JP2017177733A - Printing fluid cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing fluid cartridge having means making a plate part protruding from an outside surface of a main body hard to be broken.SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 30 comprises: a rear cover 31 and a front cover 32 including a storage chamber 36; a first reinforcing part 83 disposed on an upper surface 141 of a front cover 32; a second reinforcing part 84 continuing from the first reinforcing part 83 and extending in an upper direction 54; and a plate part 85 continuing from the first reinforcing part 83 and the second reinforcing part 84 and extending in a front direction 57 and in the upper direction 54. The plate part 85 has an inclined surface 89 in which a direction 124 orthogonal to the inclined surface 89 is not aligned with the front direction 57 or the upper direction 54. The inclined surface 89 is arranged at a position closer to a continuous part 79 where the first reinforcing part 83 is continuous with the second reinforcing part 84, than an intersection 120 between a first imaginary line 121 extending from a front end 83A of the first reinforcing part 83 to the upper direction 54, and a second imaginary line 122 extending from an upper end 84A of the second reinforcing part 84 to the front direction 57.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing fluid cartridge having a plate portion protruding from an outer surface of a main body having a storage chamber.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by discharging ink stored in an ink container from a nozzle is known. Some ink jet recording apparatuses are configured so that a new ink cartridge can be mounted each time ink is consumed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a plate-shaped identification portion protrudes from the outer surface of the main body of the ink cartridge, and an optical sensor detects whether or not a window is formed in the identification portion. A configuration for determining the type is disclosed.

JP 2010-228378 A

  The identification unit as described above is thin enough to be detected by the optical sensor. Therefore, when the ink cartridge falls on the floor or collides with another object, an impact is easily applied. As a result, the identification unit may be deformed or damaged, and detection by the optical sensor may be disabled, or the cartridge mounting unit may not be mounted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing fluid cartridge in which a plate portion protruding from the outer surface of a main body is not easily damaged.

  (1) A printing fluid cartridge according to the present invention includes a main body having a storage chamber in which printing fluid is stored, and a first reinforcing portion provided on the outer surface of the main body and extending in the first direction along the outer surface. The second reinforcing portion is continuous with the first reinforcing portion and extends in a second direction orthogonal to the outer surface, and the first direction and the second continuous with the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion. It extends in two directions, and the thickness along the third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction is greater than the thickness along the third direction of each of the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion. And a thin plate portion. The plate portion extends along the third direction, and a direction orthogonal to the inclined surface has an inclined surface that does not extend along the first direction and the second direction. A first imaginary straight line extending along the second direction from a first extending end where the first reinforcing portion extends from the second reinforcing portion along the first direction, and the second reinforcing portion includes the first reinforcement. From the intersection with the second imaginary straight line extending along the first direction from the second extending end extending along the second direction from the portion, the continuous portion where the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion are continuous Close position.

  The plate portion protruding from the outer surface of the main body extends from the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion. Since the inclined surface that is relatively far from the continuous portion of the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion is located closer to the continuous portion than the intersection of the first virtual line and the second virtual line, the inclined surface is added. The plate part is not easily deformed by a shock.

  (2) Preferably, the said board part has the periphery divided by the said board part, and has a window which has a light transmittance along the said 3rd direction.

  The type of printing fluid cartridge can be determined by optically detecting the presence or absence of a window.

  (3) Preferably, the plate portion is continuous with the first reinforcement portion, and is continuous with the first end surface extending in the second direction and the third direction, and the second reinforcement portion, and A second end surface extending in the first direction and the third direction, and the inclined surface connects the first end surface and the second end surface.

  (4) Preferably, the inclined surface is a flat surface.

  (5) Preferably, the printing fluid cartridge is mounted on a cartridge mounting portion, and the outer surface is an upper surface of the main body in a mounting posture in which the printing fluid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.

  (6) Preferably, the printing fluid cartridge is located at a position away from the plate portion in the first direction on the outer surface, and has a first convex portion protruding in the second direction, and the plate portion on the outer surface. The first convex portion and the second convex portion that are positioned opposite to the first direction and project in the second direction are further provided, and the inclined surface is the first convex portion. Is closer to the outer surface than a third imaginary straight line connecting the protruding end of the second protruding portion and the protruding end of the second convex portion.

  According to the above configuration, for example, when the printing fluid cartridge is dropped on the floor, the first convex portion and the second convex portion are likely to hit the floor from the inclined surface. Thereby, it is difficult to apply an impact to the inclined surface.

  According to the present invention, in the printing fluid cartridge, the plate portion protruding from the outer surface of the main body is hardly damaged.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of a printer 10 provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an external configuration of the cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 as viewed from the front and from above. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 as viewed from the front and from below. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a positional relationship with the optical sensors 103 and 108 in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the optical sensor 103 detects the light shielding portion 82 of the identification rib 80. Indicates the state. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a positional relationship with the optical sensors 103 and 108 in the process of mounting the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the optical sensor 108 detects the light shielding portion 82 of the identification rib 80. Indicates the state. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a positional relationship with the optical sensors 103 and 108 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the optical sensor 103 detects the arm 68 of the detected member 59. Indicates the state. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the control unit 1. 10A is a diagram illustrating a change in the output signal of the optical sensor 103 in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30, and FIG. 10B is a change of the output signal of the optical sensor 108 in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 10C is a diagram showing a change in the output signal of the optical sensor 103 in the process of decreasing the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30. FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining insertion detection of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting unit 110. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views showing the shape of the plate portion 85 of the identification rib 80 in the modification. FIG. 12C is a diagram schematically illustrating an ink cartridge 30 according to another modification. FIG. 13 is a side view showing dimensions of each part of the ink cartridge 30.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example in which the present invention is embodied, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 is defined as the insertion direction 51. 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.

  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. Further, the gravity direction is defined as the downward direction 53, and the direction opposite to the gravity direction is defined as the upward direction 54 (an example of the second direction). In addition, directions orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 and the downward direction 53 are defined as a right direction 55 and a left direction 56. More specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the mounting position of the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture, the ink cartridge 30 is viewed to the right when viewed in the insertion direction 51. The extending direction is defined as the right direction 55, and the left extending direction is defined as the left direction 56. Further, the insertion direction 51 may be referred to as a front direction 57 (an example of a first direction), and the removal direction 52 may be referred to as a rear direction 58.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet based on an ink jet recording method. The printer 10 includes a recording head 21, an ink supply device 100, and an ink tube 20 that connects the recording head 21 and the ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 is provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110. An ink cartridge 30 (an example of a printing fluid cartridge) 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 the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51 through the opening 112 or is extracted from the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the removal direction 52.

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

  The 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 27, 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. The recording paper that has passed through the platen 26 is discharged to a paper discharge tray 16 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path 24 by a discharge roller pair 27.

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

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cartridge mounting portion 110 includes a case 101, an ink needle 102, optical sensors 103 and 108, four contact points 106, a slider 107, and a lock portion 145. . The cartridge mounting portion 110 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Further, four ink needles 102, optical sensors 103, four contact points 106, sliders 107, and lock portions 145 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30.

[Case 101]
The case 101 that forms the casing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has a top surface that defines the top of the internal space of the case 101, a bottom surface that defines the bottom, and a top that connects the top and the bottom. And an opening 112 that is provided at a position facing the end surface and the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 and that can be exposed to the user interface surface of the printer 10 that faces when the user uses the printer 10. It has a box shape. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is guided in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 by inserting the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the ink cartridge 30 into the guide grooves 109 provided on the top surface and the bottom surface. The case 101 is provided with three plates 104 that divide the internal space into four spaces that are long in the vertical direction. The ink cartridge 30 is accommodated in each space partitioned by the plate 104.

[Ink needle 102]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink needle 102 is made of a tubular resin and is provided at the lower part of the end surface of the case 101. The ink needle 102 is disposed at a position corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 (see FIG. 3) of the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 on the final surface of the case 101. The ink needle 102 protrudes from the end surface of the case 101 in the removal direction 52.

  A cylindrical guide portion 105 is provided around the ink needle 102. The guide part 105 protrudes from the end surface of the case 101 in the removal direction 52, and its protruding end is open. The ink needle 102 is disposed at the center of the guide portion 105. The guide unit 105 has a shape in which the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge enters inward.

  In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110 in the insertion direction 51, that is, in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 moves to the mounting position, the ink supply part 34 of the ink cartridge 30 enters the guide part 105. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110 in the insertion direction 51, the ink needle 102 is inserted into the through hole 71 formed in the seal member 70. As a result, the valve body 77 (see FIG. 8) is separated from the through hole 71, and the ink can flow into the ink needle 102 from the storage chamber 36. Then, ink flows out to the ink tube 20 connected to the ink needle 102 through the internal space of the ink needle 102.

[Slider 107]
An opening 111 extending along the insertion direction 51 (or the removal direction 52) is formed on the lower surface of the guide groove 109 below the case 101 and near the end surface. A slider 107 is provided in the opening 111. The slider 107 protrudes upward from below the lower surface of the guide groove 109 through the opening 111. The slider 107 is fitted to a guide rail (not shown) provided below the case 101 and can move in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 along the guide rail in the opening 111. A hiki spring 114 is stretched between the slider 107 and the case 101. The spring spring 114 is biased in the removal direction 52 by pulling the slider 107. Therefore, the slider 107 is positioned at the end of the guide rail removal direction 52 in a state where no external force is applied. When an external force in the insertion direction 51 is applied from that position, the slider 107 can move in the insertion direction 51 along the guide rail in the opening 111.

  In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110 in the insertion direction 51, that is, in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 moves to the mounting position, the second protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge 30 is inserted along the guide groove 109 in the insertion direction. By proceeding to 51, the slider 107 comes into contact. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51, the slider 107 moves in the insertion direction 51 against the urging force of the hiki spring 114 by being pushed into the second projecting portion 86. The ink cartridge 30 receives a biasing force in the removal direction 52 by the slider 107.

[Locking part 145]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock portion 145 extends in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 of the case 101 in the vicinity of the top surface of the case 101 and in the vicinity of the opening 112. The lock portion 145 is a rod-shaped member that extends along the left direction 56 and the right direction 55. The lock part 145 is, for example, a metal cylinder. Both ends of the lock portion 145 in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 are fixed to walls that define both the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 of the case 101. Therefore, the lock portion 145 does not move relative to the case 101 such as turning. The lock portion 145 extends in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 over four spaces in which the four ink cartridges 30 can be stored. In each space in which the ink cartridge 30 is accommodated, there is a space around the lock portion 145. Therefore, it is possible to access the lock portion 145 toward the upward direction 54 and toward the removal direction 52.

  The lock unit 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 at the mounting position. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and rotated to the mounting posture so that the ink cartridge 30 is engaged with the lock portion 145, and the lock portion 145 has a direction in which the slider 107 removes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52. The ink cartridge 30 is held in the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the force of pushing the ink cartridge 30 and the force of the coil spring 78 of the ink cartridge 30 pushing the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52.

  As shown in FIG. 2, four contact points 106 are provided near the end surface of the top surface of the case 101. Although not shown in detail in each figure, the four contact points 106 are spaced apart in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55. The arrangement of the four contacts 106 corresponds to the arrangement of four electrodes 65 of the ink cartridge 30 described later (see FIG. 3). Each contact 106 is made of a member having conductivity and elasticity, and can be elastically deformed in the upward direction 54. Four sets of four contact points 106 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The number of contacts 106 and the number of electrodes 65 are arbitrary.

  Each contact 106 is electrically connected to the control unit 1 through an electric circuit. The control unit 1 includes, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (see FIG. 9). When the contact 106 and the corresponding electrode 65 are electrically connected, the voltage Vc is applied to the electrode 65, the electrode 65 is grounded, or power is supplied to the electrode 65. Data stored in the IC of the ink cartridge 30 can be accessed by electrical conduction between the contact 106 and the corresponding electrode 65. The output from the electric circuit is input to the control unit 1.

[Rod 125]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rod 125 is provided above the ink needle 102 on the end surface of the case 101. The rod 125 protrudes from the end surface of the case 101 in the removal direction 52. Like the upper half of the cylindrical shape, the rod 125 has a U-shaped cross-section that is orthogonal to the removal direction 52, and has a shape in which a rib extending upward in the removal direction 52 protrudes from the uppermost portion. is there. The rod 125 is inserted into the concave portion 96 below the IC substrate 64 of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is positioned at the mounting position.

[Optical sensor 103]
As shown in FIG. 1, an optical sensor 103 is provided on the top surface of the case 101. The optical sensor 103 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light emitting unit is provided in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 with respect to the light receiving unit and spaced from the light receiving unit. The liquid amount detection unit 62 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 is disposed between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. In other words, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are disposed to face each other with the liquid amount detecting unit 62 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 being interposed therebetween.

  The optical sensor 103 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light output from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit. For example, the optical sensor 103 can detect a low level signal (“the signal level is less than the threshold level” on condition that the light output from the light emitting unit cannot be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the light receiving intensity is less than a predetermined intensity). "Signal") is output. On the other hand, the optical sensor 103 receives a high-level signal (“the signal level is equal to or higher than the threshold level” on condition that the light output from the light emitting unit can be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the light receiving intensity is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity) ")" Is output.

[Optical sensor 108]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an optical sensor 108 is provided on the top surface of the case 101 and closer to the end surface of the case 101 than the optical sensor 103. The optical sensor 108 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light emitting unit is provided in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 with respect to the light receiving unit and spaced from the light receiving unit. The identification rib 80 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 is disposed between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. In other words, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are disposed to face each other with the identification rib 80 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 being interposed therebetween.

  The optical sensor 108 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light output from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit. For example, the optical sensor 108 detects that the light output from the light emitting unit cannot be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the light receiving intensity is less than a predetermined intensity). "Signal") is output. On the other hand, the optical sensor 108 detects that the light output from the light emitting unit can be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the light receiving intensity is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity). ")" Is output.

  A cover sensor 118 (see FIG. 9) is provided near the upper end of the opening 112 of the case 101. The cover sensor 118 can detect whether the opening 112 of the case 101 is in contact with the cover. When the cover is in the closed position, the vicinity of the upper end of the cover comes into contact with the cover sensor 118, and a detection signal is output from the cover sensor 118 to the control unit 1. If the cover is not in the closed position, the cover sensor 118 does not output a detection signal.

[Ink cartridge 30]
The ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is a container for storing ink. A space formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is a storage chamber 36 for storing ink. The storage chamber 36 is formed by an inner frame 35 and a film (not shown) housed in the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 that form the appearance of the ink cartridge 30.

  The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 5 is the posture when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture. That is, as will be described later, the ink cartridge 30 includes a front surface 140, a rear surface 41, upper surfaces 39 and 141, and lower surfaces 42 and 142. The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. The direction from the rear surface 41 to the front surface 140 matches the insertion direction 51 and the front direction 57, the direction from the front surface 140 to the rear surface 41 matches the removal direction 52, and the direction from the upper surface 39, 141 to the lower surface 42, 142 The posture is coincident with the downward direction 53, and the direction from the lower surface 42, 142 toward the upper surface 39, 141 coincides with the upward direction 54. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the front surface 140 faces the insertion direction 51 and the front direction 57, the rear surface 41 faces the removal direction 52, and the bottom surfaces 42 and 142 face the downward direction 53. The upper surfaces 39 and 141 face the upward direction 54.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ink cartridge 30 mainly includes a rear cover 31 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a front cover 32 that forms the front surface 140, and an internal frame 35 that partitions the storage chamber 36. A front cover 32 is assembled to the rear cover 31 to form an outer shape of the ink cartridge 30. The inner frame 35 is housed inside the assembled rear cover 31 and front cover 32. The ink cartridge 30 as a whole has a dimension along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 larger than the dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 or the dimension along the lower direction 53 and the upper direction 54. The surface of the front cover 32 that faces the insertion direction 51 (front direction 57) when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the dimension of the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 of the ink cartridge 30 is more than half. The front surface is the front surface 140, and the surface of the rear cover 31 facing the removal direction 52 (rear direction 58) is the rear surface 41. That is, the rear surface 41 is disposed with the storage chamber 36 sandwiched between the rear surface 41 and the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The front cover 32 and the rear cover 31 are examples of the main body.

[Rear cover 31]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear cover 31 includes side surfaces 37, 38 that are spaced apart from each other in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, an upper surface 39 that faces the upper direction 54, and a lower surface that faces the lower direction 53. 42 extends from the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 51, and has a box shape opened toward the front direction 57. An inner frame 35 is inserted into the rear cover 31 through an opening. That is, the rear cover 31 covers the rear part of the inner frame 35. Further, the lower surface 42 is disposed with the storage chamber 36 interposed between the lower surface 42 and the upper surface 39 in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted.

  A convex portion 43 is provided on the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31. The convex portion 43 extends along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 in the center of the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 on the upper surface 39. A surface facing the rear direction 58 in the convex portion 43 is a lock surface 151. The lock surface 151 extends along the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. The lock surface 151 is a surface that can come into contact with the lock portion 145 toward the removal direction 52 when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the lock surface 151 comes into contact with the lock portion 145 in the removal direction 52, the cartridge mounting portion resists the biasing force of the spring spring biased by the ink cartridge 30 via the slider 107 and the biasing force of the coil spring 78. 110.

  On the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31, an operation unit 90 is provided in the rear direction 58 from the lock surface 151. A sub-upper surface 91 is formed at the rear end of the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31 and is located in a lower direction 53 than other portions of the upper surface 39. An operation unit 90 is disposed above the sub upper surface 91 with a space therebetween. The operation unit 90 has a flat plate shape that protrudes from the vicinity of the boundary between the other part of the upper surface 39 and the sub-upper surface 91 in the upward direction 54 to the upper side of the convex portion 43, and further bent obliquely downward in the backward direction 58 and downward direction 53. is there. A rib 94 is provided between the operation unit 90 and the sub-upper surface 91 and is continuous with the operation unit 90 and the sub-upper surface 91 and extends in the rearward direction 58.

[Front cover 32]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front cover 32 is disposed to be separated from each other in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 by the side surfaces 143 and 144, and in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. The upper surface 141 and the lower surface 142 extend from the front surface 140 in the rearward direction 58 and have a box shape opened toward the rearward direction 58. An inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32 through an opening. That is, the front cover 32 covers the front portion of the inner frame 35 that is not covered by the rear cover 31.

  In a state where the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31 are assembled, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is assembled, the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 constitutes the upper surface of the ink cartridge 30 together with the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31. The lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 and the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 31 constitute the lower surface of the ink cartridge 30. In addition, the front surface, the rear surface, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the side surface of the ink cartridge 30 do not necessarily have to be one flat surface.

  A concave portion 96 that is recessed in the rear direction 58 is formed in the upper portion of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The rod 125 enters the recess 96 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. Therefore, the cross section perpendicular to the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 of the recess 96 is a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the rod 125.

  A hole 97 penetrating in the rear direction 58 is formed in a lower portion of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The hole 97 is a hole for exposing the ink supply part 34 of the inner frame 35 to the outside in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32. Therefore, the hole 97 is formed in a position, size, and shape corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 of the internal frame 35.

  A first protrusion 85 and a second protrusion 86 are provided on the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The first projecting portion 85 projects in the front direction 57 at the upper end of the front cover 32. The recess 96 is provided at the tip of the first protrusion 85. The tip of the first protrusion 85 forms part of the front surface 140.

  The second projecting portion 86 projects from the front surface 140 in the front direction 57 at the lower end of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32, that is, below the ink supply portion 34. A recess 86 that opens in the front direction 57 and the downward direction 53 is formed on the lower surface of the second protrusion 86. A part of the recess 86 protrudes downward 53 from the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32. The second protrusion 86 is brought into contact with the concave portion 86 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  A hole 98 penetrating in the downward direction 53 is formed in the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32. The hole 98 is a hole for exposing the liquid amount detection unit 62 of the inner frame 35 to the outside in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32. Therefore, the hole 98 is formed in a position, size, and shape corresponding to the liquid amount detection unit 62 of the inner frame 35.

  An IC substrate 64 is provided on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 above the first protrusion 85, that is, above the ink supply unit 34. The IC substrate 64 is electrically connected to four contacts 106 (see FIG. 2) arranged in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 in the middle of mounting the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted to the cartridge. Even when attached to the portion 110, the contact 106 is electrically connected.

  An IC (not shown in the drawings) and four electrodes 65 are mounted on the IC substrate 64. The four electrodes 65 are a VDD electrode, an SCK electrode, a VSS electrode, and an SIO electrode from the right direction 55 toward the left direction 56, respectively, and are arranged along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and stores information about the ink cartridge 30 such as data indicating information such as a lot number, date of manufacture, and ink color in a readable manner.

  Each electrode 65 is electrically connected to the IC. Each electrode 65 extends along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58, and the four electrodes 65 are spaced apart in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. Each electrode 65 is exposed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 64 so as to be electrically accessible.

[Internal frame 35]
As shown in FIG. 5, the inner frame 35 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a front direction 57 and a dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, or along the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53. The dimension along the rear direction 58 is large. The inner frame 35 is integrally formed of resin.

  The inner frame 35 has a front wall 44 and a rear wall 45 that overlap at least partially when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the insertion direction 51 or the withdrawal direction 52, and the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the upward direction 54 or the downward direction 53. An upper wall 46 and a lower wall 47 that sometimes overlap at least partially.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the front wall 44 is the front and the rear wall 45 is the rear. The upper wall 46 connects the upper ends of the front wall 44 and the rear wall 45. The lower wall 47 connects the lower ends of the front wall 44 and the rear wall 45.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front wall 44 of the inner frame 35 faces the back surface of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32 in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32. An ink supply unit 34 is provided on the front wall 44. The rear wall 45 of the inner frame 35 faces the rear surface of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the rear cover 31. The upper wall 46 of the inner frame 35 faces the rear surface of the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31 and the rear surface of the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32. . A liquid amount detection unit 62 is provided on the upper wall 46. The lower wall 47 of the inner frame 35 faces the rear surface of the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 31 and the rear surface of the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32. . Each of the front wall 44, the upper wall 46, the rear wall 45, and the lower wall 47 of the inner frame 35 does not necessarily have to be a single plane.

  The inner frame 35 is opened in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The right and left surfaces of the opened inner frame 35 are liquid-tightly sealed with films, respectively. The outer shape of each film substantially matches the outer shape of the inner frame 35 when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the right or left. Each film constitutes the right wall or the left wall of the storage chamber 36. In addition, a film may be affixed on each wall other than heat welding, for example by high frequency welding or adhesion | attachment with an adhesive agent. As described above, the storage chamber 36 capable of storing ink is mainly formed by the front wall 44, the rear wall 45, the upper wall 46, the lower wall 47, and the film. The dimensions of the inner frame 35 along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are determined by the volume of ink stored inside. That is, when the capacity of the stored ink is small, the dimensions along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the inner frame 35 are substantially the same as the dimensions along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32. It may be the same.

[Ink supply unit 34]
As shown in FIG. 5, the ink supply unit 34 projects from the front wall 44 of the inner frame 35 in the front direction 57 at the lower portion of the front surface 140. The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape, and protrudes outward through a hole 97 provided in the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the ink supply unit 34 includes a cylindrical tube wall 49 having an internal space, a seal member 70 attached to the tube wall 49, a cap 72, and a valve body 77.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the inner frame 35 includes a cylindrical wall 49. The cylindrical wall 49 extends in the front direction 57 from the front wall 44 toward the outside of the ink cartridge 30. The cylindrical wall 49 has an end in the front direction 57 protruding outward from the front wall 44, and an end in the rear direction 58 is located between the front wall 44 and the rear wall 45. An end portion of the cylindrical wall 49 in the front direction 57 is opened. The end of the tubular wall 49 in the removal direction 52 is also opened and continues to the storage chamber 36, but the opening does not appear in each drawing.

  The inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 49 is annular and extends continuously in a cross section orthogonal to the front direction 57. The annular shape is not limited to a circular shape, and may be an elliptical shape or a rectangular shape. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 49 does not have to be annular when viewed in the front direction 57 over the entire region from the end portion in the front direction 57 to the end portion in the rear direction 58, and only a part thereof is in the front direction 57. It may be annular when viewed. An internal space of the cylindrical wall 49 is a valve chamber 48. Although not shown in each drawing, a gas flow path for opening the storage chamber 36 to the outside through the valve chamber 48 is formed.

  A seal member 70 and a cap 72 are attached to the distal end portion of the tube wall 49 (the end portion of the tube wall 49 in the insertion direction 51). A valve body 77 and a coil spring 78 are accommodated in the cylindrical wall 49.

[Seal member 70]
As shown in FIG. 5, the seal member 70 attached to the cylindrical wall 49 has a generally disc shape. The outer diameter dimension of the seal member 70 substantially matches the inner diameter dimension of the cylindrical wall 49. The seal member 70 is in liquid tight contact with the tip of the cylindrical wall 49. The seal member 70 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example.

  The seal member 70 is formed with a through hole 71 that penetrates the central portion in the thickness direction (front direction 57 and rear direction 58). The through hole 71 is a hole that allows the outside of the ink cartridge 30 to communicate with the valve chamber 48, and the ink stored in the storage chamber 36 circulates therethrough. The outer diameter of the ink needle 102 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 71. Accordingly, when the ink needle 102 is inserted through the through hole 71, the outer peripheral surface of the ink needle 102 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 71.

[Cap 72]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the cap 72 attached to the cylindrical wall 49 includes a disc-shaped lid portion 73, and a cylindrical cylindrical portion 74 projecting from the surface facing the rear direction 58 of the lid portion 73. The engaging portion 75 protrudes in the rear direction 58 from the protruding end of the cylindrical portion 74. The lid 73 is formed with a through hole 76 that penetrates the central portion in the thickness direction (front direction 57 and rear direction 58). The diameter of the through hole 76 is larger than the through hole 71.

  The lid 73 abuts on the seal member 70 from the opposite direction to the cylindrical wall 49. That is, the seal member 70 is sandwiched between the front end portion of the cylindrical wall 49 and the lid portion 73 in the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58. The cylindrical portion 74 covers a part of the outer peripheral surface of the seal member 70 and the outer surface of the cylindrical wall 49. The engaging portion 75 is engaged with the engaged portion 50 provided on the front wall 44. Thereby, the cap 72 holds the seal member 70 at the tip of the cylindrical wall 49.

[Valve 77]
As shown in FIG. 5, the valve body 77 is disposed in the valve chamber 48. The valve body 77 can move along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 in the valve chamber 48.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the valve body 77 includes a holding portion 79 and a cylindrical elastic member 93. The elastic member 93 is formed with a through hole 95 penetrating in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The elastic member 93 is made of a material having lower rigidity than the holding portion 79, for example, an elastic material such as rubber. The holding portion 79 is inserted into the through hole 95. Ink stored in the storage chamber 36 flows through the clearance around the holding portion 79 in the through hole 95 and flows into the valve chamber 48 in the forward direction 57 from the holding portion 79. In the elastic member 93, an annular flange protruding from the outer peripheral surface is in liquid-tight contact with the inner wall of the valve chamber 48, thereby partitioning the valve chamber 48 in a forward direction 57 and a backward direction 58.

[Coil spring 78]
The coil spring 78 is disposed in the valve chamber 48 in the rearward direction 58 from the valve body 77. The coil spring 78 biases the valve body 77 in the insertion direction 51. As a result, in the valve chamber 48, the valve element 77 is held in contact with the seal member 70. Instead of the coil spring 78, another urging member such as a leaf spring may be used.

[Liquid level detector 62]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the inner frame 35 includes a liquid amount detection unit 62 that protrudes upward from the upper wall 46. The liquid amount detection unit 62 is a convex part having an internal space that is continuous with the storage chamber 36, and has a light-transmitting property that transmits light toward the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The liquid amount detection unit 62 is exposed to the outside through the hole 98 of the front cover 32. The liquid amount detection unit 62 has an internal space defined by five planes positioned in the front direction 57, the rear direction 58, the upward direction 54, the right direction 55, and the left direction 56. Of these five planes, the plane that defines the end in the front direction 57 of the internal space is referred to as plane 66, and the plane that defines the end in the rear direction 58 of the internal space is referred to as plane 67.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a detected member 59 is disposed in the storage chamber 36 of the inner frame 35. The detected member 59 has a through hole 92 that penetrates in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. A rotation shaft 61 extending in the right direction 55 from the first inner wall 131 of the inner frame 35 is inserted into the through hole 92. The detected member 59 is supported by the rotation shaft 61, and the detected member 59 can be rotated around the rotation shaft 61.

  The detected member 59 has a float 63. The float 63 has a box shape extending in the radial direction of the through hole 92. The float 63 has a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink stored in the storage chamber 36. Accordingly, in the storage chamber 36, the float 63 generates buoyancy in a state where it exists in the ink.

  The detected member 59 has an arm 68. The arm 68 extends in the radial direction of the through hole 92 and in a direction different from the direction in which the float 63 extends. The arm 68 enters the liquid amount detection unit 62. In a state where the storage chamber 36 is substantially filled with ink, the detected member 59 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5 due to the buoyancy of the float 63. The posture of the detected member 59 is maintained by the arm 68 of the detected member 59 coming into contact with the flat surface 66 of the liquid amount detecting unit 62. In this state, the arm 68 of the detected member 59 blocks the light of the optical sensor 103 traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 through the liquid amount detection unit 62. In this state, the float 63 and the arm 68 are located in the removal direction 52 from the through hole 92. Buoyancy is also generated in a portion of the arm 68 that is immersed in ink, but the buoyancy generated in the arm 68 is also a force that rotates the detected member 59 counterclockwise in FIG. .

  When the light output from the light emitting unit of the optical sensor 103 reaches one of the right and left surfaces of the liquid amount detecting unit 62 by the detected member 59, the light is emitted from the other right and left surfaces of the liquid amount detecting unit 62. Thus, the intensity of the light reaching the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined intensity, for example, zero. The arm 68 of the detected member 59 may completely block the light from traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56, may partially absorb the light, or bends the traveling direction of the light. Alternatively, the light may be totally reflected.

  When the ink level decreases in the reservoir chamber 36 and the liquid level of the ink descends from the position of the float 63 in the posture when the detected member 59 blocks the light traveling through the liquid amount detection unit 62, the float 63 moves to the ink liquid. It descends with the surface. The gravity of the portion of the float 63 that is above the ink level is the force that rotates the detected member 59 in the clockwise direction in FIG. Similarly to the gravity of the float 63, the gravity of the portion above the ink level in the arm 68 also becomes a force for rotating the detected member 59 clockwise in FIG.

  When the gravity acting on the float 63 and the arm 68 becomes larger than the buoyancy acting on the float 63 and the arm 68, the detected member 59 rotates clockwise in FIG. Due to this clockwise rotation, the arm 68 of the detected member 59 that has entered the liquid amount detection unit 62 also rotates clockwise, and deviates from the optical path from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 103, Move to the vicinity of the plane 67. Thereby, the intensity of the light reaching the light receiving part of the optical sensor 103 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, identification ribs 80 are provided in the rear direction 58 from the IC substrate 64 on the upper surface 141 (an example of the outer surface) of the front cover 32. In the present embodiment, the plate portion 85 is disposed behind the SCK electrode of the IC substrate 64 in the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58, but in the right direction 57 and the rear direction 58, a position different from that of the present embodiment. The plate portion 85 may be disposed, for example, the plate portion 85 may be disposed behind the VSS electrode. The identification rib 80 is an example of a configuration in which the light transmittance from the optical sensor 108 differs depending on the type of the ink cartridge 30, and is positioned behind the ink supply unit 34 and ahead of the liquid amount detection unit 62. The upper surface 141 of the cover 32 extends in the upward direction 54. The identification rib 80 includes a first reinforcing portion 83, a second reinforcing portion 84, and a plate portion 85.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first reinforcing portion 83 extends along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 and in the front direction 57 from the liquid amount detection unit 62. Yes. In the first reinforcing portion 83, the dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the lower end portion continuous with the upper surface 141 is longer than the dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the plate portion 85. The first reinforcing portion 83 gradually decreases in size along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 toward the upward direction 54. The first reinforcing portion 83 has a constant dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 in the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the second reinforcing portion 84 is continuous at the end portion in the rear direction 58 of the first reinforcing portion 83 and extends in the upward direction 54 from the end portion. The dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the rear end part of the second reinforcing part 84 is longer than the dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the plate part 85. And the dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the 2nd reinforcement part 84 is becoming small gradually toward the front direction 57. As shown in FIG. The second reinforcing portion 84 has a constant dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53. At the end of the second reinforcing portion 84 in the rear direction 58, a concave portion 86 in which the center of the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 is recessed in the front direction 57 is formed. The recess 86 extends in the upward direction 54 from the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32. A part of the liquid amount detection unit 62 enters the recess 86.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a plate portion 85 is formed continuously with the first reinforcing portion 83 and the second reinforcing portion 84. The plate portion 85 extends in the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58, and in the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53, and the dimension (thickness) along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 is the first reinforcing portion 83 and the second direction. Each of the reinforcing portions 84 is thinner than the dimension (thickness) along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. In each drawing, a plate portion 85 having a light shielding portion 82 and a through hole 81 is shown. In the plate portion 85, a through-hole 81 (an example of a window) that penetrates the plate portion 85 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 is formed near the center of the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58. The peripheral edge of the through hole 81 is partitioned by a plate portion 85. The light shielding portion 82 is positioned at least in the forward direction 57 from the through hole 81. In addition, as a window provided in the board part 85, what transmits light in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 may be used. That is, the window may be the through-hole 81 as in the present embodiment, or a light-transmitting member such as a transparent resin may be provided as a part of the plate portion 85. Note that the through hole 81 is not necessarily required, and one of the plate portion 85 having the through hole 81 and the plate portion 85 having no through hole 81 depending on the type (color, capacity, etc.) of the ink cartridge 30. An ink cartridge 30 may be prepared. As will be described later, the type of the ink cartridge 30 can be detected by detecting the presence or absence of the through hole 81 by the optical sensor 108.

  An upper end surface 87 (an example of a second end surface) of the plate portion 85 is a plane parallel to the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 and extends along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58, and the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. ing. In the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53, the upper end surface 87 is substantially at the same position as the upper end surface of the second reinforcement portion 84 and the upper end surface of the liquid amount detection portion 62. The upper end surface 87 is continuous with the second reinforcing portion 84 at the rear end.

  A front end surface 88 (an example of a first end surface) of the plate portion 85 is a plane orthogonal to the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 and extends along the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53, and the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58. ing. In the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53, the front end surface 88 is located slightly in the rear direction 58 from the front end of the first reinforcing portion 83. The front end surface 88 is continuous with the first reinforcing portion 83 at the lower end.

  An inclined surface 89 is formed in the upward direction 54 and the forward direction 57 of the plate portion 85. The inclined surface 89 extends in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and the direction 124 (see FIG. 5) orthogonal to the inclined surface 89 does not follow the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58, and the upward direction 54 and The plane is not along the downward direction 53. The rear end of the inclined surface 89 is continuous with the upper end surface 87, and the lower end is continuous with the front end surface 88. That is, the inclined surface 89 connects the upper end surface 87 and the front end surface 88.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the inclined surface 89 includes a first imaginary straight line 121 extending along the upward direction 54 from the front end 83 </ b> A (an example of a first extending end) at the upper end of the first reinforcing portion 83, and a second reinforcing member. The first reinforcing portion 83 and the second reinforcing portion 84 are close to the continuous portion 79 from the intersection 120 with the second imaginary straight line 122 extending along the front direction 57 from the upper end 84A at the front end of the portion 84. Thus, among the dimensions along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the identification rib 80, the first reinforcing part 83 whose bottom end dimension is longer than the dimension of the plate part 85, and the rear end part dimension is the plate part 85. Since the second reinforcing portion 84 longer than the dimension is provided, it is possible to suppress the identification rib 80 from being deformed or broken from the lower end side or the rear end side particularly with the impact from the right direction 55 and the left direction 56.

  The plate portion 85 enters between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 108 in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, and emits infrared light emitted from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor 108. Shading or attenuating. As shown in FIG. 8, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the through hole 81 of the plate portion 85 is positioned between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 108. Infrared light emitted from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor 108 reaches the light receiving portion through the through hole 81 without being blocked or attenuated by the plate portion 85. In the plate portion 85, the through hole 81 may or may not be formed depending on the type of the ink cartridge 30. When the ink cartridge 30 having the plate portion 85 in which the through hole 81 is not formed, that is, the light shielding portion 82 is formed in the insertion direction 51 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110, the light emitting portion of the optical sensor 108 The light shielding part 82 of the plate part 85 is located between the light receiving part and the infrared light emitted from the light emitting part is shielded or attenuated by the light shielding part 82 of the plate part 85. The optical sensor 108 detects the presence or absence of the through hole 81 in the plate portion 85, and the control unit 1 determines the type of the ink cartridge 30.

[Dimensions of each part]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 13, the dimension L along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 from the front surface 140 to the rear surface 41 of the ink cartridge 30 is 83 mm to 90 mm, and the optimum value is 85 mm. In the ink cartridge 30, the dimension W1 along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 from the side wall 143 to the side wall 144 varies depending on the capacity of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30, but is 12 mm to 39 mm. preferable. The dimension H1 along the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53 from the lower surface 42, 142 to the upper surface 141 of the ink cartridge 30 is preferably 56 mm to 60 mm. The dimension H2 along the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 from the lower surface 42, 142 to the upper surface 91 of the ink cartridge 30 is preferably 56 mm to 60 mm. The dimension A along the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 from the center of the through hole 71 of the ink supply unit 34 to the center of the through hole 81 is preferably 47 mm to 50 mm. The dimension B along the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53 from the center of the through hole 71 of the ink supply unit 34 to the upper surface of the IC substrate 64 is preferably 41 mm to 44 mm. The dimension C along the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 from the center of the through hole 71 of the ink supply unit 34 to the upper end of the lock surface 151 is preferably 51 mm to 53 mm. The dimension D along the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 from the upper surface of the IC substrate 64 to the center of the through hole 81 is preferably 5 mm to 6 mm. The dimension E along the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 from the center of the through hole 71 of the ink supply part 34 to the center (detection position) of the liquid amount detection part 62 is preferably 44 mm to 47 mm. The dimension F along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 from the rear end of the IC substrate 64 to the center of the through hole 81 is preferably 20 mm to 22 mm. The dimension G along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 from the center of the through hole 81 to the center (detection position) of the liquid amount detection unit 62 is preferably 10 mm to 12 mm. The dimension W2 along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the identification rib 80 is preferably 0.05 mm to 2 mm. The dimension along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 of the IC substrate 64 is preferably 4 mm to 9 mm, and the dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 is preferably 5 mm to 6.5 mm. The optimum dimensional relationship of 64 is preferably 5.4 mm × 4.4 mm to 6.5 mm × 9.0 mm.

[Control unit 1]
The printer 10 has the control unit 1 shown in FIG. The control part 1 consists of CPU, ROM, RAM etc., for example. The control unit 1 may be disposed as a control board inside the apparatus housing as a control unit of the printer 10, or may be provided in the case 101 as a separate control board independent of the control unit of the printer 10. . The control unit 1 is connected to the IC substrate 64, the optical sensor 103, the optical sensor 108, and the cover sensor 118 so as to be able to transmit and receive electrical signals. The control unit 1 is also connected to other members such as a motor and a touch panel so as to be able to transmit and receive electrical signals, but the other members are omitted in FIG. A program for the control unit 1 to execute each process is stored in the ROM. The CPU performs calculations for executing each process based on a program stored in the ROM and gives instructions to each member. The RAM functions as a memory that temporarily stores various types of information.

  When light irradiated in the left direction 56 from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 103 reaches the light receiving unit, a high level signal is sent from the optical sensor 103 to the control unit 1. On the other hand, when the light emitted in the left direction 56 from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 103 does not reach the light receiving unit, a low level signal is sent from the optical sensor 103 to the control unit 1.

  When light irradiated in the left direction 56 from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 108 reaches the light receiving unit, a high level signal is sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1. On the other hand, when the light emitted in the left direction 56 from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 108 does not reach the light receiving unit, a low level signal is sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1.

[Insertion detection and remaining amount detection]
Hereinafter, the remaining amount detection by the optical sensor 103 and the attachment detection by the optical sensor 108 will be described. In the cartridge mounting unit 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 is not inserted, there is nothing that blocks light emitted from the light emitting unit between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 103, and the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 108. There is nothing to block the light emitted from the light emitting part between the parts. Therefore, a high level signal is sent from the optical sensor 103 to the control unit 1 as indicated by “A” in FIG. Further, as indicated by “A” in FIG. 10B, a high level signal is sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the ink cartridge 30 that is not inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, in a state where the storage chamber 36 is substantially filled with ink, the detected member 59 is caused by the buoyancy of the float 63. The arm 68 comes into contact with the flat surface 66 of the liquid amount detection unit 62.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the forward direction 57 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 after the cover of the cartridge mounting portion 110 is opened, the convex portion 43 is pressed against the lock portion 145, whereby the convex portion 43 moves downward 53. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the front direction 57, the convex portion 43 becomes the front direction 57 from the lock portion 145. At this time, since the convex portion 43 is not pushed by the lock portion 145, it moves in the upward direction 54. As a result, the lock surface 151 faces the lock portion 145 in the backward direction 58. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is positioned in the cartridge mounting portion 110 and is mounted.

  Note that when the ink cartridge 30 is removed in the rearward direction 58 with respect to the cartridge mounting part 110, the operation part 90 is pressed in the downward direction 53. As a result, the convex portion 43 is moved in the downward direction 53, and the lock surface 151 is in the downward direction 53 relative to the lock portion 145. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 can be removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 without being obstructed by the lock portion 145.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the front direction 57 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110, the light shielding portion 82 of the identification rib 80 is positioned between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 103. To do. As a result, as indicated by “B” in FIG. 10A, the signal sent from the optical sensor 103 to the control unit 1 changes from the high level to the low level. At this time, there is nothing that blocks the light emitted from the light emitting unit between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 108. Therefore, the signal sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1 remains at a high level.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110, the through-hole 81 of the identification rib 80 passes through the optical sensor 103, and the identification rib 80 is forward of the optical sensor 103. 57 is located. As a result, as indicated by “C” in FIG. 10A, the signal sent from the optical sensor 103 to the control unit 1 changes from the low level to the high level. On the other hand, the light shielding portion 82 of the identification rib 80 is located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 108. Thereby, as shown by “B” in FIG. 10B, the signal sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1 changes from the high level to the low level.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the through hole 81 of the identification rib 80 is formed in the optical sensor 108 as shown in FIG. It is located between the light emitting part and the light receiving part. Thereby, the through-hole 81 of the identification rib 80 transmits the light irradiated from the light emitting part of the optical sensor 108. Accordingly, as shown by “C” in FIG. 10B, the signal sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1 changes from a high level to a low level and then changes to a high level. When the ink cartridge 30 including the plate portion 85 having no through hole 81 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the signal sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control portion 1 changes from the high level to the low level. After that, it remains at the low level.

  In addition, the detected part 93 is positioned between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the optical sensor 103, and the detected part 93 blocks light emitted from the light emitting part of the optical sensor 103. As a result, as indicated by “D” in FIG. 10A, the signal sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1 changes from the high level to the low level.

  After the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the cover of the cartridge mounting unit 110 is closed.

  In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the detected member 59 does not move. Therefore, the detected member 59 blocks the light emitted from the optical sensor 103 in the left direction 56. Further, after the light shielding portion 82 shields the light irradiated from the optical sensor 108 in the left direction 56, the identification rib 80 allows the through hole 81 to transmit the light.

  Next, detection of insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The control unit 1 counts the number of times that the signal sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1 changes from the high level to the low level during the period from when the cover of the cartridge mounting unit 110 is opened to when the cover is closed. (S100).

  When the cover is closed (S110: Yes), the controller 1 refers to the number of times stored in the RAM (S120). If the number of times is one or more (S120: Yes), the control unit 1 determines that the ink cartridge 30 is normally mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 (S130). On the other hand, when the number of times is 0 (S120: No), the control unit 1 has installed an ink cartridge different from the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting unit 110 or installed the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting unit 110. It is determined that it is not attached (S140).

  Note that when the cover is closed, the control unit 1 is at a low level (no through-hole 81) or a high level (with the through-hole 81) sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1. The type of the ink cartridge 30 may be determined according to the above. For example, when the cover is closed, the control unit 1 determines that the ink cartridge 30 has a large capacity on the condition that the signal sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1 is at a low level. Further, it is determined that the ink cartridge 30 has a normal capacity (capacity smaller than a large capacity) on condition that a signal sent from the optical sensor 108 to the control unit 1 is at a high level. In addition, the control unit 1 may determine the number of sheets that can be printed with the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 according to the type of the installed ink cartridge 30.

  Next, ink remaining amount detection by the optical sensor 103 will be described. In a state where the remaining amount of ink stored in the storage chamber 36 is large, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 103 are blocked by the arm 68 of the detected member 59 as shown in FIG. . As a result, a low level signal is sent from the optical sensor 103 to the control unit 1 as indicated by “A” in FIG.

  In the state shown in FIG. 8, when the ink stored in the storage chamber 36 is consumed and reduced, the detected member 59 rotates and the arm 68 moves in the rearward direction 58 from the detection position of the optical sensor 103. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting unit of the optical sensor 103 reaches the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 103 without being blocked by the arm 68 of the detected member 59. As a result, as indicated by “B” in FIG. 10C, the signal sent from the optical sensor 103 to the control unit 1 changes from the low level to the high level. As a result, the control unit 1 detects that the remaining amount of ink stored in the storage chamber 36 is less than a predetermined amount.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
In the present embodiment, the plate portion 85 of the identification rib 80 protruding from the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 extends from the first reinforcement portion 83 and the second reinforcement portion 84. A position where the inclined surface 89 located relatively far from the continuous portion 79 of the first reinforcing portion 83 and the second reinforcing portion 84 is closer to the continuous portion 79 than the intersection 120 of the first virtual straight line 121 and the second virtual straight line 122. Therefore, the plate portion 85 is not easily deformed by an impact applied to the inclined surface 89.

  In addition, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the optical sensor 103 can optically detect the presence or absence of the through hole 81 in the plate portion 85, whereby the type of the ink cartridge 30 can be determined. is there.

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, in the plate portion 85 of the identification rib 80, the inclined surface 89 is a flat surface, but the inclined surface 89 bulges in the upward direction 54 and the forward direction 57 as shown in FIG. It may be a curved surface. Further, in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, a curved surface in which the central portion bulges in the front direction 57 may be used. Further, the boundary between the inclined surface 89 and the upper end surface 87 and the boundary between the front end surface 88 may be chamfered or rounded, and similarly, the right end or the left end of the inclined surface 89 may be chamfered or rounded. Good. Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, the upper end surface 87 may not be formed in the plate portion 85 of the identification rib 80, and only the front end surface 88 and the inclined surface 89 may be formed. In this case, the inclined surface 89 connects the front end surface 88 and the protruding end of the second reinforcing portion 84.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, a member projecting to the same extent as the identification rib 80 is not formed in the front direction 57 from the identification rib 80. However, FIG. As illustrated, a convex portion 40 (an example of a first convex portion) may be provided on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 and protruding upward in the front direction 57 from the identification rib 80.

  As described above, the protrusion 43 (an example of the second protrusion) that protrudes upward from the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31 is formed in the rear direction 58 from the identification rib 80. From the third imaginary straight line 123 connecting the protruding end 40A in the upward direction 54 of the convex portion 40 and the protruding end 43A in the upward direction 54 of the convex portion 43, the inclined surface 89 is located at a position close to the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32. is there. Thereby, for example, when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped on the floor, the convex portions 40 and 43 are more likely to hit the floor than the inclined surface 89. Thereby, it is difficult for an impact to be applied to the inclined surface 89.

  In the above-described embodiment, the inner frame 35 that stores ink is covered by the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31, but the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31 may not be provided. That is, the outer surface of the inner frame 35 may be the outer surface of the ink cartridge 30, and the identification rib 80 may be extended from the upper surface of the inner frame 35.

  In the above-described embodiment, ink is described as an example of the printing fluid. For example, instead of ink, pretreatment liquid ejected onto recording paper or the like prior to ink during printing is applied to the printing fluid cartridge. It may be stored. Further, water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the printing fluid cartridge. In a printing fluid cartridge that can be mounted on a printer that employs a laser method instead of the inkjet method, toner may be employed as the printing fluid.

30 ... Ink cartridge (printing fluid cartridge)
31 ... Front cover (main body)
32 ... Rear cover (main body)
36 ... Reservoir 79 ... Continuous part 40 ... Convex part (first convex part)
43 ... convex part (second convex part)
81 ... through hole (window)
83 ... 1st reinforcement part 84 ... 2nd reinforcement part 85 ... Plate part 87 ... Upper end surface (2nd end surface)
88 ... front end face (first end face)
89 ... inclined surface 110 ... cartridge mounting part 141 ... upper surface (outer surface)

Claims (6)

A main body having a storage chamber in which printing fluid is stored;
A first reinforcing portion provided on the outer surface of the main body and extending in the first direction along the outer surface;
A second reinforcing portion that is continuous with the first reinforcing portion and extends in a second direction orthogonal to the outer surface;
The first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion extend continuously in the first direction and the second direction, and the thickness along the third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction is A plate portion thinner than the thickness along the third direction of each of the first reinforcement portion and the second reinforcement portion, and
The plate portion extends along the third direction, and a direction orthogonal to the first end surface has an inclined surface that does not extend along the first direction and the second direction.
The inclined surface includes a first imaginary straight line extending along the second direction from a first extending end where the first reinforcing portion extends from the second reinforcing portion along the first direction, and the second reinforcing portion. From the intersection of the second imaginary straight line extending along the first direction from the second extending end extending along the second direction from the first reinforcing portion, the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion are A printing fluid cartridge in a position close to a continuous continuous portion.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral edge of the plate portion is partitioned by the plate portion, and a window having light permeability along the third direction. The plate portion is continuous with the first reinforcing portion, and is continuous with the first end surface extending in the second direction and the third direction, and the second reinforcing portion, and the first direction and the first direction. A second end surface extending in three directions,
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface connects the first end surface and the second end surface.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is a flat surface. The printing fluid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion,
5. The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface is an upper surface of the main body in a mounting posture in which the printing fluid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. A first convex portion which is located at a position away from the plate portion in the first direction on the outer surface and protrudes in the second direction;
The outer surface further includes the first protrusion and the second protrusion protruding in the second direction, located opposite to the first direction, with the plate portion interposed therebetween,
6. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is located closer to the outer surface than a third imaginary straight line connecting the protruding end of the first convex portion and the protruding end of the second convex portion. Fluid cartridge.

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