50 for closing the opening of the discharge pipe 43 are provided on the front surface 41a at a portion facing the hollow needle 153 when the cartridge 40 is mounted on the mounting portion.

In the present modification, the process from the mounting of the cartridge 40 into the space C to the formation of communication between the cartridge 40 and the head 2 is the same as in the above-described embodiment. However, when the hollow needle 153 is made immovable with respect to the front wall 1aa as described above, the hollow needle 153 penetrates the stopper 50 from the middle of the mounting of the cartridge 40 into the space C, and further inside the discharge pipe 43. When the mounting of the valve is started after the valve body of the valve arranged at is started, the movement of the valve to the open position is completed.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made as long as they are described in the claims.

About cartridges:
-The number, shape, and arrangement of electrical contacts are arbitrary. The electrical contact is not limited to including a terminal (communication terminal) for communicating with the memory or sensor of the cartridge, and may include only a terminal for power input without including the communication terminal.
-An electrical contact is not limited to being provided in the bottom part of the recessed part formed in the housing | casing. Moreover, you may abbreviate | omit a guide part. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the concave portion 41a1 may be omitted, and the substrate 142 may be disposed on the front surface 41a. Further, the electrical contact may be provided on the side surface instead of the front surface of the cartridge. Furthermore, the electrical contact may be omitted.
The contents contained in the cartridge are not limited to black ink and pretreatment liquid. For example, color ink other than black, post-treatment liquid discharged to a recording medium after recording in order to improve image quality, and conveyance belt It may be a cleaning liquid for cleaning the liquid, waste liquid discharged from the recording unit (head) in preliminary discharge (discharge operation not related to recording), or the like. Furthermore, the content is not limited to liquid, but may be toner or the like.
In the above-described embodiment, the cartridge individually stores two types of contents (black ink and pretreatment liquid), but stores only one type of content or three or more types of content. Also good.
The cartridge is not limited to a configuration having one or a plurality of storage portions (for example, the reservoir 42) for storing the contents and a container (for example, the casing 41) that further stores the storage portions, but the contents are contained in the container. It is accommodated, and there is no need to further accommodate the container.
The shape of the cartridge can be arbitrarily changed, and the configuration of the cartridge surface can also be arbitrarily changed. That is, the cartridge is not limited to having the surfaces 41a to 41h as in the above-described embodiment.
The position, shape, etc., of the concave part cartridge that can be inserted by the user's hand are not particularly limited. Further, the cartridge may not have the concave portion.
The shape of the first part and the second part and the position in the cartridge are not particularly limited. For example, the first portion may be provided at a position closer to one of the first side surface and the second side surface than at a substantially middle position between the first side surface and the second side surface. Instead of the position, it may be provided at a position closer to one of the upper surface and the lower surface. In addition, for example, the surface 48d in the above-described embodiment may be omitted, and the first portion may be configured only by the surface 48e so that the surface 48b and the surface 48e are continuous. The first portion may be a surface extending in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction. Another surface may be interposed between the first portion and the second portion. The second part may be omitted.
-The position, configuration, number, etc. of the communication part are not particularly limited. For example, the communication unit is not limited to being outside the cartridge housing, and may be inside the cartridge housing. The communication portion is not limited to being configured by a tube attached to the bag (reservoir 42) as in the above-described embodiment, and accommodates holes and contents formed when the needle is inserted into the bag. You may comprise from the film etc. which were provided in the opening part of the container. Two or more communicating portions may be provided for one type of accommodating portion.

About the recording device:
-The position of the mounting portion in the recording apparatus is not particularly limited. For example, a mounting part may be provided in the upper part of the recording apparatus.
-The number, shape, and arrangement of electrical interfaces are arbitrary. The electrical interface is not limited to including a terminal (communication terminal) for communicating with a memory or a sensor of the cartridge, and may include only a terminal for power output without including a communication terminal. The electrical interface is not limited to being supported by a spring, and may be supported by an elastic body such as sponge or rubber. In addition, the electrical interface is not limited to being provided in the mounting portion so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and may be fixed to the mounting portion. Further, the electrical interface may be provided on the side wall instead of the front wall of the mounting portion.
The moving member may move in contact with the first portion of the cartridge so that the cartridge moves only in the mounting direction. The shape of the moving member, the position in the mounting portion, etc. are not particularly limited. For example, the moving member may be provided at a position closer to one of the first side wall and the second side wall than the substantially middle position between the first side wall and the second side wall. It may be provided at a position closer to one of the upper wall and the lower wall instead of the intermediate position.
-The structure of connection of a moving member and an elastic member is arbitrary. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the spring 148d is attached to the side surface of the lever 148a on the left side of FIG. 7, and the spring 148d contracts when the roller 148c contacts the surface 48b, and the spring 148d operates when the roller 148c contacts the surface 48c. You may make it elongate. Further, the moving member is not limited to being biased by the elastic member. For example, the recording apparatus has a mechanism for moving the moving member itself in the mounting direction, and the mounting direction while the moving member is in contact with the first portion. It may be moved to.
When the electrical interface is biased with a predetermined biasing force in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, the force in the mounting direction generated at the contact portion with the moving member of the first portion is limited to be larger than the predetermined biasing force. Not.
-The number of needles, the position in the mounting portion, and the like can be arbitrarily changed.
-The number of cartridges mounted on the recording apparatus may be one or more.
The number of recording units (heads) included in the recording apparatus is not limited to two, and may be one or more. The recording apparatus may be, for example, a color inkjet printer including a recording unit that ejects black ink and three color (magenta, cyan, and yellow) inks.
The recording apparatus may be either a line type or a serial type, and is not limited to a printer, and may be a facsimile or a copier. Further, the recording apparatus is not limited to the ink jet type, and may be a laser type or the like.

  The mounting direction is parallel to the main scanning direction in the above-described embodiment, but is not limited thereto, and may be parallel to the vertical direction or the sub-scanning direction, for example.

1 Inkjet printer (recording device)
1aa front wall 1ac side wall (first side wall)
1ad side wall (second side wall)
1ae Lower wall 1ah Upper wall 40 Cartridge 41a Front surface 41b Rear surface 41c Side surface (first side surface)
41d side surface (second side surface)
41h upper surface 41e lower surface 43 discharge pipe (communication part)
48b surface (second part)
48c surface (first part)
48d surface (first surface)
48e surface (2nd surface)
49 Grasping part (concave part)
148c Roller (moving member)
148d Spring (elastic member)
153 Hollow needle
170c to 177c terminals (electrical contacts)
170p to 177p terminal (electrical interface)
C space (mounting part)

Claims (23)

A cartridge that can be mounted on a mounting portion of a recording apparatus including an electrical interface and a moving member that moves to move the cartridge,
An electrical contact disposed in a direction intersecting the mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the mounting portion;
A first portion in contact with the moving member,
The cartridge is configured to move the cartridge in the mounting direction so that the electrical contact and the electrical interface come into contact with each other by contacting the moving member with the first portion. The moving member is biased by an elastic member,
The said 2nd part comprised so that it might contact with the said movement member so that the elastic force of the said elastic member might become large before the said 1st part contacted with the said movement member, The 1st part of Claim 1 was provided. cartridge. The second part is continuous with the end of the first part on the mounting direction side,
The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein an elastic force of the elastic member increased by the second portion is applied to the first portion. The first portion includes a first surface that is continuous with the second portion, and a second surface that is continuous with an end of the first surface opposite to the mounting direction.
The angle formed by the first surface with respect to a straight line extending in parallel with the mounting direction and passing through the end of the first portion on the mounting direction side is greater than the angle formed with the second surface with respect to the straight line. The cartridge according to claim 3, which is also small.   The electrical interface is provided in the vicinity of the electrical contact so that the electrical interface moves in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction and closer to the electrical contact before the first portion contacts the moving member. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a guide portion in contact with the mechanical interface. A front surface provided with the electrical contacts;
A rear surface spaced apart in the direction opposite to the mounting direction with respect to the front surface,
The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is provided at a position closer to the front surface than the rear surface in the mounting direction. Comprising a first side surface and a second side surface spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction;
The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first portion is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the first side surface and the second side surface. Comprising an upper surface and a lower surface that are spaced apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction;
The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the upper surface and the lower surface. It further comprises a recess into which the user's hand can be inserted,
The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the concave portion and the first portion are spaced apart from each other on a straight line substantially parallel to the mounting direction. A front surface provided with the electrical contacts;
A first side surface continuous with the end portion of the front surface and extending in a direction opposite to the mounting direction;
The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a communication portion that is provided on the first side surface and communicates the inside and the outside of the cartridge.   The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is provided so as to be positioned above the electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion. . A mounting section on which the cartridge can be mounted;
An electrical interface provided in the mounting portion and in contact with an electrical contact of the cartridge disposed in a direction crossing a mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the mounting portion;
A moving member provided in the mounting portion and moving in contact with the first portion of the cartridge so as to move the cartridge in the mounting direction so that the electrical contact and the electrical interface are in contact with each other; A recording apparatus comprising: The electrical interface is biased in a direction opposite to the mounting direction and is movable in the mounting direction against the biasing;
The moving member moves in contact with the first portion of the cartridge so as to move the cartridge and the electrical interface in the mounting direction after the electrical contact and the electrical interface are in contact with each other. The recording apparatus according to claim 12. An elastic member for urging the moving member;
14. The moving member according to claim 12, wherein the moving member moves in contact with the second portion of the cartridge such that an elastic force of the elastic member is increased before the first portion comes into contact with the moving member. Recording device. The mounting portion includes a first side wall and a second side wall that are disposed apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and in which the cartridge can be disposed,
The recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the moving member is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the first side wall and the second side wall. The mounting portion is disposed apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and includes an upper wall and a lower wall in which the cartridge can be disposed,
The recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the moving member is provided at a substantially middle position between the upper wall and the lower wall.   The mounting portion includes a needle that extends in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction and is inserted into a communication portion that communicates the inside and the outside of the cartridge by moving in the orthogonal direction. The recording device according to any one of the above. A mounting section on which the cartridge can be mounted;
An electrical interface provided in the mounting portion and oriented in a direction opposite to the mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the mounting portion;
A moving member that is provided in the mounting portion and is urged by an elastic member and moves to move the cartridge in the mounting direction;
The cartridge is
An electrical contact in contact with the electrical interface;
A first portion configured to contact the moving member to move the cartridge in the mounting direction;
A second portion configured to be in contact with the moving member so as to increase an elastic force of the elastic member continuously with an end of the first portion on the mounting direction side;
When the cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion, the moving member contacts the second portion and the first portion in this order,
The contact portion with the first portion of the moving member and the contact portion with the electrical contact of the electrical interface are arranged in this order in the mounting direction,
An end of the first portion on the mounting direction side and a contact portion of the electrical contact with the electrical interface are arranged in this order in the mounting direction.
In the mounting direction, a distance between a contact portion between the moving member and the first portion and a contact portion between the electrical contact of the electrical interface is equal to an end portion of the first portion on the mounting direction side and the contact portion. A recording apparatus, wherein an electrical contact is larger than a distance from a contact portion with the electrical interface. The first portion includes a first surface that is continuous with the second portion, and a second surface that is continuous with an end of the first surface opposite to the mounting direction.
The angle formed by the first surface with respect to a straight line extending in parallel with the mounting direction and passing through the end of the first portion on the mounting direction side is greater than the angle formed with the second surface with respect to the straight line. Is also small,
When the cartridge is removed from the mounting portion, the moving member contacts the second surface, the first surface, and the second portion in this order,
In the mounting direction, the distance between the contact portion of the moving member with the first portion and the contact portion of the electrical contact of the electrical interface is equal to the end portion of the first portion on the mounting direction side and the electrical portion. The recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a distance between a contact point and a contact portion with the electrical interface is larger. The electrical interface is provided in the mounting portion in a state movable in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction,
The cartridge further includes a guide portion provided in the vicinity of the electrical contact and in contact with the electrical interface so as to move the electrical interface in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction and approaching the electrical contact. ,
The contact portion of the electrical contact with the electrical interface and the end portion on the mounting direction side of the guide portion are arranged in this order in the mounting direction,
In the mounting direction, the distance between the contact portion of the moving member with the first portion and the contact portion of the electrical contact of the electrical interface is determined by the distance between the end portion of the first portion on the mounting direction side and the guide. The recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the recording apparatus is smaller than a distance from an end of the mounting portion on the mounting direction side. The electrical interface is biased by a predetermined biasing force in a direction opposite to the mounting direction,
21. The recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a force in the mounting direction generated at a contact portion between the first portion and the moving member is greater than the predetermined biasing force. A first outer surface substantially orthogonal to the mounting direction and on which the electrical contacts are disposed;
A second outer surface that is substantially parallel to the first outer surface, faces away from the first outer surface, and is disposed on the opposite side of the mounting direction from the first outer surface;
A third outer surface substantially orthogonal to the first outer surface and disposed between the first outer surface and the second outer surface with respect to the mounting direction;
A fourth outer surface that is substantially parallel to the third outer surface and is spaced apart from the third outer surface;
Both of the first outer surface and the third outer surface are substantially orthogonal to each other, between the first outer surface and the second outer surface with respect to the mounting direction, and with respect to the direction orthogonal to the third outer surface, A fifth outer surface disposed between the fourth outer surface;
A sixth outer surface that is substantially parallel to the fifth outer surface and is spaced apart from the fifth outer surface;
The fifth outer surface is substantially parallel to the fifth outer surface, is spaced apart from the fifth outer surface, and is spaced from the fifth outer surface by a distance different from the sixth outer surface in a direction orthogonal to the fifth outer surface, A seventh outer surface that does not overlap the sixth outer surface when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the outer surface;
A housing having an eighth outer surface connecting the sixth outer surface and the seventh outer surface;
The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is constituted by the eighth outer surface. A substrate having a first surface on which electrical contacts are disposed, the first surface facing in a first direction;
A second surface disposed upstream of the substrate with respect to the first direction, facing a second direction forming an obtuse angle with respect to the first direction, and disposed downstream of the second surface with respect to the first direction; An engagement portion having a third surface facing a third direction that forms an acute angle with respect to one direction,
The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the third surface does not overlap the substrate in the first direction.

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