JP2017052220A - system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system in which an electrode of a cartridge and a contact of a mounting section can be in electrically stable contact with each other.SOLUTION: In a system, an ink cartridge 30 is inserted into/extracted from a cartridge mounting section 110. The ink cartridge 30 includes: an IC substrate 85; and a projection section 60. The cartridge mounting section 110 includes: a contact unit 125; and a coil spring 135. The contact unit 125 has a contact 131, a first wall 171, and a second wall 172, and the contact 131 is in contact with the IC substrate 85 and the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 vertically move between a first position for holding the IC substrate 85 and a second position retracted upward from the first position. The coil spring 135 locates the contact unit 125 at the second position in a mounting process of the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting section 110. The projection section 60 locates the contact unit 125 at the first position when completing the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting section 110.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for consuming a consumable material held in a cartridge mounted on a mounting portion.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a cartridge 420 for containing ink and a printer 400 into which the cartridge 420 is inserted and mounted. The cartridge 420 includes an electrical pad 421 and a block portion 440. The printer 400 includes a circuit board support portion 433. The circuit board support part 433 is elastically supported by the elastic body 434. An electrical pad 435 is provided on the circuit board support 433.

  In the process of inserting the cartridge 420 into the printer 400, the block portion 440 of the cartridge 420 contacts and presses the circuit board support portion 433 of the printer 400. As a result, the circuit board support portion 433 moves in a direction away from the cartridge 420 against the elastic force of the elastic body 434. As a result, the electrical pad 421 of the cartridge 420 and the electrical pad 435 of the printer 400 do not come into contact with each other during the process of inserting the cartridge 420 into the printer 400.

  When the mounting of the cartridge 420 to the printer 400 is completed, the block unit 400 is separated from the circuit board support unit 433. Thereby, the circuit board support part 433 moves toward the cartridge 420 by the elastic force of the elastic body 434. As a result, the electrical pad 421 and the electrical pad 435 come into contact with each other.

  When the cartridge 420 is taken out from the printer 400, the electrical pad 421 and the electrical pad 435 are not in contact with each other as described above. As described above, even if an ink droplet adheres to the cartridge 420, the ink droplet is prevented from adhering to the electrical pad 435.

US2008 / 0122904A1

  By the way, with the miniaturization of a circuit board due to circuit integration, the electrodes mounted on the circuit board also become smaller. Therefore, if the circuit board is not accurately positioned with respect to the cartridge, the electrode and the contact point of the printer may not contact each other when the cartridge is mounted on the printer. Also, when a cartridge with an incorrect circuit board position is installed in the printer, the electrodes and contacts that were in contact immediately after the cartridge was installed in the printer become non-contact due to the vibration of the printer thereafter. there is a possibility.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system in which an electrical interface of a cartridge and a contact of a mounting portion can be electrically contacted stably.

  (1) A system according to the present invention includes a consumable material cartridge for holding a consumable material, a consumable material cartridge that is inserted and mounted in a first direction, and the consumable material cartridge is a second one opposite to the first direction. A mounting portion that is removed in the direction, and a consumption portion that consumes the consumption material held by the consumption material cartridge that has been mounted on the mounting portion. The consumer cartridge includes a substrate support portion, a substrate supported by the substrate support portion, and an electrical interface mounted on the surface of the substrate facing a third direction orthogonal to the first direction. The mounting portion includes a moving member movable between a first position and a second position in the third direction from the first position along the third direction and a fourth direction opposite to the third direction. Prepare. The moving member is in a contact position where the moving member is in contact with the electrical interface of the consumable material cartridge when the moving member is in the first position, and the contact position when the moving member is in the second position. And a contact point located in the third direction, and at least one of the first wall and the second wall, or the third wall and the fourth wall. The first wall is disposed in the first direction with respect to the contact, and the substrate is located when the moving member is in the first position and the contact is in contact with the electrical interface. When the moving member is in the second position, the substrate and a part of the substrate support part are more than the part when the moving member is in the second position. Located in the third direction. The second wall is disposed in the second direction with respect to the contact, the substrate is located when the moving member is in the first position and the contact is in contact with the electrical interface. When the moving member is in the second position, the substrate and a part of the substrate support part are more than the part of the substrate support part. Located in the third direction. The third wall is disposed in the first direction and in a fifth direction orthogonal to the third direction from the contact, the moving member is in the first position, and the contact is in the electrical direction. When in contact with the interface, the substrate and a portion of the substrate support portion are in a position overlapping with the fifth direction, and when the moving member is in the second position, the substrate, And it is located in the said 3rd direction from a part of said board | substrate support part. The fourth wall is disposed in a sixth direction opposite to the fifth direction than the contact, the moving member is in the first position, and the contact is in contact with the electrical interface. When the moving member is in the second position when the moving member is in the second position. It is located in the third direction from a part of the part. In a state in which the consumption material cartridge is completely mounted on the mounting portion, the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the mounting portion is such that the electrical interface and the contact point are in the third direction and the fourth direction in the mounting portion. It is the facing position that faces. One of the consumption material cartridge or the mounting portion includes a first member that positions the moving member at the second position in the process of mounting the consumption material cartridge on the mounting portion. The other of the consumable material cartridge or the mounting portion includes a second member that positions the moving member in the first position when the consumable material cartridge is completely mounted in the mounting portion.

  In the above configuration, in the process of inserting the consumption material cartridge in the first direction with respect to the mounting portion, the moving member provided in the mounting portion is positioned at the second position by the first member.

  When the mounting of the consumable material cartridge to the mounting portion is completed, the moving member is positioned at the first position by the second member. Thereby, the contact provided in the moving member is located in a contact position. Further, in the state where the mounting of the consumption material cartridge to the mounting portion is completed, the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the mounting portion is the facing position. In other words, the electrical interface mounted on the substrate supported by the substrate support portion faces the contact in the third direction and the fourth direction. As described above, the electrical interface and the contact are in contact.

  Further, in a state where the mounting of the consumable material cartridge to the mounting portion is completed, the first wall is in a position overlapping with the substrate and a part of the substrate support portion when viewed in the first direction. Further, the second wall is at a position overlapping the substrate and a part of the substrate support portion when viewed in the second direction. In addition, the third wall is in a position overlapping the substrate and a part of the substrate support portion when viewed in the fifth direction. The fourth wall is in a position overlapping the substrate and a part of the substrate support portion when viewed in the sixth direction. Thereby, when the moving member includes the first wall and the second wall, the substrate is disposed between the first wall and the second wall in the first direction and the second direction. Further, when the moving member includes the third wall and the fourth wall, the substrate is disposed between the third wall and the fourth wall in the fifth direction and the sixth direction.

  On the other hand, when the moving member is configured to include the first wall and the second wall, if the substrate is displaced from the correct position with respect to the substrate support portion in the first direction or the second direction, the moving member is In the process of being positioned at the first position by the two members, the first wall or the second wall contacts the substrate. Thereby, the moving member cannot move to the first position. As a result, the contacts do not contact the electrical interface.

  Further, in the case where the moving member has the third wall and the fourth wall, if the substrate is displaced from the correct position with respect to the substrate support portion in the fifth direction or the sixth direction, the moving member is In the process of being positioned at the first position by the two members, the third wall or the fourth wall contacts the substrate. Thereby, the moving member cannot move to the first position. As a result, the contacts do not contact the electrical interface.

  As described above, the electrical interface and the contact can be contacted only when the substrate is disposed at a correct position with respect to the substrate support portion. As a result, the electrical interface and the contacts can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  In addition, the consumption material cartridge is “completed in the attachment unit” means, for example, a state in which the consumption unit can consume the consumption material held in the consumption material cartridge.

  (2) The consumable material cartridge holds the consumable material, the main body having the second member, and a third position and a fourth position closer to the second member than the third position. The substrate support portion that is movable relative to the main body in the first direction and the second direction, and the substrate support portion is urged in the first direction relative to the main body to be positioned at the third position. And an urging member. The mounting portion includes a lock portion that locks the main body in a state where the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the mounting portion is the facing position and the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the main body is the fourth position. Prepare. The first member is provided in the mounting portion and biases the moving member in the third direction. In a state in which the consumption material cartridge is completely attached to the attachment portion, the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the attachment portion is the facing position, and the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the main body is the fourth position. . From the state where the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the mounting portion is the facing position and the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the main body is the third position, the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the main body is the first position. When the main body moves relative to the substrate support portion in the first direction so as to be in the fourth position, the second member comes into contact with the moving member, thereby biasing the moving member to the first member. Against the first position in the fourth direction.

  According to the above configuration, the moving member is biased in the third direction by the first member and positioned at the second position in a state where the moving member is not in contact with the second member. Thereby, a contact is located in a 3rd direction rather than a contact position. As a result, unintended contact between the contact and the electrical interface can be prevented.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the substrate support portion is urged in the first direction by the urging member in a state where the consumption material cartridge is completely attached to the attachment portion. Therefore, even if the main body moves in the second direction due to deterioration of the lock portion or the like, the position of the substrate support portion biased in the first direction by the biasing member does not change. As a result, the electrical interface and the contacts can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  (3) The second member includes a contact surface that faces the first direction and contacts the moving member. The moving member includes a contacted surface that faces the second direction and contacts the contact surface of the second member that moves in the first direction. At least one of the contact surface or the contacted surface is inclined in the third direction toward the first direction.

  According to the above configuration, the moving member can be smoothly moved from the second position to the first position when the consumption material cartridge is completely attached to the attachment portion.

  (4) The consumer material cartridge includes an integrated circuit capable of storing information related to the consumer material. The system includes a controller that accesses the integrated circuit through the electrical interface in contact with the contact.

  The control unit according to the above configuration can access the integrated circuit of the consumable material cartridge through the electrical interface and the contacts that are stably in contact with each other. Note that “access” includes, for example, one or both of reading information from an integrated circuit and writing information to the integrated circuit.

  (5) The moving member may include the first wall and the second wall, and the third wall and the fourth wall.

  (6) For example, the third direction is vertically upward, and the fourth direction is vertically downward.

  According to the present invention, the electrical interface of the consumption material cartridge and the contact of the mounting portion can be electrically stably contacted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge mounting part 110. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing an external configuration of the contact unit 125. FIG. 5A shows a configuration including the first wall 171 to the fourth wall 174, and FIG. 5B shows the first wall 171 and the second wall 174. A configuration including the wall 172 is shown, and (C) illustrates a configuration including the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174. FIG. 6 is a front view showing an external configuration of the cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 8 shows the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is inserted until the position of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is the facing position and the position of the cover 90 with respect to the main body 31 is the far-away position. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. FIG. 9 illustrates the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is inserted until the position of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is the facing position and the position of the cover 90 with respect to the main body 31 is the close position. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 in which the IC substrate 85 is displaced with respect to the substrate support base 84 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. (A) is a state in which the IC substrate 85 is displaced in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the substrate support base 84, and (B) is a state in which the IC substrate 85 is in the removal direction 52 with respect to the substrate support base 84. (C) is a state in which the IC substrate 85 is displaced in the right direction 55 with respect to the substrate support base 84, and (D) is a state in which the substrate support base 84 is disposed. In this state, the IC substrate 85 is shifted in the left direction 56. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 according to a modification. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a modified example. 13A and 13B are perspective views showing the external configuration of the contact unit 129. FIG. 13A shows a configuration including the first wall 191 to the fourth wall 194, and FIG. 13B shows the first wall 191 and the second wall 194. A configuration including the wall 192 is shown, and (C) illustrates a configuration including the third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a modified example. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted up to a position where the convex portion 63 contacts the contacted surface 137A in the modification. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is inserted up to a position where the convex portion 63 contacts the lower surface 137C in the modification. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted up to a position where the convex portion 63 contacts the contacted surface 137B in the modification. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state where the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 is completed in the modification.

  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.

  In the following description, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 and mounted is defined as the insertion direction 51 (an example of the first direction). Also, the direction opposite to the insertion direction 51 and with which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 is defined as the removal direction 52 (an example of the second direction). In the present embodiment, the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 are horizontal directions, but the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 may not be horizontal directions.

  A direction orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 is defined as an upward direction 54 (an example of a third direction). Further, the direction opposite to the upward direction 54 is defined as the downward direction 53 (an example of the fourth direction). In the present embodiment, the upward direction 54 as the third direction is vertically upward, and the downward direction 53 as the fourth direction is vertically downward. However, the third direction and the fourth direction may not be the vertical direction.

  In addition, directions orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 and the downward direction 53 are defined as a right direction 55 (an example of a fifth direction) and a left direction 56 (an example of a sixth direction). More specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the insertion direction 51 in a state where the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 is completed, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture (use posture), A direction extending to the right is defined as a right direction 55, and a direction extending to the left is defined as a left direction 56. In the present embodiment, the right direction 55 as the fifth direction and the left direction 56 as the sixth direction are horizontal directions, but the fifth direction and the sixth direction may not be horizontal directions.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 10 (an example of a system) records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet based on an ink jet recording method. The printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100.

  The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21. The ink supply device 100 controls the overall operation of the cartridge mounting unit 110 (an example of a mounting unit), an ink cartridge 30 (an example of a consumption material cartridge), a recording head 21 (an example of a consumption unit), and the printer 10. Part 1. The ink cartridge 30 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. An opening 112 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. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores ink (an example of a consumption material) that can be used by the printer 10. That is, the ink cartridge 30 holds ink. The ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected by the ink tube 20 in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub tank 28. The sub tank 28 temporarily stores ink supplied from the ink cartridge 30 through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 selectively ejects the ink supplied from the sub tank 28 from the nozzles 29 by the ink jet recording method.

  The printer 10 includes a paper feed tray 15, a paper feed roller 23, a transport roller pair 25, a platen 26, a discharge roller pair 22, and a paper discharge tray 16. The recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 15 to the transport path 24 by the paper feed roller 23 is transported onto the platen 26 by the transport roller pair 25. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto a recording sheet that passes over the platen 26. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording paper. Accordingly, the ink held by the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is consumed by the recording head 21. 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]
The ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 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. For example, the ink chamber 36 may be formed by an internal frame that is a member different from the casing of the main body 31 forming the appearance of the ink cartridge 30. Good.

  The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a posture when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture. That is, the ink cartridge 30 includes a front wall 91, a rear wall 42, upper walls 39 and 92, a lower wall 41, a side wall 37, and a side wall 38, as will be described later. The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 2 is such that the direction from the rear wall 41 toward the front wall 91 coincides with the insertion direction 51, and the direction from the front wall 91 toward the rear wall 42 coincides with the removal direction 52. The direction from 39, 92 to the lower wall 41 matches the lower direction 53, the direction from the lower wall 41 to the upper walls 39, 92 matches the upper direction 54, and the direction from the side wall 38 to the side wall 37 is the right direction 55. And the direction from the side wall 37 toward the side wall 38 corresponds to the left direction 56. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the outer surface of the front wall 91 faces the insertion direction 51, the outer surface of the rear wall 42 faces the removal direction 52, and the lower wall 41 The outer surface faces downward 53, the outer surfaces of upper walls 39, 92 face upward 54, the outer surface of sidewall 37 faces rightward 55, and the outer surface of sidewall 38 faces leftward 56.

  The ink cartridge 30 includes a three-dimensional shape constituted by a flat surface or a curved surface, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 31 and a cover 90 (an example of a substrate support portion). A cover 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 right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and has a flat shape in which the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53, the insertion direction 51, and the removal direction 52 are longer than the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. .

[Main unit 31]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main body 31 includes a front wall 40, a rear wall 42, a side wall 37, a side wall 38, an upper wall 39, and a lower wall 41.

  The front wall 40 is a wall that faces the insertion direction 51 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted and mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The rear wall 42 is a wall that faces the removal direction 52 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 are spaced apart from each other in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52.

  The side wall 37 connects the right ends of the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42. The side wall 38 connects the left ends of the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42. The upper wall 39 connects the upper ends of the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42. The lower wall 41 connects the lower ends of the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42.

  The ink chamber 36 is partitioned by a front wall 40, a rear wall 42, a side wall 37, a side wall 38, an upper wall 39, and a lower wall 41. That is, the main body 31 holds ink in the ink chamber 36.

  An ink supply unit 34 is provided below the front wall 40 of the main body 31. The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape and protrudes from the front wall 40 in the insertion direction 51. 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 can be exposed to the outside through the opening 97 of the cover 90.

  An ink flow path 72 that extends in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 and connects the ink supply port 71 and the ink chamber 36 is formed in the internal space of the ink supply unit 34. One end of the ink flow path 72 is opened to the outside of the main body 31 at the ink supply port 71, and extends in the removal direction 52 from the ink supply port 71 to the inside of the main body 31. The ink supply port 71 is configured to be opened and closed by an ink supply valve 70 biased to the ink supply port 71 by a coil spring 73. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 117 (see FIG. 4) provided on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71, and ink is supplied against the urging force of the coil spring 73. The valve 70 is separated from the ink supply port 71. Accordingly, the ink in the ink chamber 36 flows out to the ink needle 117 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110 through the ink flow path 72.

  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 when the ink needle 117 breaks through the film. Although not shown in the present embodiment, the main body 31 may be provided with an air communication port for setting the atmospheric pressure of the ink chamber 36 in a state maintained at a negative pressure to the external atmospheric pressure.

  A locking portion 45 is formed from the vicinity of the center in the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52 on the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 to the rear wall 42. The locking portion 45 has a groove extending in the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52 in the upper wall 39. The locking portion 45 has a locking surface 46 that faces the removal direction 52 of the ink cartridge 30 at the end in the groove insertion direction 51. An engagement member 145 (see FIG. 4, an example of a lock portion) described later is engaged with the locking surface 46 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The locking surface 46 receives an external force opposite to the urging force that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52, that is, a force from the engaging member 145 in this embodiment. An end of the groove removal direction 52 opens to the outside of the main body 31.

  A rotation member 80 is provided on the locking portion 45 of the main body 31. The rotating member 80 has, for example, a bent flat plate shape, and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The rotating member 80 has a shaft 83 at the bent position. The rotating member 80 can rotate around the shaft 83. The distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 extends from the shaft 83 in the insertion direction 51. A rear end portion 82 of the rotating member 80 extends from the shaft 83 in the removal direction 52.

  When the rotation member 80 is rotated until the distal end portion 81 is located at the uppermost position, the distal end portion 81 projects upward from the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. When the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 is pushed downward, the rotating member 80 rotates clockwise in FIG. In a state in which the rotating member 80 is rotated most clockwise, the distal end portion 81 is located near the lower end of the locking surface 46. The rotating member 80 may be integrated with the main body 31. The rotating member 80 may be urged clockwise by a coil spring, or may be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by its own weight.

  A protrusion 60 (an example of a second member) is formed in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the locking portion 45 in the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. The convex portion 60 includes a base portion 61 that protrudes upward from the upper wall 39 and an extension portion 62 that extends from the upper end portion of the base portion 61 in the insertion direction 51. An end surface 62 </ b> A (an example of a contact surface) in the insertion direction 51 of the extending portion 62 is inclined with respect to the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. Specifically, the end surface 62 </ b> A is a surface facing the insertion direction 51, and is inclined upward in the insertion direction 51.

[Cover 90]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 90 has a shape covering at least a part of the outer surface constituting the main body 31, for example, a front wall 40 of the main body 31, a side wall 37, a side wall 38, an upper wall 39, And it is the thin container shape which can cover a part of lower wall 41 from the outside. The cover 90 has a width (length in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56) and height (length in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53) that can cover the entire front wall 40 of the main body 31, and the side wall 37. The side wall 38, the upper wall 39, and the lower wall 41 have a depth (the length in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52) that can cover a part of the lower wall 41. That is, the cover 90 has a box shape having a width and height larger than the width and height of the main body 31 and a depth shorter than the depth of the main body 31. The cover 90 has an opening facing the front wall 91 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The main body 31 can be inserted into the cover 90 through the opening.

  Although not shown in detail in each drawing, the cover 90 can be moved relative to the main body 31 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 when assembled in the main body 31. Such a slide of the cover 90 is, for example, provided with an engaging claw on one of the main body 31 and the cover 90 and an elongated hole extending in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 on the other, and engaging with the elongated hole. This can be realized by inserting a nail. When the cover 90 moves with respect to the main body 31 and the engaging claw comes into contact with the wall surface defining the ends of the long hole insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52, further movement of the cover 90 is restricted. The

  As shown in FIG. 3, between the front wall 40 of the main body 31 and the cover 90, a coil spring 47 (an example of an urging member) that can be elastically contracted along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. Is provided.

  The front wall 91 of the cover 90 is biased in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the main body 31 by the coil spring 47. Accordingly, the cover 90 is located at a farthest position (an example of the third position) farthest from the front wall 40 of the main body 31 in the insertion direction 51 in a state where no external force is applied (see FIG. 3). When the cover 90 is located at the remote position, the front wall 91 of the cover 90 that faces the front wall 40 of the main body 31 is located at a position that is shifted in the insertion direction 51 from most of the ink supply unit 34. Therefore, most of the ink supply unit 34 is immersed in the cover 90.

  When an external force is applied to the main body 31 or the cover 90 to bring them close together, the coil spring 47 is elastically contracted so that the front wall 91 of the cover 90 faces the front wall 40 of the main body 31. Move to slide. Accordingly, the cover 90 is located at a proximity position (an example of a fourth position) where the front wall 91 is closest to the front wall 40 of the main body 31. When the cover 90 is located at a position other than the far position, the cover 90 is urged by the contracted coil spring 47 in the insertion direction 51 away from the main body 31. The distance along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 between the cover 90 (particularly, a substrate support base 84 described later) and the convex portion 60 is the distance between the cover 90 (particularly, the substrate support base 84 described later). Longer than the distance along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 between the protrusion 60 and the protrusion 60.

  As described above, the cover 90 is movable relative to the main body 31 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 according to the expansion and contraction of the coil spring 47.

  An opening 97 that penetrates in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 is formed in the lower portion of the front wall 91 of the cover 90. The opening 97 becomes a passage for exposing the ink supply unit 34 of the main body 31 to the outside when the cover 90 moves to the close position. Therefore, the opening 97 is formed in a position, size, and shape corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 of the main body 31.

  A protrusion 93 is provided at the lower end of the front wall 91 of the cover 90. The width of the protrusion 93 is the same as the width of the front wall 91. The protrusion 93 protrudes from the front wall 91 in the insertion direction 51. The protrusion 93 contacts the contacted portion 94 (see FIG. 4) of the case 101 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted and mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the main body 31 is further inserted in a state where the protrusion 93 is in contact with the contacted portion 94, the cover 90 is moved relative to the main body 31. Therefore, the protrusion dimension of the protrusion 93 is set corresponding to the moving distance of the cover 90.

  A substrate support base 84 is provided on the upper surface of the upper wall 92 facing the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 in the cover 90. The substrate support base 84 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member placed on the upper surface of the upper wall 92. That is, the substrate support base 84 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the upper wall 92. The substrate support base 84 may be a separate member from the upper wall 92, or may be integrally formed with the upper wall 92. Further, the substrate support base 84 may have a shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped.

  An IC substrate 85 (an IC chip, an example of a substrate) is attached to the upper surface of the substrate support base 84 by a known method such as adhesion. That is, the substrate support base 84 of the cover 90 supports the IC substrate 85. The lengths of the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the IC substrate 85 are equal to or shorter than the lengths of the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the substrate support base 84.

  Four electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 (an example of an electrical interface) are formed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 85, that is, the surface facing the upward direction 54 of the IC substrate 85. The electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 extend in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 on the upper surface of the IC substrate 85, and are spaced apart from each other in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 are, for example, clock electrodes, data electrodes, power supply voltage electrodes, ground electrodes, and the like. On the IC substrate 85, an IC (not shown, an example of an integrated circuit) electrically connected to the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 is mounted. The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and stores information indicating information relating to the ink cartridge 30 (for example, information such as a lot number and date of manufacture) and information relating to ink (for example, ink color) in a readable manner. Note that the number of electrodes is not limited to four.

  In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 (the state shown in FIG. 9), the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 are positioned directly below a contact 131 described later provided on the cartridge mounting portion 110. doing. More specifically, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the position of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is within the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contacts 131. Is the facing position facing the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53.

  The substrate support 84 is disposed in a state of protruding from the upper wall 92. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, a space defined by the cover 90 of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 is formed around the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85. Is done. This will be described in detail below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a first space 161 is formed in a region displaced in the insertion direction 51 from the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85. Although the cartridge mounting part 110 is not shown in FIG. 2, the first space 161 has a surface facing the insertion direction 51 of the upper wall 92, the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85, and the top surface 104 of the cartridge mounting part 110. It is demarcated by the end surface 102 (refer FIG. 4, FIG. 6). The first space 161 is larger than a first wall 171 (see FIG. 5A) of a contact unit 125 described later. Accordingly, the first wall 171 is disposed in the first space 161 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the first space 161 is a space that receives the first wall 171.

  A second space 162 is formed in a region shifted in the removal direction 52 from the substrate support 84 and the IC substrate 85. Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 2, the second space 162 has a surface facing the upper wall 92, the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 in the removal direction 52, and the top surface 104 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. (See FIGS. 4 and 6). The second space 162 is a space larger than a second wall 172 (see FIG. 5A) of the contact unit 125 described later. As a result, the second wall 172 is disposed in the second space 162 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the second space 162 is a space that receives the second wall 172.

  A third space 163 is formed in a right region of the IC substrate 85 (a region shifted in the right direction 55). Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 2, the third space 163 includes the upper wall 92, the right side of the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85, and the top surface 104 and the right side surface 105 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 (FIG. 6). The third space 163 is a larger space than a third wall 173 (see FIG. 5A) of the contact unit 125 described later. As a result, the third wall 173 is disposed in the third space 163 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the third space 163 is a space that receives the third wall 173.

  A fourth space 164 is formed in the left area of the IC substrate 85 (area shifted in the left direction 56). Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 2, the fourth space 164 includes the upper wall 92, the left surface of the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85, and the top surface 104 and the left side surface 106 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 (FIG. 6). The fourth space 164 is a space larger than a fourth wall 174 (see FIG. 5A) of the contact unit 125 described later. Accordingly, the fourth wall 174 is disposed in the fourth space 164 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the fourth space 164 is a space that receives the fourth wall 174.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the case 101 constituting the housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has an opening 112. The inside of the case 101 is exposed through the opening 112 to the surface of the printer 10 that the user faces when the printer 10 is used. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. The case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In FIGS. 4 and 6, the space of the case 101 that can accommodate one ink cartridge 30. It is shown. The space inside the case 101 is defined by the end surface 102 facing the opening 112 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52, the top surface 104, the right side surface 105, the left side surface 106, and the bottom surface 107. Note that the connecting portion 103, the abutted portion 94, the engaging member 145, and the contact unit 125 described below are provided corresponding to each of the four ink cartridges 30. That is, in this embodiment, the connection part 103, the to-be-contacted part 94, the engaging member 145, and the four contact units 125 are each provided. The four connecting portions 103, the four contacted portions 94, the four engaging members 145, and the four contact units 125 are arranged in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, respectively. Each connection portion 103, each contacted portion 94, each engagement member 145, and each contact unit 125 have the same configuration. Therefore, in the following, the configuration of one connecting portion 103, the abutted portion 94, the engaging member 145, and the contact unit 125 will be described, and the remaining three connecting portions 103, the abutting portion 94, and the engaging member 145 are described. The description of the configuration of the contact unit 125 is omitted.

  A connection portion 103 is provided below the end surface 102. The connection unit 103 is disposed on the end surface 102 at a position corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 of each ink cartridge 30 attached to the case 101.

  The connection unit 103 includes an ink needle 117 and a holding groove 116. The ink needle 117 is made of a tubular resin needle. The ink needle 117 extends inside and outside the case 101 by passing through the case 101. The outer end of the case 101 of the ink needle 117 is connected to the ink tube 20. The ink tube 20 connected to the ink needle 117 is extended to the recording head 21 of the printer 10 so that ink can be circulated. In FIG. 4, the ink tube 20 is omitted.

  The holding groove 116 is a cylindrical groove formed in the end surface 102. An ink needle 117 is disposed in the center of the holding groove 116. As shown in FIG. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the holding groove 116. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical ink supply unit 34 comes into contact with the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the end surface 102 constituting the holding groove 116. When the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the holding groove 116, the ink needle 117 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 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 is supplied to the recording head 21 through the ink needle 117 and the ink tube 20.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a contacted portion 94 is provided below the connection portion 103. The contacted portion 94 has a surface facing the removal direction 52, and the protrusion 93 of the cover 90 can contact the surface.

  An engaging member 145 is provided on the case 101. The engaging member 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a mounted state. For example, the engaging member 145 is formed to be rotatable about a support shaft 147 provided near the opening 112 of the case 101. Specifically, the engaging member 145 is configured to be able to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise in FIG. An engagement end 146 is disposed at the end of the engagement member 145 opposite to the support shaft 147 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The engagement end 146 can be engaged with the locking surface 46 of the ink cartridge 30. The engagement end portion 146 engages with the engaging surface 46 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 and the cover 90 is positioned at the close position, thereby causing the biasing force of the coil springs 47 and 73 to be applied. Accordingly, the movement of the main body 31 in the removal direction 52 is restricted. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The position of the engagement member 145 (see FIG. 9) at which the engagement end 146 and the engagement surface 46 can be engaged is referred to as a lock position, and is a position rotated above the lock position, that is, engagement. The position (see FIGS. 7 and 8) of the engaging member 145 where the end 146 and the locking part 45 do not engage is referred to as the unlock position. The engaging member 145 rotates in the downward direction 53 by its own weight. The engagement member 145 is pushed by the distal end portion 81 when the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 moves in the upward direction 54 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting portion 110. Thereby, the engaging member 145 rotates in the upward direction 54 around the support shaft 147, and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[Contact unit 125]
As shown in FIG. 4, a contact unit 125 (an example of a moving member) is attached to a position near the end surface 102 on the top surface 104 of the case 101. The contact unit 125 is provided at a position at least partially facing the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 above the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 when the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting portion 110. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the contact unit 125 includes a main body 126 and a contact 131. The main body 126 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The main body 126 includes a first wall 171, a second wall 172, a third wall 173, a fourth wall 174, a first opening 127, a second opening (not shown), and a contacted surface 126A. I have.

  The first wall 171, the second wall 172, the third wall 173, and the fourth wall 174 protrude downward from the lower surface 126B of the main body 126. The first wall 171 and the second wall 172 extend in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The first wall 171 is provided in the insertion direction 51 more than the second wall 172. The distances along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 between the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 are the same as the lengths along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the substrate support 84 and the IC substrate 85. Or a distance slightly longer than the length. The third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 extend in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The third wall 173 is provided on the right side of the fourth wall 174. The distances along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 between the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 are the same as the lengths along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85, or The distance is slightly longer than the length.

  The main body 126 has an internal space (not shown). The internal space communicates with the outside through the first opening 127 and the second opening. The first opening 127 is formed between the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 and between the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 on the lower surface 126 </ b> B of the main body 126. Four first openings 127 are formed corresponding to the four electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89, and are formed side by side in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The second opening is formed in the side surface 126 </ b> C facing the insertion direction 51 of the main body 126. Four second openings are formed corresponding to the first openings 127, and are formed side by side in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. In FIG. 5A, the second opening is not shown.

  A conductive member is disposed in the internal space. In the present embodiment, the conductive member is a member obtained by extending an electrical conductor into an elongated shape, is made of copper, and has a surface plated with nickel and gold. Four conductive members are formed corresponding to the four electrodes 86, 87, 88 and 89. The conductive member can be elastically deformed.

  A contact 131 that is one end of each conductive member protrudes downward 53 from the lower surface 126 </ b> B through the first opening 127. Accordingly, four contact points 131 are formed on the lower surface 126B side by side in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 corresponding to the four electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89. The four contact points 131 are located between the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 and between the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174. In other words, the four contact points 131 are surrounded by the first wall 171, the second wall 172, the third wall 173, and the fourth wall 174. When receiving a force from below, the contact 131 can be elastically deformed upward toward the internal space.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an FFC (flexible flat cable) 134 is connected to the other end (not shown) of each conductive member. The FFC 134 extends from the internal space of the main body 126 to the outside of the contact unit 125 through the second opening. The extended FFC 134 is connected to a contact (not shown) exposed from the top surface 104. The contact is electrically connected to the control unit 1 of the printer 10 by a cable or the like. As will be described later, the contact unit 125 is configured to be movable along the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53, but the FFC 134 changes its posture following the movement of the contact unit 125.

  The contacted surface 126 </ b> A is a surface facing the removal direction 52 in the main body 126. The contacted surface 126 </ b> A is inclined in the upward direction 54 toward the insertion direction 51. The contacted surface 126 </ b> A can come into contact with the end surface 62 </ b> A of the convex portion 60 formed on the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30.

  The contact unit 125 is supported by the case 101 so as to be movable between the first position shown in FIG. 9 and the second position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 along the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53. Yes. The second position is a position above the first position.

  In the present embodiment, the contact unit 125 is supported by the case 101 via two coil springs 135 (an example of a first member), as shown in FIG. One end of each coil spring 135 is connected to the lower surface 126B of the main body 126, as shown in FIG. Specifically, one end of each coil spring 135 is connected to both the left and right ends of the lower surface 126B in the insertion direction 51 rather than the first wall 171. The other end of each coil spring 135 is connected to the protruding wall 136. The protruding wall 136 is a wall that extends in the removal direction 52 from the right end and the left end of the end surface 102 of the case 101.

  The contact unit 125 is located at the second position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 when the coil spring 135 is in the natural length state. The contact unit 125 is located at the first position in a state where the coil spring 135 is contracted from the natural length. That is, the contact unit 125 is positioned at the second position by being urged by the coil spring 135 in the upward direction 54 in a state in which no force is applied from outside except by the coil spring 135.

  When the contact unit 125 is in the first position shown in FIG. 9, the lower end of the contact 131 is positioned below the upper ends of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. . The position of the contact 131 at this time is the contact position. Here, as described above, in the state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the positions of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 are such that the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 131 are upward. 54 and the facing position facing the downward direction 53. Therefore, the contact 131 at the contact position overlaps with the positions of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the contact 131 at the contact position can contact the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89.

  When the contact unit 125 is in the second position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lower end of the contact 131 is higher than the upper ends of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. Located in. The position of the contact 131 at this time is a non-contact position. As a result, the contact 131 at the non-contact position cannot contact the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89.

  When the contact 131 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89, the IC substrate 85 is electrically connected to the control unit 1 (see FIG. 1) through a conductive member. As a result, the control unit 1 can access the IC provided on the IC substrate 85 through the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 that are in contact with the contact 131. Here, the control unit 1 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and is arranged as a control board inside the printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the contact unit 125 is located at the first position, the lower ends of the first wall 171, the second wall 172, the third wall 173, and the fourth wall 174 are mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The completed ink cartridge 30 is positioned in a lower direction 53 than the upper end of the substrate support base 84.

  At this time, the first wall 171 is positioned in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110, and the second wall 172 is the cartridge mounting unit. The third wall 173 is positioned in the removal direction 52 from the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the 110, and the third wall 173 is the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The fourth wall 174 is positioned in the left direction 56 with respect to the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  At this time, the right ends of the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 are positioned in the right direction 55 with respect to the right ends of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, The left ends of the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 are positioned in the left direction 56 relative to the left ends of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  At this time, the end of the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 in the insertion direction 51 is more than the end of the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. Also, the end of the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 in the removal direction 52 is the removal of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been completely attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110. It is located in the removal direction 52 rather than the end of the direction 52.

  As described above, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the positions of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting unit 110 are such that the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 131 are in the upward direction 54. And a facing position facing the downward direction 53.

  As described above, the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 have the IC substrate 85 and the contact point when the contact unit 125 is in the first position and the contact 131 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89. , At least a part of the substrate support 84 that is a part of the cover 90, as viewed in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. In addition, the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 have the IC substrate 85 and the contact board 126 when the contact unit 126 is in the first position and the contact 131 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89. At least a part of the substrate support 84 that is a part of the cover 90 is positioned so as to overlap in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the contact unit 125 is located at the second position, the lower ends of the first wall 171, the second wall 172, the third wall 173, and the fourth wall 174 are located on the cartridge mounting portion 110. Is positioned in the upward direction 54 from the upper end of the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been completely mounted. From the above, the first wall 171, the second wall 172, the third wall 173, and the fourth wall 174 are part of the IC substrate 85 and the cover 90 when the contact unit 125 is in the second position. Located in the upward direction 54 from the substrate support 84.

  The position where the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 are provided is the IC substrate when the contact unit 125 is in the first position and the contact 131 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89. 85 and at least a part of the substrate support base 84 as long as it overlaps the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52, the position is not limited to the above. For example, when the contact unit 125 is located at the first position, the right ends of the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 are the right ends of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The left ends of the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 are located in the left direction 56, and the left ends of the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that have been mounted in the cartridge mounting section 110 are in the right direction 55. May be located.

  Further, the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 are provided at a position where the contact unit 126 is at the first position and the contact 131 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89. 85 and at least a part of the substrate support base 84 as long as they overlap with the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, the position is not limited to the above. For example, when the contact unit 126 is located at the first position, the ends of the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 in the insertion direction 51 are the IC substrate 85 and substrate support of the ink cartridge 30 that has been completely mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The end of the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 in the removal direction 52 is positioned more in the removal direction 52 than the end in the insertion direction 51 of the base 84, and the IC of the ink cartridge 30 that has been completely attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. You may be located in the insertion direction 51 rather than the edge of the removal direction 52 of the board | substrate 85 and the board | substrate support stand 84. FIG.

  In the present embodiment and the modifications described later, “the right end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84” means the right end of the IC substrate 85 and the right end of the substrate support base 84. The “left end of the base 84” means the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the left end of the substrate support base 84, and “the end in the insertion direction 51 of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84” The term “end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 in the removal direction 52” means the end of the IC substrate 85 in the removal direction 52 and the substrate support base. 84 means the end of the withdrawal direction 52.

[Installation operation of ink cartridge 30]
The operation of mounting the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110, the engaging member 145 is moved upward 54 by the upper wall 92 of the cover 90 and the convex portion 60 of the main body 31. And the engaging member 145 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

  In the state shown in FIG. 7, the position of the cover 90 with respect to the main body 31 is a far-away position. The contact unit 125 is urged by the coil spring 135 in the upward direction 54 and is located at the second position, and the contact 131 is located at the non-contact position.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51, the protrusion 93 of the cover 90 comes into contact with the contacted portion 94 as shown in FIG. As a result, the cover 90 cannot be moved further in the insertion direction 51. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 from the state shown in FIG. 8, only the main body 31 moves in the insertion direction 51 against the urging force of the coil spring 47 without moving the cover 90. .

  In the state shown in FIG. 8, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 131 face the up direction 54 and the down direction 53 in the cartridge mounting portion 110. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 8, the position of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is the facing position. Further, the position of the cover 90 with respect to the main body 31 is a distant position, as in the state shown in FIG. Further, the contact unit 125 is urged upward by the coil spring 135 in the same manner as in the state shown in FIG. That is, the coil spring 135 positions the contact unit 125 in the second position in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. Moreover, the contact 131 is located in a non-contact position similarly to the state shown in FIG.

  As described above, the state shown in FIG. 8 is a state in which the position of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is the facing position, and the position of the cover 90 with respect to the main body 31 is the far-away position. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 from this state, the cover 90 does not move, and only the main body 31 moves relative to the cover 90 in the insertion direction 51. In other words, the cover 90 moves relative to the main body 31 in the removal direction 52 so that the position with respect to the main body 31 changes from the remote position to the close position.

  When the relative movement as described above is executed, the end surface 62A of the extending portion 62 of the convex portion 60 provided on the main body 31 comes into contact with the contacted surface 126A of the main body portion 126 of the contact unit 125, and the contacted surface. Press 126A. Thereby, the contacted surface 126A is guided along the end surface 62A which is an inclined surface. As a result, the contact unit 125 moves in the downward direction 53 against the urging force of the coil spring 135. That is, the contact unit 125 moves from the second position toward the first position. As a result, the contact 131 moves from the non-contact position toward the contact position.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 from the state shown in FIG. 8, the ink supply unit 34 comes into contact with the holding groove 116. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the ink needle 117 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34. The ink supply valve 70 pushed by the ink needle 117 is separated from the ink supply port 71 against the biasing force of the coil spring 73.

  Further, the engaging member 145 that has reached the locking portion 45 of the main body 31 is not supported by the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 and rotates in the downward direction 53 to reach the locked position. The engaging end 146 and the locking surface 46 face each other in the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52.

  When the force for pushing the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 disappears from this state, the ink cartridge 30 is pulled out to the position where the engagement end portion 146 and the locking surface 46 come into contact with each other by the biasing force of the coil springs 47 and 73. Retreat to. As a result, the engaging member 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the force (the urging force of the coil springs 47, 73) that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52. Further, the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 is located below the engaging member 145. Further, the rear end portion 82 of the rotating member 80 is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the groove of the locking portion 45 and is located above the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. Thus, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed (see FIG. 9).

  In the mounting completion state shown in FIG. 9, the position of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is a facing position, and the position of the cover 90 with respect to the main body 31 is a close position. The contact unit 125 is located at the first position. As a result, the first wall 171 is received in the first space 161, the second wall 172 is received in the second space 162, the third wall 173 is received in the third space 163, and the fourth wall 174 is in the fourth space. 164. At this time, the first wall 171 is in a position overlapping with at least a part of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when viewed in the insertion direction 51. Further, the second wall 172 is at a position overlapping with at least a part of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when viewed in the removal direction 52. Further, the third wall 173 is at a position overlapping with at least a part of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when viewed in the right direction 55. Further, the fourth wall 174 is at a position overlapping with at least a part of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when viewed in the left direction 56. As a result, the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 are in a state surrounded by the first wall 171, the second wall 172, the third wall 173, and the fourth wall 174.

  Moreover, in the mounting completion state shown in FIG. 9, the contact 131 is located at the contact position. As a result, each of the four contact points 131 comes into contact with a corresponding one of the electrodes 86, 87, 88 and 89. As a result, an electrical connection between the IC of the IC board 85 and the control unit 1 of the printer 10 is established, and the control unit 1 can access the IC. The electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 are in contact with the contact 131 that moves to the contact position, and the contacted contact 131 is pushed and elastically deformed upward.

  Further, in the mounting completion state shown in FIG. 9, the ink needle 117 is in a state where the ink supply valve 70 is separated from the ink supply port 71. Therefore, the ink can flow out from the ink chamber 36 through an ink introduction port (not shown) provided at the tip of the ink needle 117.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rear end portion 82 of the rotating member 80 is pushed down in the downward direction 53 by the user. As a result, the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 moves upward 54 and is separated from the bottom surface of the locking portion 45. As the tip 81 moves, the engaging member 145 is rotated in the upward direction 54 from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the holding of the ink cartridge 30 by the engaging member 145 is released.

  When the engagement member 145 is moved to the unlock position, the main body 31 moves in the removal direction 52 by the urging force of the coil springs 47 and 73. Further, when the main body 31 moves in the removal direction 52, the ink needle 117 comes out of the ink supply unit 34. As a result, the ink supply valve 70 is pushed by the restoring force of the coil spring 73 to close the ink supply port 71.

  Further, when the main body 31 moves in the removal direction 52, the end surface 62 </ b> A of the extending portion 62 of the convex portion 60 is separated from the contacted surface 126 </ b> A of the main body portion 126 of the contact unit 125. Thereby, the contact unit 125 moves in the upward direction 54 by the biasing force of the coil spring 135. That is, the contact unit 125 moves from the first position to the second position. By moving the contact unit 125 to the second position, the IC substrate 85 can move in the removal direction 52 without contacting the second wall 172.

  Further, when the main body 31 moves in the removal direction 52, the contact 131 moves from the contact position to the non-contact position. As a result, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the respective contacts 131 are separated from each other, and the electrical connection between the IC of the IC board 85 and the control unit 1 of the printer 10 is released.

  When the main body 31 moved in the removal direction 52 is pulled out in the removal direction 52, the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
In the above embodiment, in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the cartridge mounting part 110, the contact unit 125 provided in the cartridge mounting part 110 is positioned at the second position by the coil spring 135.

  When the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is completed, the contact unit 125 is positioned at the first position by the convex portion 60. Thereby, the contact 131 provided in the contact unit 125 is located at the contact position. Further, in a state where the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is completed, the position of the cover 90 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is a facing position. That is, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 mounted on the IC substrate 85 supported by the cover 90 face the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53 with respect to the contact 131. Thus, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 131 are in contact with each other.

  Further, in the state where the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is completed, the first wall 171 is arranged in the insertion direction 51 with the IC substrate 85 and a part of the cover 90 (particularly, the substrate support base 84). It is in a position that overlaps when viewed. Further, the second wall 172 is in a position overlapping the IC substrate 85 and a part of the cover 90 (particularly, the substrate support base 84) when viewed in the removal direction 52. Further, the third wall 173 is in a position overlapping the IC substrate 85 and a part of the cover 90 (particularly, the substrate support base 84) when viewed in the right direction 55. Further, the fourth wall 174 is in a position overlapping the IC substrate 85 and a part of the cover 90 (particularly, the substrate support base 84) when viewed in the left direction 56. Thereby, when the contact unit 125 is configured to include the first wall 171 and the second wall 172, the IC substrate 85 is interposed between the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. Be placed. When the contact unit 125 includes the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174, the IC substrate 85 is disposed between the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The

  On the other hand, when the contact unit 125 includes the first wall 171 and the second wall 172, the IC substrate 85 is inserted from the correct position with respect to the substrate support base 84 as shown in FIG. If the contact unit 125 is displaced by 51, the first wall 171 contacts the substrate in the process in which the contact unit 125 is positioned at the first position by the convex portion 60. Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the IC substrate 85 is arranged so as to be displaced from the correct position with respect to the substrate support base 84 in the removal direction 52, the contact unit 125 is moved to the first position by the convex portion 60. The second wall 172 contacts the substrate in the process of being positioned at. Thereby, the contact unit 125 cannot move to the first position. As a result, the contact 131 does not contact the electrodes 86, 87, 88 and 89.

  Further, when the contact unit 125 includes the third wall 173 and the fourth wall 174, the IC substrate 85 moves rightward from the correct position with respect to the substrate support base 84 as shown in FIG. The third wall 173 contacts the IC substrate 85 when the contact unit 125 is positioned at the first position by the convex portion 60. Further, as shown in FIG. 10D, when the IC substrate 85 is arranged to be shifted in the left direction 56 from the correct position with respect to the substrate support base 84, the contact unit 125 is moved to the first position by the convex portion 60. In the process of being positioned, the fourth wall 174 contacts the IC substrate 85. Thereby, the contact unit 125 cannot move to the first position. As a result, the contact 131 does not contact the electrodes 86, 87, 88 and 89.

  As described above, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 131 can contact only when the IC substrate 85 is disposed at a correct position with respect to the substrate support base 84. As a result, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 131 can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  The ink cartridge 30 “completed in the cartridge mounting unit 110” indicates, for example, a state in which the recording head 21 can consume ink held in the ink cartridge 30.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the contact unit 125 is biased in the upward direction 54 by the coil spring 135 and is positioned at the second position in a state where the contact unit 125 is not in contact with the convex portion 60. Thereby, the contact 131 is located in the upward direction 54 from the contact position. As a result, unintended contact between the contact 131 and the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 can be prevented.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the cover 90 is urged in the insertion direction 51 by the coil spring 47 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. Therefore, even if the main body 31 moves in the removal direction 52 due to the aging of the engaging member 145 or the like, the position of the cover 90 biased in the insertion direction 51 by the coil spring 47 does not change. As a result, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 131 can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  According to the embodiment, since the convex portion 60 includes the end surface 62A and the contact unit 125 includes the contacted surface 126A, the contact unit 125 is removed when the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. It can be smoothly moved from the second position to the first position.

  The control unit 1 according to the embodiment can access the IC of the ink cartridge 30 through the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contacts 131 that are stably in contact with each other. Note that “access” includes, for example, one or both of reading information from the IC and writing information to the IC.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 includes the main body 31, the cover 90, and the coil spring 47, but the ink cartridge 30 may not include the cover 90 and the coil spring 47.

  In the above embodiment, the first member is provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the second member is provided in the ink cartridge 30. Specifically, the coil spring 135 corresponds to the first member, and the convex portion 60 corresponds to the second member. However, contrary to the above embodiment, the first member may be provided in the ink cartridge 30 and the second member may be provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  In the following, referring to FIGS. 11 to 18, the ink cartridge 30 does not include the cover 90 and the coil spring 47, the first member is provided in the ink cartridge 30, and the second member is provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The configuration of the provided printer 10 will be described. Note that, in the following description, a description of a part having a different configuration from the above embodiment will be made in detail, while a description of a part having the same configuration as the above embodiment will be simplified or omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the outer shape of the ink cartridge 30 in the modification is configured by a main body 31.

  A convex portion 63 (an example of a first member) is formed at an end portion of the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 in the insertion direction 51. In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, two convex portions 63 are formed at the right end portion and the left end portion of the upper wall 39, but the number of the convex portions 63 is not limited to two. For example, the convex portion 63 may be formed only on the right end portion of the upper wall 39. In the modification, the main body 31 does not include the convex portion 60 in the above embodiment.

  A substrate support base 84 is provided on the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. In the modification, the substrate support base 84 is an example of a substrate support unit. The substrate support 84 is provided in the removal direction 52 from the convex portion 63. The substrate support 84 is provided on the left side of the convex portion 63 formed on the right end portion of the upper wall 39 and on the right side of the convex portion 63 formed on the left end portion of the upper wall 39. Similar to the above embodiment, an IC substrate 85 is attached to the upper surface of the substrate support base 84. The configurations of the substrate support 84 and the IC substrate 85 attached to the substrate support 84 are the same as those in the above embodiment.

  In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 are located directly below a contact 136 described later provided on the cartridge mounting portion 110 (see FIG. 18). . More specifically, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the position of the substrate support base 84 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 in the cartridge mounting portion 110. 136 is a facing position facing the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53.

  The substrate support 84 is disposed in a state of protruding from the upper wall 39. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, a space defined by the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 is formed around the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85. Is done. This will be described in detail below.

  A first space 181 is formed in a region shifted in the insertion direction 51 from the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85. Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 11, the first space 181 is a surface facing the insertion direction 51 of the upper wall 39, the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85, the top surface 104 of the cartridge mounting portion 110, and It is demarcated by the end surface 102 (see FIG. 12). The first space 181 is a larger space than a first wall 191 (see FIG. 13A) of a contact unit 129 described later. Accordingly, the first wall 191 is disposed in the first space 181 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the first space 181 is a space that receives the first wall 191.

  A second space 182 is formed in a region shifted in the removal direction 52 from the substrate support 84 and the IC substrate 85. Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 11, the second space 182 includes a surface facing the upper wall 39, the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 in the removal direction 52, and the top surface 104 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. (See FIG. 12). The second space 182 is a larger space than a second wall 192 (see FIG. 13A) of a contact unit 129 described later. Accordingly, the second wall 192 is disposed in the second space 182 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the second space 182 is a space that receives the second wall 192.

  A third space 183 is formed in a right region of the IC substrate 85 (a region shifted in the right direction 55). Although the cartridge mounting part 110 is not shown in FIG. 11, the third space 183 includes the upper wall 39, the right side of the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85, the top surface 104 (see FIG. 12) of the cartridge mounting part 110, and It is partitioned by a right side surface (not shown). The third space 183 is a larger space than a third wall 193 (see FIG. 13A) of a contact unit 129 described later. As a result, the third wall 193 is disposed in the third space 183 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the third space 183 is a space that receives the third wall 193.

  A fourth space 184 is formed in the left region of the IC substrate 85 (region shifted in the left direction 56). Although the cartridge mounting part 110 is not shown in FIG. 11, the fourth space 184 includes the upper wall 39, the left side of the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85, the top surface 104 (see FIG. 12) of the cartridge mounting part 110, and It is partitioned by a left side surface (not shown). The fourth space 184 is a space larger than a fourth wall 194 (see FIG. 13A) of a contact unit 129 described later. As a result, the fourth wall 194 is disposed in the fourth space 184 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the fourth space 184 is a space that receives the fourth wall 194.

  A cartridge mounting unit 110 of a modification shown in FIG. 12 does not include the contact unit 125 and the contacted portion 94 in the above embodiment, but includes a contact unit 129 (an example of a moving member).

  As shown in FIG. 12, the contact unit 129 is attached to a position near the end surface 102 on the top surface 104 of the case 101. The contact unit 129 is provided at a position at least partially facing the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 above the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting portion 110. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the contact unit 129 includes a main body 137 and a contact 136. The main body 137 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The main body 137 includes a first wall 191, a second wall 192, a third wall 193, a fourth wall 194, a first opening 138, a second opening (not shown), and contacted surfaces 137A and 137B. And a first convex portion 139 and a second convex portion 140.

  The first wall 191, the second wall 192, the third wall 193, and the fourth wall 194 protrude downward from the lower surface 137 </ b> C of the main body 137. The first wall 191 and the second wall 192 extend in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The first wall 191 is provided in the insertion direction 51 more than the second wall 192. The distances along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 between the first wall 191 and the second wall 192 are the same as the lengths along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85. Or a distance slightly longer than the length. The third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194 are extended in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The third wall 193 is provided on the right side of the fourth wall 194. The distances along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 between the third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194 are the same as the lengths along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the substrate support 84 and the IC substrate 85, or The distance is slightly longer than the length.

  The main body 137 has an internal space (not shown). The internal space communicates with the outside through the first opening 138 and the second opening. The first opening 138 is formed between the first wall 191 and the second wall 192 and between the third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194 on the lower surface 137 </ b> C of the main body 137. Four first openings 138 are formed corresponding to the four electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89, and are formed side by side in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The second opening is formed in the upper surface 137D of the main body 137. Four second openings are formed corresponding to the first openings 138, and are formed side by side in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. In FIG. 13, the second opening is not shown.

  In the internal space, a conductive member having the same configuration as that of the above embodiment is disposed. Four conductive members are formed corresponding to the four electrodes 86, 87, 88 and 89.

  A contact 136 that is one end of each conductive member protrudes from the lower surface 137 </ b> C downward 53 through the first opening 138. As a result, four contact points 136 are formed on the lower surface 137 </ b> C side by side in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 corresponding to the four electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89. The four contact points 136 are located between the first wall 191 and the second wall 192 and between the third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194. In other words, the four contact points 136 are surrounded by the first wall 191, the second wall 192, the third wall 193, and the fourth wall 194.

  Although not shown, an FFC (flexible flat cable) is connected to the other end portion (not shown) of each conductive member, as in the above embodiment. The FFC extends from the internal space of the main body 137 to the outside of the contact unit 129 through the second opening. The extended FFC is connected to a contact point (not shown) exposed from the top surface 104. The contact is electrically connected to the control unit 1 of the printer 10 by a cable or the like. As will be described later, the contact unit 129 is configured to be movable along the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53, but the FFC changes its posture following the movement of the contact unit 129.

  The contacted surface 137 </ b> A is a surface facing the removal direction 52 in the main body 126. The contact surface 137 </ b> A is inclined upward 54 toward the removal direction 52. The contacted surface 137 </ b> B is a surface facing the insertion direction 51 in the main body 126. The contacted surface 137 </ b> B is inclined in the upward direction 54 toward the insertion direction 51. The contact surfaces 137 </ b> A and 137 </ b> B can come into contact with the convex portion 63 formed on the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30.

  The contact unit 129 is supported by the case 101 so as to be movable along the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53 between the first position shown in FIGS. 14 and 18 and the second position shown in FIG. Yes. The second position is a position above the first position.

  In the modification, the contact unit 129 is supported by the case 101 via a coil spring 141 (an example of a second member), as shown in FIG. One end of the coil spring 141 is connected to the upper surface 137D of the main body 137. Specifically, one end of the coil spring 141 is connected to the position of the removal direction 52 from the first protrusion 139 and the insertion direction 51 from the second protrusion 140 on the upper surface 137D. The other end of the coil spring 141 is connected to the top surface 104.

  The contact unit 129 is located at the first position shown in FIGS. 14 and 18 when the coil spring 141 is in a natural length state. The contact unit 129 is located at the second position shown in FIG. 16 in a state where the coil spring 141 is contracted from the natural length. That is, the contact unit 129 is positioned at the first position by being urged by the coil spring 141 in the downward direction 53 in a state in which no force is applied from outside except by the coil spring 141.

  The first convex portion 139 is inserted into a through hole 142 formed in the top surface 104. The second convex portion 140 is inserted into a through hole 143 formed in the top surface 104. Thereby, the contact unit 129 can move up and down stably.

  When the contact unit 129 is in the first position shown in FIGS. 14 and 18, the lower end of the contact 136 is lower than the upper ends of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. Located in. The position of the contact 136 at this time is the contact position. Here, as described above, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the positions of the substrate support base 84 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 are the positions of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 136. The facing position faces the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53. Therefore, the contact 136 at the contact position overlaps with the positions of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the contact 136 at the contact position can contact the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89.

  When the contact unit 129 is in the second position shown in FIG. 16, the lower end of the contact 136 is positioned higher than the upper ends of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. . The position of the contact 136 at this time is a non-contact position. As a result, the contact 131 at the non-contact position cannot contact the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89.

  When the contact 136 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89, the IC substrate 85 is electrically connected to the control unit 1 through a conductive member. As a result, the control unit 1 can access the IC provided on the IC substrate 85 through the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 that are in contact with the contact 136.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the contact unit 129 is positioned at the first position in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. At this time, the lower ends of the first wall 191, the second wall 192, the third wall 193, and the fourth wall 194 are lower than the upper end of the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. 53.

  At this time, the first wall 191 is positioned in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110, and the second wall 192 is the cartridge mounting unit. The third wall 193 is positioned in the removal direction 52 with respect to the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the 110, and the third wall 193 is the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The fourth wall 194 is positioned in the left direction 56 with respect to the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support table 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110.

  At this time, the right ends of the first wall 191 and the second wall 192 are positioned in the right direction 55 from the right ends of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110, The left ends of the first wall 191 and the second wall 192 are positioned in the left direction 56 relative to the left ends of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  At this time, the end of the third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194 in the insertion direction 51 is more than the end of the ink substrate 30 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and the end of the substrate support base 84 in the insertion direction 51. Also, the end of the third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194 in the removal direction 52 is the removal of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been completely attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110. It is located in the removal direction 52 rather than the end of the direction 52.

  As described above, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the positions of the substrate support base 84 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 are such that the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 136 are at the top. The facing position faces the direction 54 and the downward direction 53.

  As described above, when the contact unit 129 is in the first position and the contact 136 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89, the first wall 191 and the second wall 192 have the IC substrate 85 and , At least a part of the substrate support base 84 as viewed in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. In addition, the third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194 are configured so that the IC substrate 85 and the contact wall 129 are in the first position and the contact 136 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89. At least a part of the substrate support base 84 overlaps with the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 when viewed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16, when the contact unit 129 is located at the second position, the lower ends of the first wall 191, the second wall 192, the third wall 193, and the fourth wall 194 are located on the cartridge mounting portion 110. Is positioned in the upward direction 54 from the upper end of the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been completely mounted. From the above, the first wall 191, the second wall 192, the third wall 193, and the fourth wall 194 are higher than the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when the contact unit 129 is in the second position. 54.

  Note that the positions where the first wall 191 and the second wall 192 are provided are the same as in the above embodiment, in which the contact unit 129 is in the first position and the contact 136 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89. If it exists in the position which overlaps at least one part of the IC board | substrate 85 and the board | substrate support stand 84 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal | extraction direction 52 at the time, it does not restrict to the above-mentioned position.

  Further, the positions where the third wall 193 and the fourth wall 194 are provided are the same as in the above embodiment, in which the contact unit 129 is at the first position and the contact 136 is in contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89. If it is in the position which overlaps at least one part of IC board 85 and the board | substrate support stand 84 when seeing in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, it is not restricted to the above position.

  The operation of mounting the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110, the engaging member 145 is rotated upward 54 by the upper wall 39 of the main body 31, The combined member 145 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

  In the state shown in FIG. 14, the contact unit 129 is urged downward 53 by the coil spring 141 and is located at the first position, and the contact 136 is located at the contact position.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51, as shown in FIG. 15, the convex portion 63 of the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30 comes into contact with the contacted surface 137A of the main body portion 137 of the contact unit 129. The contact surface 137A is pressed. Thereby, the convex part 63 is guided along the to-be-contacted surface 137A which is an inclined surface. As a result, the contact unit 129 moves upward 54 against the urging force of the coil spring 141. That is, the contact unit 129 moves from the first position toward the second position. As a result, the contact 136 moves from the contact position toward the non-contact position.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51, the convex portion 63 is guided along the lower surface 137C of the main body portion 137 of the contact unit 129 as shown in FIG. More specifically, while the two convex portions 63 are in contact with the portion of the lower surface 137C located in the right direction 55 from the third wall 193 and the portion of the lower surface 137C located in the left direction 56 from the fourth wall 194, Move in the insertion direction 51. Thereafter, the convex portion 63 contacts the contacted surface 137B of the main body portion 137 of the contact unit 129. At this time, since the contact unit 129 is at the second position, the substrate support base 84 and the IC substrate 85 do not come into contact with the contact unit 129.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51, the convex portion 63 is guided along the contacted surface 137B of the main body portion 137 of the contact unit 129 as shown in FIG. As a result, the contact unit 129 moves downward 53 by the biasing force of the coil spring 141. That is, the contact unit 129 moves from the second position toward the first position.

  Further, while the convex portion 63 is guided along the contacted surface 137 </ b> B, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the contact 131 face the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53 in the cartridge mounting portion 110. That is, the position of the substrate support base 84 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is the facing position (see FIG. 18).

  In addition, the ink supply unit 34 contacts the holding groove 116. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 18, the ink needle 117 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34. The ink supply valve 70 pushed by the ink needle 117 is separated from the ink supply port 71 against the biasing force of the coil spring 73.

  Further, the engaging member 145 that has reached the locking portion 45 of the main body 31 is not supported by the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 and rotates in the downward direction 53 to reach the locked position. The engaging end 146 and the locking surface 46 face each other in the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52.

  When the force that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 disappears from this state, the ink cartridge 30 is retracted in the removal direction 52 to the position where the engagement end 146 and the locking surface 46 are in contact by the biasing force of the coil spring 73. To do. As a result, the engaging member 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the force that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52 (the urging force of the coil spring 73). Further, the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 is located below the engaging member 145. Further, the rear end portion 82 of the rotating member 80 is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the groove of the locking portion 45 and is located above the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. Thus, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed (see FIG. 18).

  In the mounting completion state shown in FIG. 18, the contact unit 129 is located at the first position. As a result, the first wall 191 is received in the first space 181, the second wall 192 is received in the second space 182, the third wall 193 is received in the third space 183, and the fourth wall 194 is in the fourth space. 184 is accepted. At this time, the first wall 191 is at a position overlapping with at least a part of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when viewed in the insertion direction 51. Further, the second wall 192 is located at a position overlapping with at least a part of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when viewed in the removal direction 52. Further, the third wall 193 is at a position overlapping with at least a part of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when viewed in the right direction 55. Further, the fourth wall 194 is positioned so as to overlap with at least part of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 when viewed in the left direction 56. As a result, the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support base 84 are surrounded by the first wall 191, the second wall 192, the third wall 193, and the fourth wall 194.

  Further, in the mounting completion state shown in FIG. 18, the contact 136 is located at the contact position. As a result, each of the four contact points 136 comes into contact with a corresponding one of the electrodes 86, 87, 88 and 89. As a result, an electrical connection between the IC of the IC board 85 and the control unit 1 of the printer 10 is established, and the control unit 1 can access the IC. The electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 are in contact with the contact 136 that moves to the contact position, and the contacted contact 136 is pushed and elastically deformed upward.

  In the mounting completion state shown in FIG. 18, the ink needle 117 is in a state where the ink supply valve 70 is separated from the ink supply port 71. Therefore, the ink can flow out from the ink chamber 36 through an ink introduction port (not shown) provided at the tip of the ink needle 117.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rear end portion 82 of the rotating member 80 is pushed down in the downward direction 53 by the user. As a result, the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 moves upward 54 and is separated from the bottom surface of the locking portion 45. As the tip 81 moves, the engaging member 145 is rotated in the upward direction 54 from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the holding of the ink cartridge 30 by the engaging member 145 is released.

  When the engagement member 145 is moved to the unlock position, the ink cartridge 30 is moved in the removal direction 52 by the urging force of the coil spring 73. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52, the ink needle 117 comes out of the ink supply unit 34. As a result, the ink supply valve 70 is pushed by the restoring force of the coil spring 73 to close the ink supply port 71.

  When the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52, the convex portion 63 comes into contact with the contacted surface 137B and pushes the contacted surface 137B (see FIG. 17). Thereby, the convex part 63 is guided along the to-be-contacted surface 137B which is an inclined surface. As a result, the contact unit 129 moves from the first position toward the second position against the biasing force of the coil spring 141. Further, the contact 136 moves from the contact position toward the non-contact position. As a result, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the respective contacts 136 are separated from each other, and the electrical connection between the IC of the IC substrate 85 and the control unit 1 of the printer 10 is released.

  When the ink cartridge 30 further moves in the removal direction 52, the convex portion 63 is guided along the lower surface 137C (see FIG. 16). Thereafter, the convex portion 63 contacts the contacted surface 137A (see FIG. 15).

  When the ink cartridge 30 further moves in the removal direction 52, the convex portion 63 is guided along the contacted surface 137A. As a result, the contact unit 129 moves downward 53 by the biasing force of the coil spring 141. That is, the contact unit 129 moves from the second position toward the first position (see FIG. 14).

[Other variations]
In the above embodiment, the contact unit 125 includes the first wall 171, the second wall 172, the third wall 173, and the fourth wall 174. However, the contact unit 125 may include only the first wall 171 and the second wall 172 as shown in FIG. 5B, or the third wall as shown in FIG. 5C. Only 173 and the fourth wall 174 may be provided.

  In the modification, the contact unit 129 includes the first wall 191, the second wall 192, the third wall 193, and the fourth wall 194. However, the contact unit 129 may include only the first wall 191 and the second wall 192 as shown in FIG. 13B, or the third wall as shown in FIG. 13C. Only 193 and the fourth wall 194 may be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first space 161 to the fourth space 164 are formed by disposing the substrate support base 84 in a state of protruding from the upper wall 92. In the modification, the substrate support base 84 is Although the first space 181 to the fourth space 184 are formed by being arranged in a state of protruding from the wall 39, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first space 161 to the fourth space 164 or the first space 181 to the fourth space 184 may be formed by forming a recess around the substrate support base 84 in the upper walls 92 and 39. .

  In the above embodiment and the above modification, the ink cartridge 30 includes the substrate support base 84, but the ink cartridge 30 may not include the substrate support base 84. In this case, the IC substrate 85 is supported by the upper walls 92 and 39.

  In the above modification, the contact unit 129 is positioned at the first position by being biased downward 53 by the coil spring 141, but means for positioning the contact unit 129 at the first position is the coil spring 141. Not exclusively. For example, the contact unit 129 may be positioned at the first position by a leaf spring or the like, or may be positioned at the first position by its own weight.

  In the above embodiment, the end surface 62A of the convex portion 60 and the contacted surface 126A of the contact unit 125 are both inclined surfaces, but either the end surface 62A or the contacted surface 126A is an inclined surface. May be. Moreover, in the said modification, only the contact unit 125 was provided with the to-be-contacted surfaces 137A and 137B among the convex part 63 and the contact unit 125. However, instead of the contact unit 125, the convex portion 63 may include an inclined surface that faces the insertion direction 51 and faces the downward direction 53 toward the insertion direction 51. Moreover, both the contact unit 125 and the convex part 63 may be provided with the inclined surface.

  In the embodiment and the modification described above, the printer 10 that records an image on a recording sheet using the inkjet recording method has been described as an example of the system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printer 10 may be one that records an image on a recording sheet by another method such as an electrophotographic method, or may be a label printer that records an image on a label by a thermal transfer method.

  In the embodiment and the modified example, the ink is described as an example of the consumption material, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, instead of a liquid such as ink, powder such as toner may be used as a consumption material, or a tape used in a label printer or the like may be used as a consumption material.

10 ... Printer (system)
21 ... Recording head (consumption unit)
30 ... Ink cartridge (consumer cartridge)
51 ... Insertion direction (first direction)
52 ... Withdrawal direction (second direction)
53 ... Downward direction (4th direction)
54 ... Upward direction (third direction)
55 ... Right direction (5th direction)
56 ... Left direction (sixth direction)
60 ... convex portion (second member)
85 ... IC substrate (substrate)
86-89 ... Electrode (electrical interface)
90 ... Cover (substrate support part)
110 ... Cartridge mounting part (mounting part)
125 ... Contact unit (moving member)
131 ... contact 135 ... coil spring (first member)
171 ... first wall 172 ... second wall 173 ... third wall 174 ... fourth wall

Claims (6)

A consumable cartridge that holds consumables;
A mounting portion in which the consumer material cartridge is inserted and attached in a first direction, and the consumer material cartridge is removed in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A consumption unit that consumes the consumption material held by the consumption material cartridge that has been installed in the attachment unit, and a system comprising:
The consumer material cartridge is
A substrate support,
A substrate supported by the substrate support unit;
An electrical interface mounted on a surface of the substrate facing a third direction orthogonal to the first direction,
The mounting part is
A movable member movable between the first position and the second position in the third direction from the first position along the third direction and the fourth direction opposite to the third direction;
The moving member is
When the moving member is in the first position, it is in a contact position that can contact the electrical interface of the consumable material cartridge, and when the moving member is in the second position, the third position is more than the contact position. Contacts located in the direction,
And at least one of a first wall and a second wall, or a third wall and a fourth wall,
The first wall is disposed in the first direction with respect to the contact, and the substrate is located when the moving member is in the first position and the contact is in contact with the electrical interface. When the moving member is in the second position, the substrate and a part of the substrate support part are more than the part when the moving member is in the second position. Located in the third direction,
The second wall is disposed in the second direction with respect to the contact, the substrate is located when the moving member is in the first position and the contact is in contact with the electrical interface. When the moving member is in the second position, the substrate and a part of the substrate support part are more than the part of the substrate support part. Located in the third direction,
The third wall is disposed in the first direction and in a fifth direction orthogonal to the third direction from the contact, the moving member is in the first position, and the contact is in the electrical direction. When in contact with the interface, the substrate and a portion of the substrate support portion are in a position overlapping with the fifth direction, and when the moving member is in the second position, the substrate, And located in the third direction from a part of the substrate support,
The fourth wall is disposed in a sixth direction opposite to the fifth direction than the contact, the moving member is in the first position, and the contact is in contact with the electrical interface. When the moving member is in the second position when the moving member is in the second position. Located in the third direction from a part of the part,
In a state in which the consumption material cartridge is completely mounted on the mounting portion, the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the mounting portion is such that the electrical interface and the contact point in the mounting portion are the third direction and the fourth direction Is the facing position facing
One of the consumption material cartridge or the mounting portion includes a first member that positions the moving member at the second position in the process of mounting the consumption material cartridge on the mounting portion.
The other of the consumption material cartridge or the mounting portion includes a second member that positions the moving member at the first position when the consumption material cartridge is completely attached to the attachment portion. The consumer material cartridge is
A main body for holding the consumer material and having the second member;
The substrate support portion movable relative to the main body in the first direction and the second direction between a third position and a fourth position closer to the second member than the third position;
An urging member that urges the substrate support portion with respect to the main body in the first direction to be positioned at the third position;
The mounting part is
A lock portion for locking the main body in a state where the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the mounting portion is the facing position and the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the main body is the fourth position;
The first member is provided in the mounting portion and biases the moving member in the third direction.
In the state where the consumption material cartridge is completely attached to the attachment portion, the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the attachment portion is the facing position, and the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the main body is the fourth position. ,
From the state where the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the mounting portion is the facing position and the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the main body is the third position, the position of the substrate support portion with respect to the main body is the first position. When the main body moves relative to the substrate support portion in the first direction so as to be in the fourth position, the second member comes into contact with the moving member, thereby biasing the moving member to the first member. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is moved in the fourth direction to be positioned at the first position. The second member includes a contact surface that faces the first direction and contacts the moving member;
The moving member includes a contacted surface that faces the second direction and contacts the contact surface of the second member that moves in the first direction,
The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the contact surface and the contacted surface is inclined in the third direction toward the first direction. The consumable material cartridge includes an integrated circuit capable of storing information on the consumable material,
4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that accesses the integrated circuit through the electrical interface that is in contact with the contact.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the moving member includes the first wall and the second wall, and the third wall and the fourth wall. The third direction is vertically upward,
The system according to claim 1, wherein the fourth direction is vertically downward.

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