JP2018161873A - Liquid cartridge and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid cartridge that can reduce stagnation of air bubbles inside a storage chamber when injecting liquid into the storage chamber.SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 30 comprises an enclosure 130 whose upper side is opened and which has a first storage chamber 32 defined by side walls 37 and 38, and a first inner lid 131 having a bottom wall 136 which covers the opened side and defines the first storage chamber 32. The first inner lid 131 comprises: a penetration hole 46, formed in the bottom wall 136, through which the first storage chamber 32 is communicated with the outside of the enclosure 130; and a first rib 185 and a second rib 186 protruded downward from a lower surface 136B of the bottom wall 136, extended along the lower surface 136B and arranged oppositely in a lateral direction. Base ends of the ribs 185 and 186 are in contact with inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. The ribs 185 and 186 comprise inclined parts 185B and 186B respectively which are inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction so as to head for the penetration hole 46 in the longitudinal direction as separating in the lateral direction from the base ends.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge having a liquid storage chamber, and a system including the liquid cartridge.

  2. Description of the Related Art A printer having a recording head that discharges ink supplied from an ink cartridge from nozzles is known. In such a printer, when the ink stored in the ink cartridge is consumed, a new ink cartridge is mounted.

  Since the ink cartridge has a box shape in which ink is stored in an internal storage chamber, the ink cartridge is easily deformed. Some ink cartridges are provided with ribs protruding from the inner surface defining the storage chamber (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Since the ribs reinforce the ink cartridge, the above-described deformation is reduced.

  The ink cartridge is provided with a communication port that communicates the storage chamber with the outside of the ink cartridge. Usually, the air in the storage chamber can flow out through the communication port.

JP-A-9-216379 Noto 3071736

  When the storage chamber is provided with ribs, the following problems may occur. Ink is injected into the storage chamber when the ink cartridge is manufactured. As ink is injected into the storage chamber, the air originally present in the storage chamber flows out through the communication port. However, at this time, the air in the storage chamber may be blocked by the ribs and may not reach the communication port. Then, bubbles stay in the storage chamber. Thereby, in the space where the bubbles stay in the storage chamber, the liquid level becomes lower than the space where the bubbles do not stay in the storage chamber. As a result, the amount of ink that can be stored in the storage chamber decreases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid cartridge that can reduce the retention of bubbles in the storage chamber when the liquid is injected into the storage chamber. is there.

  (1) A liquid cartridge according to the present invention has a housing that has a liquid storage chamber that is open at the top and defined by a first side wall and a second side wall that face each other in a first direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. A liquid supply hole through which the liquid in the liquid storage chamber flows out; and a lid having a wall that covers the opening of the housing and defines the liquid storage chamber. The lid is formed on the wall, communicates with the liquid storage chamber and the outside of the housing, protrudes downward from the lower surface of the wall, and extends along the lower surface. And a first rib and a second rib arranged with a gap in the first direction. The base end of the first rib is in contact with the inner surface of the first side wall. The base end of the second rib is in contact with the inner surface of the second side wall. Each of the first rib and the second rib is directed toward the communication port in the vertical direction and the second direction orthogonal to the first direction as the distance from the base end in the first direction is increased. An inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the second direction is provided.

  According to the above configuration, the first rib provided on the lid contacts the first side wall of the casing, and the second rib provided on the lid contacts the second side wall of the casing, thereby deforming the casing. Can be suppressed.

  Normally, when liquid is injected into the liquid cartridge, air that originally exists in the liquid storage chamber flows out of the casing through a communication port formed in a lid wall that defines an upper portion of the liquid storage chamber. At this time, the air may be blocked by the first rib and the second rib and may not reach the communication port. As a result, the air may stay in the liquid storage chamber as bubbles. However, according to the above configuration, each of the first rib and the second rib includes the inclined portion. For this reason, air is guide | induced to a communicating port along an inclination part. As a result, it is possible to reduce the retention of bubbles in the liquid storage chamber when the liquid is injected into the liquid cartridge.

  (2) The tip end of the first rib is closer to the communication port in the second direction than the tip end of the second rib.

  If the tips of the first rib and the second rib are in the same position in the second direction, that is, if the tips are facing each other in the first direction, a meniscus is formed in the gap between the two tips. It becomes easy. When the meniscus is formed, the air flow through the gap is hindered. However, according to the above configuration, the tip end of the first rib is closer to the communication port in the second direction than the tip end of the second rib. Therefore, formation of the meniscus as described above can be suppressed.

  (3) Each of the said 1st rib and the said 2nd rib is further provided with the extension part extended along the said 1st direction from each said base end.

  If the angle formed between the first rib and the inner surface of the first side wall or the angle formed between the second rib and the inner surface of the second side wall is an acute angle, the boundary between the first rib and the first side wall, Liquid tends to remain at an acute angle portion at the boundary between the rib and the second side wall. According to the above configuration, the extending portion of the first rib is in contact with the inner surface of the first side wall in a state of being orthogonal, and the extending portion of the second rib is in contact with the inner surface of the second side wall in the state of being orthogonal. Yes. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the remaining of the liquid at the boundary portion between the first rib and the first side wall and the boundary portion between the second rib and the second side wall.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the extended portion of the first rib is in contact with the inner surface of the first side wall in a state of being orthogonal to the first rib, and the extended portion of the second rib is in contact with the inner surface of the second side wall of the first rib. Since they are in contact with each other, the first rib is difficult to bend by the force from the first side wall, and the second rib is difficult to bend by the force from the second side wall. As a result, deformation of the housing can be suppressed.

  (4) A plurality of sets of the first rib and the second rib are formed along the second direction. The proximal end portions including the proximal ends of the plurality of sets of the first ribs and the second ribs protrude longer downward toward the center of the liquid storage chamber in the second direction.

  Usually, the casing is more easily deformed as it is closer to the center in the second direction. According to the above configuration, the proximal end portion of the first rib contacting the first side wall of the easily deformable portion and the proximal end portion of the second rib contacting the second sidewall of the easily deformable portion are long downward. It protrudes. Therefore, deformation of the easily deformable portion of the housing can be suppressed.

  (5) The liquid storage chamber has no inner wall extending from at least one of the first side wall or the second side wall to the liquid storage chamber.

  According to the above configuration, the amount of liquid that can be stored in the liquid storage chamber can be increased by the amount that the inner wall is not formed. Moreover, even if the inner wall is not formed, the deformation of the housing can be suppressed by the first rib and the second rib.

  (6) The casing is formed of a material that allows the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to be visually recognized from the outside.

  When the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is visible from the outside, the liquid level of the liquid is different between the space in which the bubbles are retained in the liquid storage chamber and the space in which the bubbles are not retained in the liquid storage chamber Then, there is a risk of misrecognizing the amount of liquid stored from the outside. However, according to the above configuration, as described in (1), the retention of air in the liquid storage chamber can be reduced, so that the possibility of erroneous recognition as described above can be reduced.

  (7) The liquid cartridge is located above the liquid storage chamber and includes an air flow path that communicates the liquid storage chamber with the atmosphere. The wall partitions the liquid storage chamber and the atmospheric flow path. The communication port communicates the liquid storage chamber and the atmospheric flow path.

  According to the above configuration, since the wall partitions the air chamber and the atmospheric flow path, the vertical dimension of the liquid cartridge can be reduced.

  (8) The upper surface of the wall defining the air chamber is inclined downward toward the communication port.

  According to the above configuration, even if the liquid enters the atmospheric flow path, the liquid is guided to the communication port along the upper surface of the inclined wall. Thereby, the liquid that has entered the atmospheric flow path can be easily returned to the liquid storage chamber.

  (9) The present invention can also be understood as a system having the liquid cartridge and a case having a liquid introduction tube to which the liquid supply hole of the liquid cartridge is connected. In this case, the liquid supply hole is connected to the liquid introduction pipe in the second direction.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the retention of bubbles in the liquid storage chamber when the liquid is injected into the liquid storage chamber.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 2 is a front view of the cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 6 is a left side view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 30. 8A is a lower perspective view of the first inner lid 131, and FIG. 8B is an upper perspective view of the first inner lid 131. FIG. 9A is a lower perspective view of the second inner lid 132, and FIG. 9B is an upper perspective view of the second inner lid 132. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge 30. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a XI-XI cross section in FIG. 6. FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink supply unit 34 is disassembled. FIG. 13A is a rear perspective view of the cap 79, and FIG. 13B is a front perspective view of the cap 79. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the XIV-XIV cross section in FIG. FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 and a left side view of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is being mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a state where the ink cartridge 30 is being attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110. FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is rotated in the cartridge mounting portion 110 and a left side view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is rotated in the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 and a left side view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an ink cartridge 30 in which black ink is stored. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section XXI-XXI in FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing a XXII-XXII cross section in FIG. FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the first inner lid 131 in a modified example.

  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 front direction 51. Further, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted from the cartridge mounting unit 110 is defined as the rear direction 52. Hereinafter, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, although the description will be made on the assumption that the front direction 51 and the rear direction 52 are horizontal directions, the front direction 51 and the rear direction 52 are not necessarily horizontal. A direction orthogonal to either the front direction 51 or the rear direction 52 is defined as a downward direction 53. The direction opposite to the downward direction 53 is defined as the upward direction 54. A direction orthogonal to the forward direction 51 and the downward direction 53 is defined as a right direction 55. The direction opposite to the right direction 55 is defined as the left direction 56. Therefore, in the state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and used, the description will be made on the assumption that the gravity direction is the downward direction 53 and the direction opposite to the gravity direction is the upward direction 54. That is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and used, the outer surface of the main lower wall 42 of the housing 130 faces downward in the gravity direction. In addition, directions orthogonal to the front 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 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and used, the right direction 55 is defined as the right direction when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the rear to the front. A direction facing left is defined as a left direction 56. The state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and used is a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the mounting position of the cartridge mounting unit 110. In the mounting position, the ink needle 102 provided in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is inserted into the ink supply unit 34 provided in the ink cartridge 30 and connected to each other, and the IC substrate 64 provided in the ink cartridge 30 is connected to the cartridge mounting unit. This is a position in contact with the contact 106 provided at 110. Hereinafter, the posture of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 and used is referred to as a usage posture.

  Moreover, the front direction 51 and the rear direction 52 are defined as the front-back direction (an example of a 2nd direction). Further, the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 are defined as the vertical direction. Further, the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are defined as the left-right direction (an example of the first direction).

  In the following description, “facing forward” includes facing a direction including a front component, and “facing rearward” includes facing a direction including a rear component. Further, “facing downward” includes facing a direction including a lower component, and “facing upward” includes facing a direction including an upper component. For example, “the front surface is directed forward” may mean that the front surface is directed forward or the front surface is directed in a direction inclined with respect to the front.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 10 (an example of a system) is an image recording apparatus that records an image by ejecting ink droplets onto a sheet based on an inkjet recording method, and is an inkjet printer, for example. . 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 includes a cartridge mounting unit 110 (an example of a case). An ink cartridge 30 (an example of a liquid cartridge) is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. An opening 112 is formed on one surface of the cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted forward into the cartridge mounting portion 110 through the opening 112, or is extracted rearward from the cartridge mounting portion 110 through the opening 112.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores liquid, for example, ink that can be used in the printer 10 (an example of liquid). 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 via the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 has a damper chamber 28 that temporarily stores ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 ejects ink supplied from the damper chamber 28 from a plurality of nozzles 29. Specifically, the head control board provided in the recording head 21 selectively applies a driving voltage to the plurality of piezoelectric elements 29 </ b> A provided corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 29. Thereby, ink is selectively ejected from the nozzles 29. That is, the recording head 21 consumes ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110.

  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 paper feed roller 23 feeds the paper on the paper feed tray 15 toward the transport path 24. The paper fed to the conveyance path 24 eventually reaches the conveyance roller pair 25. The conveyance roller pair 25 conveys the paper that has reached the conveyance roller pair 25 onto the platen 26. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto a sheet that passes over the platen 26. Thereby, an image is recorded on the paper. The sheet that has passed through the platen 26 reaches the discharge roller pair 27. The discharge roller pair 27 discharges the paper that has reached the discharge roller pair 27 to the paper discharge tray 16 located on the most downstream side of the transport path 24.

[Ink supply apparatus 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, 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 includes a cartridge mounting part 110 to which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted, a tank 103, and an ink tube 20. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, in FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 30 is in a mounted state. The posture of the ink cartridge 30 in this state is the usage posture.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cartridge mounting unit 110 includes a cartridge case 101, an ink needle 102 (an example of a liquid introduction tube), a convex plate 111, an optical sensor 113, a plurality of contacts 106, It has. 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, convex plates 111, and optical sensors 113 are provided in correspondence with the four ink cartridges 30. Further, for the plurality of contacts 106, four contacts 106 are provided corresponding to one ink cartridge 30, and 16 contacts 106 are provided for the four ink cartridges 30. Four tanks 103 and four ink tubes 20 are provided corresponding to each of the four ink cartridges 30.

[Cartridge case 101]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge case 101 forms a housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110. The cartridge case 101 has a box shape having a top surface 57, a bottom surface, a right side surface 107, a left side surface 108, an end surface 59, and an opening 112. The top surface 57 defines a top portion that is an upper portion of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The bottom surface defines a bottom portion that is a lower portion of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The right side surface 107 defines the right part of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The left side surface 108 defines the left part of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The end surface 59 connects the top surface 57, the bottom surface, the right side surface 107, and the left side surface 108. The opening 112 is formed in the cartridge case 101 at a position facing the end surface 59 in the front-rear direction. The opening 112 may be exposed to a user interface surface of the printer 10 that is a surface that the user faces when using the printer 10.

  The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 101 through the opening 112 and removed from the cartridge case 101 through the opening 112. A guide groove 109 is formed at the bottom of the cartridge case 101. The ink cartridge 30 is guided along the front-rear direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) by inserting the lower end of the ink cartridge 30 into the guide groove 109. The cartridge case 101 includes three plates 104 that divide the internal space into four spaces that are long in the vertical direction. One ink cartridge 30 is accommodated in each of the spaces partitioned by the plurality of plates 104.

[Ink needle 102]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink needle 102 has a hollow tubular shape and is positioned below the end surface 59 of the cartridge case 101. The ink needle 102 is disposed on the end surface 59 of the cartridge case 101 at a position corresponding to the ink supply part 34 (an example of a liquid supply hole) of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment part 110. The ink needle 102 protrudes rearward from the end surface 59 of the cartridge case 101, and the tip of the ink needle 102 opens rearward. The tip of the ink needle 102 may be flat or pointed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, protrusions 105 are formed on the right side surface 107, the left side surface 108, and the plate 104 in the cartridge case 101. The protrusion 105 is formed around the ink needle 102 in the cartridge case 101. In the present embodiment, four protrusions 105 are formed for each ink needle 102. Specifically, the protrusion 105 is formed on the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left of the ink needle 102 when the cartridge case 101 is viewed in the insertion direction. That is, the four protrusions 105 are a protrusion 105A formed on the upper right side of the ink needle 102, a protrusion 105B formed on the upper left side of the ink needle 102, a protrusion 105C formed on the lower right side of the ink needle 102, And a protrusion 105 </ b> D formed diagonally to the left of the ink needle 102. Hereinafter, the four protrusions 105A, 105B, 105C, and 105D are collectively referred to as the protrusion 105. As shown in FIG. 15, the protrusion 105 extends in the front-rear direction.

  The protrusion 105 includes a first guide surface 196 and a second guide surface 197. In FIG. 2, only the protrusions 105A, 105B, 105C, and 105D formed in the rightmost space among the four partitions in the cartridge case 101 are the first guide surface 196 and the second guide surface. 197 is illustrated.

  The first guide surface 196 is a plane extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The second guide surface 197 is a plane extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. The second guide surface 197 is connected to the first guide surface 196. In addition, the 1st guide surface 196 and the 2nd guide surface 197 do not need to be connected.

  The first guide surface 196 of the protrusion 105A and the first guide surface 196 of the protrusion 105C are opposed to each other with an interval in the vertical direction. The first guide surface 196 of the protrusion 105B and the first guide surface 196 of the protrusion 105D are opposed to each other with an interval in the vertical direction. The second guide surface 197 of the protrusion 105A and the second guide surface 197 of the protrusion 105B are opposed to each other with an interval in the left-right direction. The second guide surface 197 of the protrusion 105C and the second guide surface 197 of the protrusion 105D are opposed to each other with an interval in the left-right direction.

  Note that the position of the protrusion 105 is not limited to the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left of the ink needle 102. For example, the protrusion 105 may be formed on the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side of the ink needle 102. Further, three or less or five or more protrusions 105 may be formed for each ink needle.

[Convex plate 111]
As shown in FIG. 3, a convex plate 111 protruding downward from the top surface 57 is formed in the vicinity of the opening 112 in the top surface 57 of the internal space into which one ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the cartridge case 101. . The length of the convex plate 111 in the left-right direction is shorter than the distance between a pair of walls 114 (see FIG. 4) of the convex portion 43 of the ink cartridge 30 described later. Further, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the convex plate 111 is positioned between the pair of walls 114 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the convex plate 111 is inserted between a pair of walls 114 (see FIG. 4) of the convex portion 43 of the ink cartridge 30 described later in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110. The lower surface 111A of the convex plate 111 can come into contact with a lever 163 of a valve mechanism 135 described later.

[Contact 106]
As shown in FIG. 3, four contact points 106 are arranged in front of the convex plate 111 on the top surface 57 of the internal space in which one ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the cartridge case 101. The four contacts 106 protrude downward from the top surface 57 toward the internal space into which one ink cartridge 30 of the cartridge case 101 is inserted. Although not shown in detail in each drawing, each of the four contact points 106 is arranged apart in the left-right direction. The arrangement of the four contacts 106 corresponds to the arrangement of four electrodes 65 (see FIG. 4) of one ink cartridge 30 described later. Each contact 106 is composed of a member having conductivity and elasticity, and can be elastically deformed upward. Four sets of four contacts 106 are arranged corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the cartridge case 101. That is, 16 contacts 106 are arranged on the cartridge case 101. The number of contacts 106 and the number of electrodes 65 are arbitrary.

  Each contact 106 is electrically connected to the arithmetic unit via an electric circuit. The arithmetic device is composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and functions as a controller of the printer 10, for example. When each contact 106 and each electrode 65 corresponding to each contact 106 come into contact and are electrically connected, the voltage Vc is applied to the first electrode 65 or the second electrode 65 is A signal indicating data is transmitted to the third electrode 65, or a synchronization signal is transmitted from the arithmetic unit to the fourth electrode 65. The electrical connection between each contact 106 and each electrode 65 corresponding to each contact 106 enables the arithmetic device to access data stored in the IC of the ink cartridge 30. The output from each contact 106 through the electric circuit is input to the arithmetic unit.

[Optical sensor 113]
As shown in FIG. 2, an optical sensor 113 is disposed on the top surface of the cartridge case 101. The optical sensor 113 is located in front of the four contacts 106. The optical sensor 113 includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The light emitter is provided on the right side or the left side of the light receiver and spaced from the light receiver. A light shielding plate 67 (see FIG. 4), which will be described later, of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 is disposed between the light emitter and the light receiver. In other words, the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed to face each other so that the light shielding plate 67 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is positioned between the light emitter and the light receiver. Yes.

  The optical sensor 113 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light emitted along the left-right direction from the light emitter is received by the light receiver. For example, the optical sensor 113 outputs a low level signal on condition that the light output from the light emitter cannot be received by the light receiver (that is, the light reception intensity is less than a predetermined intensity). On the other hand, the optical sensor 113 outputs a high-level signal on condition that the light output from the light emitter can be received by the light receiver (that is, the light reception intensity is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity).

[Lock shaft 145]
As shown in FIG. 3, the lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction of the cartridge case 101 in the vicinity of the top surface 57 of the cartridge case 101 and in the vicinity of the opening 112. The lock shaft 145 is a rod-shaped member extending along the left-right direction. The lock shaft 145 is, for example, a metal cylinder. Both ends of the lock shaft 145 in the left-right direction are fixed to walls that define both ends of the cartridge case 101 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the lock shaft 145 does not move relative to the cartridge case 101 such as turning. The lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction 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 shaft 145. Accordingly, the lock surface 151 of the ink cartridge 30 and the like can access the lock shaft 145 upward and backward.

  Here, the access may be physical contact such that the lock shaft 145 contacts the lock surface 151, or may be optical access such that light from the optical sensor 113 hits a light shielding plate 67 described later. The electrical access may be such that a current flows between the electrode 65 and the contact 106 when the contact 106 comes into contact with an electrode 65 of the IC substrate 64 described later. The accessed direction may be the up-down direction or the left-right direction.

  The lock shaft 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 at the mounting position. The ink cartridge 30 is engaged with the lock shaft 145 by being inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and rotated to a use posture. Further, the lock shaft 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the force that the coil spring 78 of the ink cartridge 30 pushes the ink cartridge 30 backward.

[Tank 103]
As shown in FIG. 1, a tank 103 is disposed in front of the cartridge case 101. The tank 103 has a box shape capable of storing ink therein. The upper part of the tank 103 is opened to the outside by an air communication port 124. Thereby, the internal space of the tank 103 is open to the atmosphere. The internal space of the tank 103 communicates with the internal space of the ink needle 102 at the rear. As a result, the ink that has flowed out of the ink cartridge 30 through the ink needle 102 is stored in the tank 103. Ink tubes 20 are connected to the four tanks 103, respectively. As a result, the ink stored in the internal space of the tank 103 is supplied to the recording head 21 through the ink tube 20.

[Overall structure of ink cartridge 30]
The ink cartridge 30 is a container that stores liquid ink. In the present embodiment, four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors can be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. Among the four ink cartridges 30, the configuration of the three ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, and yellow is the same as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the configuration of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to black is different from the configuration of the other three ink cartridges 30 in that it is longer in the left-right direction than the other three ink cartridges 30 as shown in FIG. In other respects, the configuration of the other three ink cartridges 30 is substantially the same.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the three ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, and yellow will be described. The configuration of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to black will be described in a modification with respect to differences from the other three ink cartridges 30.

  The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is a posture when the ink cartridge 30 is in a use posture, that is, a use posture. The ink cartridge 30 includes front walls 40 and 82, rear walls 41 and 83, an upper wall 39, a lower wall, side walls 37 and 84 (an example of a first side wall), and side walls 38 and 85 (second side walls). An example).

  The front wall 40 is a wall facing the front in the use posture of the ink cartridge 30. In the present embodiment, the front wall 40 has curved surfaces 117 and 118 and surfaces 117A and 118A as opposite surfaces thereof.

  The rear wall 41 is a wall that faces the rear in the use posture of the ink cartridge 30. The upper wall 39 faces upward when the ink cartridge 30 is in a use posture, the front end is connected to the upper end of the front wall 82, and the rear end is connected to the upper end of the rear wall 83.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is in the use posture, the lower wall faces downward, the front end is connected to the lower end of the front wall 40, and the rear end is connected to the lower end of the rear wall 41. In the present embodiment, the lower wall has a step surface 49. In the present embodiment, the lower wall includes a main lower wall 42 and a sub lower wall 48. The main lower wall 42 is a wall connecting the lower end of the rear wall 41 and the lower end of the step surface 49 among the lower walls. The sub lower wall 48 is a wall connecting the lower end of the front wall 40 and the upper end of the stepped surface 49 among the lower walls. In the present embodiment, the sub lower wall 48 has curved surfaces 115 and 116 and surfaces 115A and 116A as opposite surfaces.

  The ink cartridge 30 is in a posture in which the direction from the rear wall 41 toward the front wall 40 coincides with the front direction 51 and the direction from the front wall 40 toward the rear wall 41 coincides with the rear direction 52 in the use posture. Further, in the usage posture, the ink cartridge 30 has a posture in which the direction from the upper wall 39 to the lower wall matches the lower direction 53 (gravity direction) and the direction from the lower wall to the upper wall 39 matches the upper direction 54. It is. In the use posture of the ink cartridge 30, the direction from the side wall 38 to the side wall 37 coincides with the right direction 55, and the direction from the side wall 37 to the side wall 38 coincides with the left direction 56. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the outer surface of the front wall 40 faces the front, the outer surface of the rear wall 41 faces the rear, the outer surface of the lower wall faces the lower side, and the upper wall 39 The outer surface faces upward.

  As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the ink cartridge 30 as a whole has a short dimension along the left-right direction, and a dimension along each of the vertical direction and the front-rear direction is longer than the dimension along the left-right direction. Shape.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the ink cartridge 30 includes a housing 130, a first inner lid 131 (an example of a lid), a second inner lid 132, a semipermeable membrane 141, films 133 and 146, an outer A lid 134, a valve mechanism 135, and a support member 150 are provided.

[Case 130]
As shown in FIG. 7, the housing 130 has a box shape with the top opened. That is, an opening 95 is formed at the upper end of the housing 130. In the present embodiment, the housing 130 is a container formed of resin. As shown in FIG. 10, a first storage chamber 32 (an example of a liquid storage chamber) and a second storage chamber 33 are formed inside the housing 130.

  4-7, the housing | casing 130 is provided with the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, the side wall 38, the main lower wall 42, and the sub lower wall 48 as an outer wall. . The distance between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 is longer than the distance between the side wall 37 and the side wall 38. The front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, the side wall 38, the main lower wall 42, and the sub lower wall 48 define the first storage chamber 32.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is in the use posture, the surface of the housing 130 facing forward is the front wall 40, and the surface of the housing 130 facing backward is the rear wall 41. The side walls 37 and 38 extend so as to intersect with the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41, respectively. The side walls 37 and 38 connect the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the main lower wall 42, and the sub lower wall 48. In the use posture, the outer surface of the side wall 37 faces rightward, and the outer surface of the side wall 38 faces leftward.

  In the housing 130, at least the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38 have translucency that allows the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 to be visually recognized from the outside. It is what has. Specifically, the color of the ink in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 and the liquid level of the ink in the first storage chamber 32 are visible. In particular, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the outside in a state where ink is not stored in the first storage chamber 32, the lower wall 45, which will be described later, passes through the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37 and the side wall 38. The upper surface 45A is visible. In the present embodiment, the liquid storage chamber is divided into the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33, but the number of liquid storage chambers may be one. That is, the lower wall 45 may be omitted.

  As FIG. 14 shows, the side wall 37 inclines with respect to the up-down direction so that it may go to the left as it goes below. Thereby, the inner surface 37A of the side wall 37 is also inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to go to the left as it goes downward. The side wall 38 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to go right as it goes downward. Thereby, the inner surface 38A of the side wall 38 is also inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to go to the left as it goes downward. From the above, the distance in the left-right direction between the inner surface 37A of the side wall 37 and the inner surface 38A of the side wall 38 becomes narrower as it goes downward. In addition, while the inner surface 37A of the side wall 37 and the inner surface 38A of the side wall 38 are inclined with respect to the vertical direction, the side walls 37 and 38 may extend in the vertical direction. Further, the side walls 37 and 38 and their inner surfaces may not be inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the main lower wall 42 is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so that the rear end is located above the front end. The front end of the main lower wall 42 is located in front of a lock surface 151 described later. The rear end of the main lower wall 42 is connected to the lower end of the rear wall 41. That is, the main lower wall 42 extends forward from the lower end of the rear wall 41. The sub lower wall 48 is located above and in front of the main lower wall 42.

  Engaging claws 88 projecting outward from the housing 130 are formed at the upper ends of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38. The engaging claw 88 engages with an opening 86 formed in the outer lid 134. In the present embodiment, one engagement claw 88 is formed on each of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38, but the number of the engagement claws 88 is one on each wall. Not limited to one by one.

[First inner lid 131]
The first inner lid 131 shown in FIG. 8 closes the opened upper opening 95 of the housing 130. As shown in FIG. 8, the first inner lid 131 has a box shape with the top opened. The first inner lid 131 includes a bottom wall 136 (an example of a wall) and a side wall 137 erected from the periphery of the bottom wall 136. The side wall 137 includes an overhanging wall 138 that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface thereof.

  The bottom wall 136 is formed with a through hole 46 (an example of a communication port) penetrating in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 10, the through hole 46 is formed on the rear side of the center position in the front-rear direction of the air chamber 36 of an air communication channel 72 (an example of the air channel) described later. The upper surface 136 </ b> A of the bottom wall 136 is inclined downward toward the through hole 46.

  The position where the through hole 46 is formed is not limited to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, and may be formed, for example, in front of the center in the front-rear direction of the air chamber 36. Further, the upper surface 136A may not be inclined as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the first inner lid 131 is arranged in the internal space of the housing 130 from the opened upper side of the housing 130, and is supported by the housing 130 in the internal space. Specifically, in a state where the first inner lid 131 is located in the internal space of the housing 130, the lower surface of the overhanging wall 138 at the front end portion of the first inner lid 131 is the upper end of the inner surface of the front wall 40 of the housing 130. Is supported by a step surface 40B formed in the portion. Further, the lower surface of the overhanging wall 138 at the rear end portion of the first inner lid 131 is supported by a step surface 41 </ b> B formed at the upper end portion of the inner surface of the rear wall 41 of the housing 130. In a state where the first inner lid 131 is supported by the housing 130, the upper end surface 137A of the side wall 137 of the first inner lid 131 and the upper end surface 130A of the housing 130 are the same virtual extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Is on the surface.

  As shown in FIG. 8, two first ribs 185 and two second ribs 186 are formed on the lower surface 136 </ b> B of the bottom wall 136. In other words, two sets of the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 are formed on the lower surface 136 </ b> B of the bottom wall 136.

  The first rib 185 and the second rib 186 protrude downward from the lower surface 136B. The lower ends of the two first ribs 185 and the two second ribs 186 have the same height.

  The first rib 185 and the second rib 186 extend along the lower surface 136B. The two first ribs 185 are formed at an interval in the front-rear direction. The two second ribs 186 are formed at an interval in the front-rear direction. The first rib 185 and the second rib 186 are formed in front of the through hole 46. One first rib 185 and one second rib 186 are opposed to each other with a gap in the left-right direction.

  The first rib 185 includes an extending part 185A and an inclined part 185B. The second rib 186 includes an extending part 186A and an inclined part 186B.

  In a state where the first inner lid 131 is supported by the housing 130, the extending portion 185 A is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall 37, and the extending portion 186 A is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall 38. The extending portion 185A extends to the left from the base end that is a contact position with the inner surface of the side wall 37. The extending portion 186A extends to the right from the base end that is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall 38.

  The inclined portion 185B extends from the front end of the extending portion 185A (in other words, the left end of the extending portion 185A) while being inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to go backward as it goes left. The inclined portion 186B extends from the front end of the extending portion 186A (in other words, the right end of the extending portion 186A) while being inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to go rearward as it goes right. That is, the inclined portions 185B and 186B extend while being inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to be directed to the through hole 46 in the front-rear direction as they are separated from the base ends of the extending portions 185A and 186A.

  The tip of the inclined portion 185B of the first rib 185 (in other words, the rear end of the inclined portion 185B) is the tip of the inclined portion 186B of the second rib 186 that faces the first rib 185 in the left-right direction (in other words, the inclined portion 186B). It is located behind the rear end. That is, the tip of the inclined portion 185B of the first rib 185 is closer to the through hole 46 than the tip of the inclined portion 186B of the second rib 186 that faces the first rib 185 in the left-right direction.

  Note that the number of the first ribs 185 and the second ribs 186 is not limited to two. Further, the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 may be provided behind the through hole 46. Further, the tip of the inclined portion 186B of the second rib 186 may be located behind the tip of the inclined portion 185B of the first rib 185 that faces the second rib 186 in the left-right direction.

[Second inner lid 132]
As shown in FIG. 9, the second inner lid 132 has a generally plate shape.

  The second inner lid 132 is disposed in the inner space of the first inner lid 131 from the opened upper side of the first inner lid 131 and is supported by the first inner lid 131 in the inner space. Specifically, in a state where the second inner lid 132 is located in the inner space of the first inner lid 131, the lower surface 132 </ b> B of the second inner lid 132 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the side wall 137 of the first inner lid 131 and It abuts from above on a step surface 137B (see FIG. 8B) facing upward.

  On the upper surface 132A of the second inner lid 132, a rib 149 protruding upward from the peripheral edge of the upper surface 132A is formed. As shown in FIG. 10, the second inner lid 132 is supported by the first inner lid 131 and the first inner lid 131 is supported by the housing 130. The end surface 149A is on the same virtual surface that extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, with the upper end surface 137A of the side wall 137 of the first inner lid 131 and the upper end surface 130A of the housing 130.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a through hole 139 is formed in the second inner lid 132. The through hole 139 faces the through hole 46 above the through hole 46 of the first inner lid 131 in a state where the second inner lid 132 is supported by the first inner lid 131.

  A rib 140 protruding downward is formed on the lower surface 132B of the second inner lid 132. The rib 140 is located in front of the through hole 139. The rib 140 has a rectangular shape when the second inner lid 132 is viewed from below. The shape of the rib 140 is not limited to a rectangular shape as long as the second inner lid 132 is closed when viewed from below. For example, the rib 140 may be circular when the second inner lid 132 is viewed from below.

  A semipermeable membrane 141 (see FIG. 7) is welded to the lower end surface of the rib 140. The semipermeable membrane 141 is a porous membrane having minute holes that block the passage of ink and allow the passage of gas. For example, the semipermeable membrane 141 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer. Made of fluororesin.

  By welding the semipermeable membrane 141 to the lower end surface of the rib 140, a space 89 defined by the rib 140, the lower surface 132B of the second inner wall 132, and the semipermeable membrane 141 is formed.

  A through hole 142 is formed inside the rib 140 when the second inner lid 132 is viewed from below on the lower surface 132B. In other words, the through hole 142 is formed in a portion of the lower surface 132B that defines the space 89. That is, the through hole 142 is connected to the space 89. That is, the through hole 142 and the semipermeable membrane 141 are arranged with the space 89 in the vertical direction. The through hole 142 is formed in front of the center position in the front-rear direction of the air chamber 36 of the atmosphere communication flow path 72. The through hole 142 is formed at the right front end portion inside the rib 140.

  The position where the through hole 142 is formed is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 9. For example, the through hole 142 may be formed on the rear side of the center in the front-rear direction of the air chamber 36, It may be the left front end or the rear end.

  A bent channel 143 is formed on the upper surface 132A of the second inner lid 132. The bent channel 143 is partitioned by the upper surface 132A, a rib 144 formed on the upper surface 132A, and a film 146 (see FIG. 7) welded to the upper end surface of the rib 144.

  A plurality of ribs 144 extend in the front-rear direction and are provided side by side in the left-right direction. Thereby, the bent flow path 143 is a communication path extending leftward while repeating the U-turn in the front-rear direction. The shape of the bent channel 143 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. For example, the bent flow path 143 may be a communication path extending in the front-rear direction while repeating a left-right U-turn.

  One end of the bent channel 143 communicates with the through hole 142. The other end of the bent channel 143 communicates with the communication hole 147.

  The communication hole 147 is a circular hole facing upward. The communication hole 147 is partitioned by an upper surface 132A and a cylindrical rib 148 protruding upward from the upper surface 132A. The rib 148 is connected to the rib 144. As a result, the rib 148 communicates with the bent channel 143. A film 146 and a film 133 (see FIG. 7) made of a liquid and gas impermeable material are not welded to the upper end surface of the rib 148. Thus, the communication hole 147 is opened upward and communicates with the atmosphere. That is, the communication hole 147 is the end of the atmosphere communication flow path 72.

  The area of the communication hole 147 (specifically, the area when the communication hole 147 is viewed from above) is the cross-sectional area of the bent channel 143 in the air flow direction (in other words, the area when the bent channel 143 is viewed in the front-rear direction). Bigger than).

  The communication hole 147 is not limited to a circular shape. Further, the communication hole 147 may face a direction other than the top.

  Ribs 156, 157, and 158 are formed around the through hole 139 in the upper surface 132 </ b> A of the second inner lid 132.

  The rib 156 protrudes along the periphery of the through hole 139 and has a cylindrical shape. The rib 156 positions the rod 165 (see FIGS. 7 and 10) of the valve body 161 of the valve mechanism 135 inserted into the through hole 139 in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.

  A pair of ribs 157 are formed so as to sandwich the rib 156 in the front-rear direction. Each rib 157 has a U-shape facing the rib 156 when viewed from above. The rib 157 positions the rod 165 (see FIG. 7) of the valve element 161 of the valve mechanism 135 in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.

  A pair of ribs 158 are formed so as to sandwich the ribs 156 and 157 in the front-rear direction. The tip of each rib 158 is bent. The bent portion engages with the engaged portion 152 of the support member 150 (see FIG. 10).

[Film 133]
As shown in FIG. 7, the film 133 has a rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 10, the film 133 is welded to the upper end surface 130 </ b> A of the housing 130, the upper end surface 137 </ b> A of the side wall 137 of the first inner lid 131, and the upper end surface 149 </ b> A of the rib 149 of the second inner lid 132. . The shape of the film 133 may be other than a rectangle as long as the above-described welding is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 7, two openings 159 and 160 are formed in the film 133. The opening 159 is formed at a position corresponding to the rib 144 in a state where the film 133 is welded. Thereby, in the state in which the film 133 is welded, the film 146 welded to the rib 144 is exposed upward. The opening 160 is formed at a position corresponding to the ribs 156, 157, 158 and the valve mechanism 135 in a state where the film 133 is welded. Thereby, in a state where the film 133 is welded, the ribs 156, 157, 158 and the valve mechanism 135 are exposed upward.

[Outer lid 134]
As shown in FIG. 7, the outer lid 134 has a box shape with the lower part opened. The outer lid 134 includes an upper wall 39, a front wall 82, a rear wall 83, a side wall 84, and a side wall 85. The front wall 82 extends downward from the front end of the upper wall 39. The front wall 82 is continuous with the front wall 40 of the housing 130 at the lower end, and the front wall 82 of the outer lid 134 and the front wall 40 of the housing 130 constitute the front wall of the ink cartridge 30. The rear wall 83 extends downward from the rear end of the upper wall 39. The rear wall 83 is continuous with the rear wall 41 of the casing 130 at the lower end, and the rear wall 83 of the outer lid 134 and the rear wall 41 of the casing 130 constitute the rear wall of the ink cartridge 30. The side wall 84 extends downward from the right end of the upper wall 39 and connects the front wall 82 and the rear wall 83. The side wall 84 is continuous with the side wall 37 of the housing 130 at the lower end, and the side wall 84 of the outer lid 134 and the side wall 37 of the housing 130 constitute the side wall of the ink cartridge 30. The side wall 85 extends downward from the left end of the upper wall 39 and connects the front wall 82 and the rear wall 83. The side wall 85 is continuous with the side wall 38 of the housing 130 at the lower end, and the side wall 85 of the outer lid 134 and the side wall 38 of the housing 130 constitute the side wall of the ink cartridge 30.

  An opening 86 is formed in each of the front wall 82, the rear wall 83, the side wall 84, and the side wall 85. An engagement claw 88 of the housing 130 is engaged with each opening 86. As a result, the outer lid 134 is put on the casing 130 from above the casing 130. In this embodiment, the opening 86 is formed in the outer lid 134 and the engaging claw 88 is formed in the housing 130. However, the engaging claw 88 is formed in the outer lid 134 and the opening 86 is formed in the housing 130. May be formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an opening 44 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the upper wall 39. The opening 44 is formed above the ribs 156, 157, 158 of the second inner lid 132.

  On the upper wall 39, a convex portion 43 protruding upward is formed. The convex portion 43 is formed so as to surround the opening 44 from the right side, the left side, and the rear side. A lock shaft 145 is accessible to the convex portion 43 from the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the surface facing rearward in the convex portion 43 is a lock surface 151. The lock surface 151 is located above the upper wall 39. The lock surface 151 extends along the vertical direction. The lock surface 151 is a surface that can come into contact with the lock shaft 145 rearward in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the lock surface 151 contacts the lock shaft 145 rearward, the ink cartridge 30 is held by the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the urging force of the coil spring 78.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the convex portion 43, a pair of walls 114 are formed in front of the lock surface 151 with the opening 44 interposed therebetween. The upper end surfaces of the pair of walls 114 are composed of a horizontal surface 154 and an inclined surface 155. The rear end of the horizontal plane 154 is continuous with the lock surface 151. The inclined surface 155 is located in front of the horizontal plane 154. The inclined surface 155 is continuous with the front end of the horizontal surface 154. The inclined surface 155 faces upward and forward. The inclined surface 155 is inclined so that the front end is below the rear end. Since the lock surface 151 and the inclined surface 155 are continuous via the horizontal plane 154, the mountain shape with a sharp boundary between the lock surface 151 and the inclined surface 155 is not formed. By the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal plane 154, the lock shaft 145 is smoothly guided from the lock surface 151 to the rear while being in contact with the inclined plane 155 and the horizontal plane 154 in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  In the upper wall 39, an operation unit 90 is formed behind the lock surface 151. The operation unit 90 is accessed and operated by the user. A sub upper surface 91 is formed behind the upper wall 39. An operation unit 90 is disposed above the sub upper surface 91 with a space from the sub upper surface 91. The operation portion 90 has a flat plate shape that protrudes upward from the vicinity of the boundary between the upper wall 39 and the sub upper surface 91 to the same extent as the convex portion 43. The operation unit 90 has an upper end position positioned in front of the lower end position. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a rib 94 is formed between the operation unit 90 and the rear sub-upper surface 91. The rib 94 is continuous with the operation unit 90 and the rear sub-upper surface 91 and extends rearward. The dimension of the rib 94 along the left-right direction is smaller than each of the dimension of the operation unit 90 along the left-right direction and the dimension of the rear sub upper surface 91. The rib 94 prevents the rear portion of the operation unit 90 from being deformed in the vertical direction.

  In the operation unit 90, the surface facing upward and rearward is the operation surface 92. The position of the rear portion of the operation surface 92 and the rear sub-upper surface 91 in the direction along the front-rear direction overlaps. In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from above to below the ink cartridge 30, the rear portion of the operation surface 92 and the rear sub-upper surface 91 are in overlapping positions. On the operation surface 92, a plurality of protrusions, for example, a plurality of convex ribs 93 extending in the left-right direction are formed at intervals in the front-rear direction. The convex ribs 93 as a plurality of protrusions make it easier for the user to recognize the operation surface 92, and when the user operates the operation surface 92 with a finger, the finger is less likely to slip with respect to the operation surface 92.

  The operation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from above the ink cartridge 30 from below, and is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from behind the ink cartridge 30 from the front. It is. The operation surface 92 is a surface for the user to operate in order to extract the ink cartridge 30 from the state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The operation unit 90 is molded integrally with the outer lid 134. As a result, the operation unit 90 is fixed to the outer lid 134 and does not move relative to the outer lid 134. Therefore, the force applied from the user to the operation surface 92 is transmitted as it is to the outer lid 134 without changing the direction.

  The outer surfaces of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the upper wall 39, the lower wall, and the side walls 37, 38 of the ink cartridge 30 do not necessarily have to be one flat surface. In other words, the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture is a surface that can be seen when viewed from the front to the rear of the ink cartridge 30 and is located in front of the front-rear direction center of the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture. The surface is the outer surface of the front wall 40. A surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture is viewed from the rear to the front of the ink cartridge 30, and a surface that is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture. This is the outer surface of the rear wall 41. A surface that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture is viewed from above and below the ink cartridge 30, and a surface that is located above the center in the vertical direction of the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture. This is the outer surface of the upper wall 39. A surface that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture is viewed from below and above the ink cartridge 30, and a surface that is located below the center in the vertical direction of the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture. It is the outer surface of the lower wall. The same applies to the outer surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a light shielding plate 67 protruding upward is formed on the outer surface of the upper wall 39. The light shielding plate 67 extends along the front-rear direction. The light shielding plate 67 is located in front of the convex portion 43. The light shielding plate 67 is positioned in front of an IC substrate 64 described later.

  The right and left surfaces of the light shielding plate 67 block the light of the optical sensor 113 (see FIG. 2) traveling along the left-right direction. That is, the light shielding plate 67 can be accessed from the outside. More specifically, when the light output from the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 hits the light shielding plate 67 before reaching the light receiver, the intensity of the light reaching the light receiver is less than a predetermined intensity, for example, zero. It becomes. The light shielding plate 67 may completely block the light from traveling along the left-right direction, may partially attenuate the light, may bend the traveling direction of the light, It may be reflected. Further, the light shielding plate 67 is formed with a notch 66. The notch 66 is a space that is recessed downward from the upper end of the light shielding plate 67 and extends in the front-rear direction. Since the notch 66 is positioned in the optical sensor 113, the light output from the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 is not blocked until it reaches the light receiver. Depending on the presence or absence of the notch 66, for example, the user or the printer 10 can determine the type of the ink cartridge 30, that is, the type and initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, an IC substrate 64 is disposed on the outer surface of the upper wall 39 and between the light shielding plate 67 and the convex portion 43 in the front-rear direction. The IC substrate 64 is electrically connected to the four contacts 106 while the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, and is also connected to the four contacts 106 even when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. .

  The IC substrate 64 includes a substrate, an IC (not shown in each figure), and four electrodes 65. The substrate supports the IC. Four electrodes 65 are formed on the substrate. The four electrodes 65 and the IC are electrically connected. Each of the four electrodes 65 extends along the front-rear direction, and the four electrodes 65 are arranged in the left-right direction. The four electrodes 65 are exposed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 64 so as to be electrically accessible. As a result, each of the four contacts 106 of the cartridge case 101 can be in direct contact with the upper surface of each of the four electrodes 65. The IC is an integrated circuit, and stores information about the ink cartridge 30 such as data indicating information such as a lot number, date of manufacture, and ink color in a readable manner. The substrate may be a so-called rigid substrate or a flexible substrate having flexibility.

[Internal structure of ink cartridge 30]
As shown in FIG. 10, a first storage chamber 32, a second storage chamber 33, an ink valve chamber 35, and an air communication channel 72 are formed inside the ink cartridge 30.

  The ink cartridge 30 includes a lower wall 45 inside. The lower wall 45 is a wall that expands in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. In a state where the housing 130 supports the first inner lid 131, the lower wall 45 and the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131 face each other in the vertical direction.

  The first storage chamber 32 has an upper end defined by the lower surface 136B of the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131, and a lower end defined by the upper surface 45A of the lower wall 45 and the upper surface of the sub lower wall 48. The first storage chamber 32 has a front end defined by the inner surface of the front wall 40 and a rear end defined by the inner surface of the rear wall 41. The first storage chamber 32 is defined at both left and right ends by inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38, respectively. That is, the first storage chamber 32 includes the lower surface 136B of the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131, the upper surface 45A of the lower wall 45 and the upper surface of the sub lower wall 48, the inner surface of the front wall 40, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, and the side walls. A space defined by the inner surfaces of 37 and 38. That is, the dimension of the first storage chamber 32 in the front-rear direction is longer than the dimension of the first storage chamber 32 in the left-right direction. Note that the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, and the gaps between the side walls 37 and 38 and the first inner lid 131 are liquid-tightly sealed with the film 133.

  Among the inner surfaces that define the first storage chamber 32, the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 protrude from the lower surface 136 </ b> B of the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131 toward the first storage chamber 32.

  On the other hand, ribs do not protrude from surfaces other than the lower surface 136 </ b> B among the inner surfaces that define the first storage chamber 32. That is, the upper wall of the lower wall 45, the inner surface of the front wall 40, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, and the inner wall extending from the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38 to the first storage chamber 32 are not formed. In addition, although it is preferable that the said inner wall is not formed in the upper surface of the lower wall 45, the inner surface of the front wall 40, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, and each inner surface of the side walls 37 and 38, the said inner wall is formed. Also good.

  At the time of manufacturing the ink cartridge 30, the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 contacts the upper surface of the lower wall 45, the inner surface of the front wall 40, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, and the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38.

  As described above, the through hole 46 is formed in the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131. The first storage chamber 32 and the air chamber 36 of the atmosphere communication channel 72 are communicated with each other through the through hole 46.

  The second storage chamber 33 is located below the first storage chamber 32 in the use posture in the internal space of the housing 130 and stores ink. The volume in which the second storage chamber 33 can store ink is smaller than the volume in which the first storage chamber 32 can store ink.

  The second storage chamber 33 has an upper end defined by the lower surface of the lower wall 45 and a lower end defined by the upper surface of the main lower wall 42. The rear end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by the inner surface of the rear wall 41. The second storage chamber 33 has left and right side ends defined by the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. A partition wall 50 is formed between the second storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35. The front end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by the surface of the partition wall 50 close to the second storage chamber 33. That is, the second storage chamber 33 is a space defined by the lower surface of the lower wall 45, the upper surface of the main lower wall 42, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38, and the inner surface of the partition wall 50.

  At the time of manufacturing the ink cartridge 30, the ink stored in the second storage chamber 33 includes the lower surface of the lower wall 45, the upper surface of the main lower wall 42, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, and the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38, and The partition 50 is in contact with the surface that defines the second storage chamber 33.

  The second storage chamber 33 communicates with the first storage chamber 32 through a communication hole 47 (see FIG. 11) formed in the lower wall 45. As shown in FIG. 11, the communication hole 47 is formed at the rear end portion and the right end portion of the lower wall 45. As shown in FIG. 10, the second storage chamber 33 communicates with the ink valve chamber 35 through a through hole 99 formed in the partition wall 50.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the upper surface 45A of the lower wall 45 and the upper surface 48A of the sub lower wall 48 are curved. The upper surface 45A of the lower wall 45 and the upper surface 48A of the sub lower wall 48 are inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to go downward as going backward. That is, the upper surface 48A of the lower wall 45 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to be directed downward toward the communication port 47.

  The position where the communication hole 47 is formed is not limited to the rear end portion and the right end portion of the lower wall 45. For example, the communication hole 47 may be formed in the center portion of the lower wall 45 in the front-rear direction, may be formed over the entire region in the left-right direction, or may be formed in the sub lower wall 48. Good.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the upper surface 45A of the lower wall 45 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to go downward as it goes to the communication port 47, but the upper surface 45A of the lower wall 45 is not necessarily as described above. It does not have to be inclined.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the curved surface 115 extends downward from the lower end of the inner surface 37 </ b> A of the side wall 37, and the curved surface 116 extends downward from the lower end of the inner surface 38 </ b> A of the side wall 38. In the present embodiment, the curved surfaces 115 and 116 are formed by curving the inner surface of the sub lower wall 48. Although not shown, a curved surface is also formed by the inner surface of the lower wall 45. The curvature radii of the curved surfaces 115 and 116 formed by the sub lower wall 48 are larger than the curvature radii of the curved surfaces formed by the lower wall 45. The curved surface 115 is curved to the left as it goes downward. The curved surface 116 is curved to go right as it goes downward. The curved surfaces 115 and 116 are curved so as to bulge outward from the housing 130. The lower end of the curved surface 115 is connected to the lower end of the curved surface 116. Here, the lower end of the curved surface 115 and the lower end of the curved surface 116 are the lowermost portion of the front portion of the first storage chamber 32. That is, the lower end of the curved surface 115 is connected to the lower end of the curved surface 116 (the lowermost portion in the front portion of the first storage chamber 32), and the lower end of the curved surface 116 is the lower end of the curved surface 115 (the front portion of the first storage chamber 32). At the bottom). As a result, a U-shaped inner surface that continuously connects the side wall 37 to the side wall 38 is formed on the inner surface of the sub lower wall 48.

  The surface 115 </ b> A of the sub lower wall 48 is curved substantially parallel to the curved surface 115. That is, the surface 115A is formed by a curved surface obtained by bending the curved surface 115 in the same direction. A surface 116 </ b> A of the sub lower wall 48 is curved substantially parallel to the curved surface 116. That is, the surface 116A is configured by a curved surface obtained by bending the curved surface 116 in the same direction. The surfaces 115A and 116A are not necessarily curved, and may be bent, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the curved surface 117 extends forward from the front end of the inner surface 37 </ b> A of the side wall 37, and the curved surface 118 extends forward from the front end of the inner surface 38 </ b> A of the side wall 38. In the present embodiment, the curved surfaces 117 and 118 are formed by the front wall 40 being curved. The curved surface 117 is curved to the left as it goes forward. The curved surface 118 is curved so as to go right as it goes forward. The curved surfaces 117 and 118 are curved so as to bulge outward from the housing 130. The front end of the curved surface 117 is connected to the right end of the inner surface 40 </ b> A of the front wall 40. The front end of the curved surface 118 is connected to the left end of the inner surface 40 </ b> A of the front wall 40. Here, the central portion in the left-right direction of the inner surface 40 </ b> A of the front wall 40 is the foremost portion of the first storage chamber 32. In other words, the front end of the curved surface 117 and the front end of the curved surface 118 are connected to the surface including the foremost portion of the first storage chamber 32 (the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40).

  A surface 117A of the front wall 40 is curved substantially parallel to the curved surface 117. That is, the surface 117A is formed by a curved surface obtained by bending the curved surface 117 in the same direction. A surface 118A of the front wall 40 is curved substantially parallel to the curved surface 118. That is, the surface 118A is configured by a curved surface obtained by bending the curved surface 118 in the same direction. Note that the surfaces 117A and 118A are not necessarily curved, and may be bent, for example.

  Note that the boundary portion between the curved surface 115 and the curved surface 117, the boundary portion between the curved surface 116 and the curved surface 118, the boundary portion between the surface 115A and the surface 117A, and the boundary portion between the surface 116A and the surface 118A are smoothly connected and generally spherical. Configured. This spherical portion is indicated by reference numeral 200 in FIG.

  In the above description, the lower end of the curved surface 115 and the lower end of the curved surface 116 are connected. However, the lower end of the curved surface 115 and the lower end of the curved surface 116 are the curved surface 115 of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to black, which will be described later in the modification. Similarly to 116, it may be connected to the upper surface of the sub lower wall 48. In the above description, the front end of the curved surface 117 and the front end of the curved surface 118 are connected to the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40. However, the front end of the curved surface 117 and the front end of the curved surface 118 may be connected.

  In the above description, the curved surface is extended from the lower end and the front end of the side walls 37, 38. However, the curved surface has the rear end, the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the main lower wall 42, the side walls 37, 38, Further, it may extend from the sub lower wall 48. Moreover, the curved surface should just extend from the at least 1 edge of the inner surface of each wall mentioned above.

  The curvature radii of the curved surfaces 115 and 116 are, for example, 1 mm or more and 1 mm to 3 mm. The curvature radii of the surfaces 115A and 116A are, for example, 7 mm or more.

[Atmospheric communication channel 72]
The air communication channel 72 is a space that communicates the first storage chamber 32 and the outside of the ink cartridge 30, and is formed above the housing 130. As shown in FIG. 10, the atmosphere communication channel 72 includes the air chamber 36 and the bent channel 143 described above.

  The air chamber 36 is a space where one of the air communication channels 72 communicates with the first storage chamber 32 and the other communicates with the bent channel 143. A part of the air chamber 36 is disposed above the first storage chamber 32 and below the bent flow path 143. The air chamber 36 has a lower end defined by the upper surface 136A of the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131 and an upper end defined by the lower surface 132B of the second inner lid 132. The air chamber 36 has a front end, a rear end, a right end, and a left end defined by the inner surface of the side wall 137 (see FIG. 8) of the first inner lid 131. The gap between the second inner lid 132 and the side wall 137 of the first inner lid 131 is liquid-tightly sealed with the film 133.

  As described above, the upper end of the first storage chamber 32 is defined by the lower surface 136 </ b> B of the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131. That is, the bottom wall 136 partitions the first storage chamber 32 and the air chamber 36.

  The air chamber 36 communicates with the first storage chamber 32 through a through hole 46 that penetrates the bottom wall 136 in the vertical direction. The air chamber 36 communicates with the bent flow path 143 through a through hole 142 (see FIG. 9) formed in the second inner lid 132. As described above, the semipermeable membrane 141 (see FIG. 7) is welded to the lower end surface of the rib 140 of the second inner lid 132. As a result, the ink flowing from the first storage chamber 32 through the through hole 46 is blocked by the semipermeable membrane 141 and does not reach the through hole 142. As a result, the flow of ink to the bent flow path 143 is prevented.

  As described above, the bent flow path 143 is partitioned by the upper surface 132A, the rib 144 (see FIG. 9), and the film 146 (see FIG. 7), and extends continuously to the left while repeating U-turns in the front-rear direction. It is a passage and is formed as a groove whose upper end is covered with a film 146. The bent flow path 143 communicates with the air chamber 36 through a through hole 142 formed in the second inner lid 132. The bent channel 143 is formed on the surface opposite to the upper surface of the air chamber 36 (in this embodiment, the inner surface of the second inner lid 132). The bent channel 143 communicates with the internal space 134A of the outer lid 134 through a communication hole 147 (see FIG. 7). The internal space 134 </ b> A communicates with the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through an opening 44 formed in the upper wall 39 of the outer lid 134 and a gap between the outer lid 134 and the housing 130. That is, the bent channel 143 communicates with the atmosphere through the communication hole 147.

[Valve mechanism 135 and support member 150]
The valve mechanism 135 is a mechanism having a function of switching presence / absence of communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere. The configuration of the valve mechanism 135 in the present embodiment will be described below, but the configuration of the valve mechanism 135 may be different from the configuration in the present embodiment on the condition that the above-described function is provided. For example, a later-described valve body 161 may be configured to be movable in a direction other than the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the valve mechanism 135 includes a valve body 161, a coil spring 162, and a lever 163. The valve body 161 includes a rod 165 and a seal member 166 that is externally fitted to the rod 165. As shown in FIG. 10, a part of the rod 165 and the seal member 166 in the valve mechanism 135 are disposed in the atmosphere communication flow path 72. Portions other than a part of the rod 165 of the valve mechanism 135 and the coil spring 162 are disposed in the internal space 134 </ b> A of the outer lid 134. The arrangement of the valve mechanism 135 is not limited to the arrangement described above. For example, the entire valve mechanism 135 may be disposed in the atmosphere communication channel 72.

  A support member 150 shown in FIG. 7 is a member that rotatably supports a valve mechanism 135 (a lever 163 described in detail later). A space in which a part of the valve mechanism 135 can be arranged is formed inside the support member 150. As shown in FIG. 10, the support member 150 includes engaged portions 152 at the front end portion and the rear end portion thereof. The support member 150 is supported by the second inner lid 132 by the engaged portion 152 engaging with the bent portion of the rib 158 of the second inner lid 132.

  The rod 165 is disposed between the ribs 157 (see FIG. 9) of the second inner lid 132. On the upper surface of the rod 165, a step surface 165C is formed such that the front portion 165A is positioned above the rear portion 165B.

  The rod 165 extends in the vertical direction. The rod 165 is inserted into the through hole 139 (see FIG. 9) of the second inner lid 132. The seal member 166 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The seal member 166 is pressed against the rod 165 without a gap. Thereby, the space between the seal member 166 and the rod 165 is closed.

  The valve body 161 is movable along the vertical direction between the closed position shown in FIGS. 10 and 16 and the open position shown in FIG. 3. Note that the movement of the valve body 161 in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction is regulated by ribs 156, 157 (see FIG. 9) of the second inner lid 132.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 16, when the valve body 161 is in the closed position, the lower surface of the portion protruding from both the front and rear sides of the rod 165 is in contact with and supported by the upper surface of the second inner lid 132. The seal member 166 covers the peripheral edge of the through hole 46. As a result, the space between the seal member 166 and the through hole 46 is closed. In other words, the through hole 46 is blocked by the seal member 166 and the rod 165, so that the communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere is blocked.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the valve body 161 in the open position is located above the valve body 161 in the closed position (see FIGS. 10 and 16). In the state where the valve body 161 is in the open position, the lower surface of the portion protruding from both the front and rear sides of the rod 165 is spaced upward from the upper surface of the second inner lid 132. Further, the seal member 166 is spaced upward from the peripheral edge of the through hole 46. Thereby, the through hole 46 is opened. As a result, the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere communicate with each other through the through hole 46. On the other hand, the seal member 166 presses against the through hole 139 from below and covers the peripheral edge of the through hole 139. Thereby, the space between the seal member 166 and the through hole 139 is closed. That is, the through hole 139 is closed by the seal member 166 and the rod 165.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the coil spring 162 is disposed around the rod 165. The upper end of the coil spring 162 is in contact with the rod 165 of the valve body 161. The lower end of the coil spring 162 is in contact with the upper surface 132A of the second inner lid 132. When the valve body 161 is in the closed position, the coil spring 162 is in a state shorter than the natural length. Therefore, when the valve body 161 is in the closed position, the coil spring 162 biases the valve body 161 upward, that is, toward the open position. The valve body 161 is not limited to the coil spring 162 but may be a leaf spring or an elastic body such as rubber.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the lever 163 includes a rotating shaft 167, and a first protrusion 168 and a second protrusion 169 extending from the rotating shaft 167.

  The rotation shaft 167 is the center of the through hole in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, a pair of protrusions 170 projecting from the right inner surface that defines the right end of the internal space of the support member 150 and the left inner surface that defines the left end of the internal space of the support member 150 are rotated. The shaft 167 is inserted. The protrusion 170 protruding from the right inner surface is inserted into the rotation shaft 167 from the right side. The protrusion 170 protruding from the left inner surface is inserted into the rotation shaft 167 from the left. As a result, the lever 163 is rotatably supported by the support member 150. The pivot shaft 167 may be a protrusion that protrudes from the lever 163 to the right and left. In this case, an opening is formed in each of the right inner surface and the left inner surface of the support member 150, and the rotation shaft 167 that is a protrusion is inserted into the opening.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the first protrusion 168 and the second protrusion 169 extend in opposite directions with respect to the rotation shaft 167.

  The lever 163 can rotate between a first position shown in FIGS. 10 and 16 and a second position shown in FIG. 3.

  When the lever 163 is in the first position, the first protrusion 168 extends downward. The tip of the first protrusion 168 is located behind the rotation shaft 167. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, a virtual line 172 connecting the rotation shaft 167 and the tip of the first protrusion 168 is at a predetermined angle θ3 with respect to a virtual line 172 extending from the rotation shaft 167 in the gravity direction. (In this embodiment, 5 degrees), it is inclined backward. The lower end portion of the first protrusion 168 is in contact with the rear portion 165B of the upper surface of the rod 165 of the valve body 161 to push the valve body 161 downward. Thereby, the valve body 161 is located at the closed position. Further, the second protrusion 169 extends upward (in detail, obliquely upward rearward). The second protrusion 169 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the pair of walls 114 of the convex portion 43. The upper end of the second protrusion 169 does not protrude upward from the pair of walls 114.

  When the lever 163 is in the first position, the first protrusion 168 is rotated forward, that is, the lever 163 is rotated clockwise toward the second position in FIG. The tip is positioned behind the rotating shaft 167 and is regulated by the step surface 165C of the rod 165 of the valve body 161. In order to make the restriction, the upward biasing force of the coil spring 162 is greater than the force required for the first protrusion 168 to move from the rear portion 165B to the front portion 165A of the upper surface of the rod 165 of the valve body 161. Is set too small. In addition, the presence or absence of the step surface 165C on the upper surface of the rod 165 is arbitrary. Even if there is no step surface 165C and the top surface of the rod 165 is flat, the second protrusion of the lever 163 in FIG. The clockwise rotation toward the position can be restricted.

  On the other hand, the first protrusion 168 is rotated backward, that is, the lever 163 in FIG. 10 is rotated counterclockwise when the protrusion 171 formed on the right inner surface of the support member 150 contacts the lever 163. It is regulated. Due to the above restriction, the lever 163 is held in the first position. Further, the lever 163 in the first position prevents the valve body 161 from moving to the open position and holds the valve body 161 in the closed position.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lever 163 is separated from the convex plate 111 when the lever 163 is in the second position. The first protrusion 168 extends forward. Further, the second protrusion 169 extends downward (in detail, obliquely downward rearward). Moreover, the valve body 161 is located in the open position.

[Ink supply unit 34]
As shown in FIG. 6, the ink supply unit 34 extends forward from the step surface 49 below the sub lower wall 48 and above and in front of the main lower wall 42. As shown in FIG. 10, the ink supply unit 34 is located below the lower wall 45. The ink supply unit 34 is located below and behind the front wall 40.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the ink supply unit 34 includes a cylindrical body 75, a packing 76, a valve 77, a coil spring 78, a cap 79, and a snap fit mechanism 74.

  The cylindrical body 75 has a cylindrical outer shape. The cylindrical body 75 may have a shape other than a cylinder as long as it has a cylindrical shape. The tip of the cylinder 75 faces the front. The tip of the cylinder 75 is located below and behind the front wall 40. The front end of the cylindrical body 75 is open. The internal space of the cylinder 75 is the ink valve chamber 35.

  The packing 76 is a disk-shaped member. The packing 76 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, for example. As shown in FIG. 10, the packing 76 is disposed at the front end of the cylinder 75 so as to cover the opening at the front end of the cylinder 75. The center of the packing 76 is penetrated in the front-rear direction to form a cylindrical inner peripheral surface. A through hole 73 is formed in the packing 76 by the cylindrical inner peripheral surface. The inner diameter of the through hole 73 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink needle 102.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the valve 77 and the coil spring 78 are accommodated in the ink valve chamber 35. The valve 77 can move toward and away from the packing 76 by moving along the front-rear direction. When the valve 77 contacts and separates from the packing 76, the through hole 73 penetrating through the center of the packing 76 is opened and closed. The coil spring 78 urges the valve 77 forward. Therefore, the valve 77 closes the through hole 73 of the packing 76 in a state where no external force is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the cap 79 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The cap 79 is hollow. The cap 79 may have an outer shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped as long as the cap 79 is a hollow member having an open front end and a rear end.

  An opening 87 is formed at the rear end of the cap 79. The cylindrical body 75 and the packing 76 are inserted into the internal space of the cap 79 through the opening 87. Thereby, the cap 79 is put on the cylinder 75 and the packing 76 from the front. As shown in FIG. 10, in a state where the cap 79 is put on the cylinder 75, the lower end of the cap 79 is substantially the same position as the lower end of the housing 130 in the vertical direction.

  An ink supply port 71 is formed on the front surface 79 </ b> A of the cap 79. In a state where the cap 79 is put on the cylinder 75 and the packing 76, the ink valve chamber 35 communicates with the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the through hole 73 of the packing 76 and the ink supply port 71 of the cap 79.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 are disposed in the internal space of the cap 79. The first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 are made of a porous material such as polyurethane foam. When the ink enters the hole formed in the porous material, the ink is absorbed by the first absorbing member 182 and the second absorbing member 183.

  The first absorbent member 182 is annular. The first absorbing member 182 is disposed along the peripheral surface that defines the ink supply port 71. That is, the first absorbing member 182 is disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral edge portion of the ink supply port 71. The shape of the first absorbing member 182 is not limited to an annular shape. For example, the first absorbing member 182 may have a rectangular shape, and may be disposed only at the lower part of the circumferential surface that defines the ink supply port 71.

  The 2nd absorption member 183 is plate shape. The second absorbent member 183 is disposed behind the first absorbent member 182. The second absorbing member 183 is disposed in the lower part of the internal space of the cap 79 and is supported on the lower surface that defines the internal space of the cap 79. In addition, the shape of the 2nd absorption member 183 is not restricted to plate shape. For example, the second absorption member 183 may be disposed over the entire inner surface that defines the internal space of the cap 79.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, at least one groove 184 extending along the front-rear direction is formed on the lower surface that defines the internal space of the cap 79. The front end of the groove 184 is connected to the first absorbent member 182 or is located in the vicinity of the first absorbent member 182. The rear end of the groove 184 is connected to the second absorbent member 183 or is located in the vicinity of the second absorbent member 183. That is, the groove 184 is formed from the peripheral edge of the ink supply port 71 to the second absorbing member 183.

  Note that the first absorbent member 182 and the second absorbent member 183 may not be disposed in the internal space of the cap 79. Further, the groove 184 may not be formed on the lower surface that defines the internal space of the cap 79.

  As shown in FIG. 13, four guide grooves 175 </ b> A, 175 </ b> B, 175 </ b> C, and 175 </ b> D are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cap 79. The guide groove 175 </ b> A is formed at the upper right end of the cap 79. The guide groove 175 </ b> B is formed at the upper left end of the cap 79. The guide groove 175 </ b> C is formed at the lower right end of the cap 79. The guide groove 175 </ b> D is formed at the lower left end of the cap 79. That is, the guide groove 175A and the guide groove 175D sandwich the ink valve chamber 35 in the first direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and the guide groove 175B and the guide groove 175C are the first direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the first direction. The ink valve chamber 35 is sandwiched in two directions. As described above, the cap 79 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. That is, the cap 79 has a shape having four sides in which the projection plane extends linearly and four corners connecting the sides when viewed from the front-rear direction. Each of the four guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D is formed at each of the four corners. In other words, the guide grooves 175 </ b> A, 175 </ b> B, 175 </ b> C, and 175 </ b> D are formed by protrusions formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cap 79. That is, protrusions that protrude rightward and leftward from the outer surface of the cap 79 are provided at positions where the ink supply port 71 of the cap 79 is sandwiched from the left-right direction. The upper end surface of this protrusion forms the first guide surface 176 of the guide grooves A and 175B. Moreover, the lower end surface of this protrusion forms the first guide surface 176 of the guide grooves C and 175D.

  Hereinafter, the four guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D are collectively referred to as guide grooves 175. The guide groove 175 extends so as to form a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction.

  The guide grooves 175A and 175C are formed on the right side of the IC substrate 64. The guide grooves 175B and 175D are formed on the left side of the IC substrate 64. That is, a pair of guide grooves 175 are provided outward from the IC substrate 64 in the left-right direction. The position of the guide groove 175 is not limited to the outside of the IC substrate 64 in the left-right direction.

  The guide grooves 175A and 175B are composed of a first guide surface 176 and a second guide surface 177. The guide grooves 175C and 175D are configured by a first guide surface 176, a second guide surface 177, and a third guide surface 178. In FIG. 13, the third guide surface 178 of the guide groove 175D is not shown because it is in a hidden position.

  The first guide surface 176 is a plane extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The third guide surface 178 is a plane extending in the direction inclined in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction so that the rear end is higher than the front end. The third guide surface 178 is located behind the first guide surface 176. The front end of the third guide surface 178 is continuous with the rear end of the first guide surface 176. The second guide surface 177 is a surface that expands in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. The second guide surface 177 is connected to the first guide surface 176 and the third guide surface 178. In addition, the 1st guide surface 176, the 2nd guide surface 177, and the 3rd guide surface 178 do not need to be connected.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the angle θ <b> 1 with respect to the front-rear direction of the third guide surface 178 is larger than the angle θ <b> 2 with respect to the front-rear direction of the main lower wall 42.

  The rear end of the first guide surface 176 is located behind the front end of the packing 76.

  The first guide surfaces 176 of the guide grooves 175A and 175B face upward, and the first guide surfaces 176 and the third guide surfaces 178 of the guide grooves 175C and 175D face downward. The second guide surfaces 177 of the guide grooves 175A and 175C are directed rightward, and the second guide surfaces 177 of the guide grooves 175B and 175D are directed leftward.

  The guide grooves 175A, 175B, 175C, and 175D are L-shaped grooves when viewed in the front-rear direction, formed by the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177 described above. Specifically, there is no surface at a position facing the first guide surface 176, the second guide surface 177, and the third guide surface 178. That is, the 1st guide surface 176, the 2nd guide surface 177, and the 3rd guide surface 178 are open | released in the direction orthogonal to each surface. Specifically, the first guide surfaces 176 of the guide grooves 175A and 175B are opened upward, and the first guide surfaces 176 of the guide grooves 175C and 175D are opened downward. The second guide surfaces 177 of the guide grooves 175A and 175C are opened to the right, and the second guide surfaces 177 of the guide grooves 175B and 175D are opened to the left. The third guide surface 178 is opened downward. The first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177 form a predetermined angle, for example, 90 degrees. The vertical dimension of the second guide surface 177 is longer than the horizontal dimension of the first guide surface 176.

  In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted forward into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the protrusion 105A formed on the upper right side of the ink needle 102 enters the guide groove 175A, and the protrusion formed on the upper left side of the ink needle 102. 105B enters the guide groove 175B, the protrusion 105C formed obliquely below the right of the ink needle 102 enters the guide groove 175C, and the protrusion 105D formed obliquely below the left of the ink needle 102 enters the guide groove 175D. . The guide groove 175 is guided by the protrusion 105.

  Specifically, the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175A is guided by the first guide surface 196 of the protrusion 105A, and the second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175A is guided by the second guide surface 197 of the protrusion 105A. Further, the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175B is guided by the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105B, and the second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175B is guided by the second guide surface 197 of the projection 105B. Further, the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175C is guided by the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105C, and the second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175C is guided by the second guide surface 197 of the projection 105C. Further, the first guide surface 176 of the guide groove 175D is guided by the first guide surface 196 of the projection 105D, and the second guide surface 177 of the guide groove 175D is guided by the second guide surface 197 of the projection 105D.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted forward into the cartridge mounting part 110, the third guide surfaces 178 of the guide grooves 175C and 175D are formed above the protrusions 105 formed obliquely below and to the left of the ink needle 102. Come to be located. As a result, a vertical gap is generated between the first guide surface 196 and the third guide surface 178 of the protrusion 105. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 can be rotated in the cartridge case 101 by the gap.

  Note that the position of the guide groove 175 is not limited to the upper right end, the upper left end, the lower right end, and the lower left end of the cap 79 on the condition that the position corresponds to the protrusion 105 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. For example, the guide groove 175 is formed in the horizontal center of the upper surface of the cap 79, the horizontal central portion of the lower surface of the cap 79, the vertical central portion of the right surface of the cap 79, and the vertical central portion of the left surface of the cap 79. It may be. Further, the guide groove 175 may be formed in the cap 79 by three or less or five or more.

  Further, the guide groove 175 may have a surface facing the first guide surface 176. In this case, the guide groove 175 includes at least the surface, the first guide surface 176, and the second guide surface 177, and the first guide surface 176 is not opened in a direction orthogonal to the first guide surface 176. Further, the guide groove 175 may have a surface facing the second guide surface 177. In this case, the guide groove 175 includes at least the surface, the first guide surface 176, and the second guide surface 177, and the second guide surface 177 is not opened in a direction orthogonal to the second guide surface 177.

  Further, the guide grooves 175C and 175D may not include the third guide surface 178. In this case, the guide grooves 175C and 175D are configured by the first guide surface 176 and the second guide surface 177, similarly to the guide grooves 175A and 175B.

  The snap fit mechanism 74 shown in FIG. 12 engages the cap 79 with the housing 130 or the cylinder 75. In the present embodiment, the snap fit mechanism 74 engages the cap 79 and the housing 130.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the snap fit mechanism 74 includes four protrusions 179 formed on each of the side walls 37, 38 of the housing 130 and two protrusions 180 formed on the cap 79. I have.

  Two convex portions 179 protrude rightward from the side wall 37 with a space in the vertical direction. In FIG. 12, the two protrusions 179 protruding from the side wall 37 are not shown because they are in a hidden position. As shown in FIG. 12, the two convex portions 179 protrude leftward from the side wall 38 with a space in the vertical direction. The convex portion 179 may protrude from the cylindrical body 75 of the ink supply unit 34. As shown in FIG. 6, the convex portion 179 includes an engagement surface 179 </ b> A facing rearward.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the protrusion 180 protrudes from the edge of the opening 87 of the cap 79 along the axial direction of the cap 79. In the usage posture of the ink cartridge 30, the axial direction of the cap 79 is the front-rear direction, and the protrusion 180 protrudes rearward.

  One of the two protrusions 180 protrudes rearward from the right side of the opening 87. The other of the two protrusions 180 protrudes rearward from the left side of the opening 87. That is, the two protrusions 180 are disposed to face each other with the opening 87 in the left-right direction. In a state where the cap 79 is placed on the cylinder 75, one of the two protrusions 180 faces the side wall 37 in the left-right direction, and the other of the two protrusions 180 faces the side wall 38 in the left-right direction. . That is, in a state where the cap 79 is put on the cylindrical body 75, the two protrusions 180 are disposed to face each other in the left-right direction with the housing 130 interposed therebetween. When the convex portion 179 protrudes from the cylindrical body 75, the two protrusions 180 are disposed to face each other with the cylindrical body 75 interposed therebetween.

  The upper end of the protrusion 180 is positioned below the upper end of the cap 79. The lower end of the protrusion 180 is located above the lower end of the cap 79. When the cap 79 is viewed from the rear, the protrusion 180 does not protrude outward from the outer edge of the cap 79. In other words, when the cap 79 is viewed from the rear, the protrusion 180 is located inward of the outer edge of the cap 79.

  Note that a part of the protrusion 180 may be located outward from the outer edge of the cap 79 when the cap 79 is viewed from the rear. For example, the upper end of the protrusion 180 may be positioned above the upper end of the cap 79, and the lower end of the protrusion 180 may be positioned lower than the lower end of the cap 79.

  The width of the protrusion 180 (the length in the vertical direction of the protrusion 180) is shorter as it is rearward. That is, the protrusion 180 has a tapered shape in which the length in the vertical direction becomes shorter as the tip is closer. In addition, the protrusion 180 may not have a tapered shape as described above.

  A pair of engaging claws 181 is formed at the tip end portion 180 </ b> A of the protrusion 180. One of the pair of engaging claws 181 protrudes upward (in detail, obliquely upward in the front direction) from the upper surface of the distal end portion 180A. The other of the pair of engaging claws 181 protrudes downward (in detail, obliquely downward in the front direction) from the lower surface of the distal end portion 180A. The engaging claw 181 is formed thinner than the other part of the protrusion 180. Therefore, the engaging claw 181 can be elastically deformed so as to be movable relative to the distal end portion 180 </ b> A of the protrusion 180. The engaging claw 181 is configured to be easily elastically deformed so as to rotate in the vertical direction around the base end (joined portion with the distal end portion 180A).

  In a state where the cap 79 is placed on the cylinder body 75 and the packing 76 from the front, the pair of engaging claws 181 are engaged with the engaging surface 179A of the convex portion 179 (see FIG. 6). Specifically, the pair of engaging claws 181 formed on the protrusion 180 located on the right side of the opening 87 of the two protrusions 180 has an engaging surface of the two convex portions 179 protruding rightward from the side wall 37. 179A is engaged. The pair of engaging claws 181 formed on the protrusion 180 located on the left side of the opening 87 of the two protrusions 180 are respectively engaged with the engaging surfaces 179A of the two convex portions 179 protruding from the side wall 38 to the left. Match. As a result, the cap 79 is held in a state of being attached to the housing 130.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, in the state where the cap 79 is put on the cylinder 75 and the packing 76 from the front, the inner surface 79B which is the back surface of the front surface 79A of the cap 79 is in pressure contact with the packing 76 from the front. The front end of the cylindrical body 75 is in pressure contact with the packing 76 from the rear. Thereby, the packing 76 is fixed in a state of being sandwiched between the cap 79 and the cylindrical body 75. The gap between the packing 76 and the cylinder 75 and the gap between the packing 76 and the cap 79 are sealed in a liquid-tight manner.

  Further, the cap 79 is positioned below and behind the front wall 40 in a state in which the cap 79 is put on the cylinder body 75 and the packing 76 from the front.

[Operation for Mounting Ink Cartridge 30 to Cartridge Mounting Unit 110]
Hereinafter, a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the ink cartridge 30 before being mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the valve 77 is in contact with the packing 76 and closes the through hole 73. Thereby, the flow of ink from the ink valve chamber 35 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 is blocked. The lever 163 is located at the first position. The valve body 161 is positioned at the closed position by being pushed downward by the first protrusion 168 of the lever 163 at the first position. At this time, the through hole 46 is closed by the seal member 166 and the rod 165 of the valve body 161. Thereby, the 1st storage chamber 32 is not open | released by air | atmosphere.

  As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the ink cartridge 30 passes through the opening 112 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the front wall 40 of the housing 31 facing forward and the upper wall 39 facing upward. Inserted into the cartridge case 101. The user inserts the ink cartridge 30 forward with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 while pushing the rear wall 41. The lower part of the ink cartridge 30 enters a guide groove 109 below the cartridge case 101.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 101, as shown in FIG. 15, the protrusion 105 enters the guide groove 175 of the ink supply unit 34, and the guide groove 175 is guided by the protrusion 105.

  When the protrusion 105 enters the guide groove 175, the first guide surfaces 176 of the guide grooves 175 </ b> C and 175 </ b> D are supported by the protrusions 105 formed on the right and lower right sides of the ink needle 102. In addition, the protrusions 105 formed on the upper right and left sides of the ink needle 102 are positioned in the vicinity of the first guide surfaces 176 of the guide grooves 175A and 175B. As a result, the ink supply unit 34 is positioned in the vertical direction with respect to the cartridge case 101.

  Further, when the protrusion 105 enters the guide groove 175, the protrusion 105 formed on the right upper side and the lower right side of the ink needle 102 is positioned adjacent to the right side of the second guide surface 177 of the guide grooves 175A and 175C. To do. Further, in the vicinity of the left side of the second guide surface 177 of the guide grooves 175B and 175D, the protrusions 105 formed on the upper left and lower left sides of the ink needle 102 are located. As a result, the ink supply unit 34 is positioned in the left-right direction with respect to the cartridge case 101.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 101, the ink needle 102 enters the internal space of the cap 79 through the ink supply port 71 and is press-fitted into the through hole 73 of the packing 76. At this time, as described above, the ink supply unit 34 is positioned in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction with respect to the cartridge case 101. Therefore, the ink needle 102 can pass through the ink supply port 71 in the central portion of the ink supply port 71 without the cap 79 contacting.

  Thereafter, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge case 101, the ink needle 102 enters the ink valve chamber 35 and separates the valve 77 from the packing 76 against the urging force of the coil spring 78 (FIG. 18). reference). Accordingly, the ink needle 102 and the ink supply unit 34 are connected to each other, and ink can be circulated from the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 to the internal space of the ink needle 102 via the ink valve chamber 35. Become. At this time, the urging force of the coil spring 78 is applied to the ink cartridge 30 backward.

  Thereafter, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge case 101, the rear end of the protrusion 105 passes through the first guide surface 176 and is positioned below the third guide surface 178. Thereby, a gap in the vertical direction is generated between the third guide surface 178 and the protrusion 105. Further, as described above, the main lower wall 42 of the housing 130 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so that the front end is positioned below the rear end. Therefore, a vertical gap is created between the bottom of the cartridge case 101 and the main lower wall 42. As a result of the gaps as described above, the ink cartridge 30 has its rear portion positioned downward with the position of the through hole 73 of the packing 76 in contact with the ink needle 102 as the ink needle 102 is press-fitted in the center of rotation. It will be in the state which can rotate so that it may move.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 101 after the ink cartridge 30 becomes rotatable, the lock shaft 145 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 abuts the inclined surface 155 and follows the inclined surface 155. To be guided. Thereby, the inclined surface 155 receives a downward reaction force from the lock shaft 145. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 rotates so that its rear part moves downward (see FIGS. 17 and 18).

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 101 and the front wall 40 of the ink cartridge 30 approaches the end surface of the cartridge case 101, as shown in FIG. Then, the convex plate 111 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 enters. However, since the lever 163 is moved downward by the rotation of the ink cartridge 30, the lower surface 111A of the convex plate 111 is located above the lever 163 but is not in contact with the lever 163 at this time. .

  When the front wall 40 of the ink cartridge 30 approaches the vicinity of the end surface of the cartridge case 101, the lock shaft 145 is more than the lock surface 151 from the inclined surface 155 through the horizontal surface 154 as shown in FIG. It comes to be located behind. That is, the lock shaft 145 is separated from the ink cartridge 30. At this time, a space exists below the lock shaft 145. Then, the ink cartridge 30 does not receive the reaction force of the lock shaft 145. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 rotates with the position of the through hole 73 of the packing 76 as the rotation center so that the rear part moves upward (see FIGS. 3 and 19). The posture of the ink cartridge 30 in the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 19 is the usage posture.

  When the ink cartridge 30 rotates, the lever 163 moves upward. Thereby, the front end surface 169A of the second protrusion 169 of the lever 163 contacts the lower surface 111A of the convex plate 111 from below. That is, the lever 163 accesses the convex plate 111 upward. The lever 163 contacts the lower surface 111 </ b> A of the convex plate 111 after the ink needle 102 enters the ink valve chamber 35, that is, after the ink needle 102 is connected to the ink supply unit 34.

  When the distal end surface 169A of the second protrusion 169 of the lever 163 contacts the lower surface 111A of the convex plate 111, the second protrusion 169 receives a downward reaction force from the convex plate 111. That is, the lever 163 receives a force that rotates clockwise in FIG. The force is larger than the force required for the first protrusion 168 to move from the rear portion 165B to the front portion 16A of the upper surface of the rod 165 of the valve body 161. Therefore, the lever 163 rotates clockwise in FIG. 18 from the first position to the second position (see FIG. 3). At this time, the first protrusion 168 of the lever 163 moves over the step surface 165C and moves from the rear portion 165B of the upper surface of the rod 165 of the valve body 161 to the front portion 165A. At this time, the valve body 161 is pushed by the rod 165 and moves slightly downward. As a result, the first protrusion 168 of the lever 163 does not press the valve element 161 downward. Then, the valve body 161 is not held in the closed position by the lever 163. That is, the lever 163 at the second position releases the hindrance to the movement of the valve body 161 to the open position. Thereby, the valve body 161 moves upward from the closed position to the open position by the biasing force of the coil spring 162 (see FIG. 3). Thereby, the through hole 46 is opened. As a result, the first storage chamber 32 is opened to the atmosphere via the through hole 46, the air chamber 36, the bent channel 143, and the communication hole 147.

  As described above, the lever 163 in the second position is separated from the convex plate 111. Further, the seal member 166 presses against the through hole 139 from below and covers the peripheral portion of the through hole 139. Thereby, the space between the seal member 166 and the through hole 139 is closed.

  Finally, in order to release the first storage chamber 32 to the atmosphere, it is necessary to move the valve body 161 upward after being once pushed downward. Thereby, it is suppressed that the valve body 161 moves to an open position accidentally.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is rotated to reach the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 19, the light shielding plate 67 is located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 113 (see FIG. 2). As a result, it is recognized that the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. 3 and 15 to 19, the optical sensor 113 is omitted.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 rotates to reach the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 19, each electrode 65 of the IC substrate 64 is in electrical contact with the contact 106 being elastically deformed upward.

  When the ink cartridge 30 rotates, the lock surface 151 moves upward. 3 and FIG. 19, the lock surface 151 faces the lock shaft 145 rearward. When the user stops pushing the ink cartridge 30 forward, the ink cartridge 30 moves backward by the biasing force of the coil spring 78. The lock surface 151 faces the lock shaft 145 rearward. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 moves rearward, the lock surface 151 comes into contact with and engages with the lock shaft 145. This restricts the ink cartridge 30 from moving backward. As described above, the ink cartridge 30 takes a use posture by accessing the lock shaft 145 (specifically, the front surface of the lock shaft 145) upward.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the user pushes the operation surface 92 downward in the state shown in FIGS. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 rotates with the position of the through hole 73 of the packing 76 as the center of rotation so that the rear part moves downward (see FIGS. 17 and 18). Accordingly, the lock surface 151 is positioned below the lock shaft 145, and the restriction on the backward movement of the ink cartridge 30 is released. Then, the ink cartridge 30 moves rearward with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 by the biasing force of the coil spring 78. Accordingly, the user can take out the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge mounting unit 110 while holding the housing 130 therebetween.

[Modification]
As shown in FIG. 20, the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to black has a front wall 40 and a rear wall 41 to the right with respect to three ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, and yellow (see FIG. 4). It is a bulged configuration. The ink supply unit 34, the IC substrate 64, the convex portion 43, and the operation unit 90 are located to the left of the center of the ink cartridge 30 in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the light shielding plate 67 is located at the center of the ink cartridge 30 in the left-right direction.

  The ink cartridge 30 corresponding to black is different from the three ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, and yellow in the following points because the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 bulge to the right. Have. The differences will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the upper surface 48A of the sub lower wall 48 is a plane. The upper surface 48A of the sub lower wall 48 is inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to go downward as it goes to the left. Thereby, the left end of the upper surface 48A of the sub lower wall 48 is located at the lowest position. The upper surface 48A of the sub lower wall 48 may be inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to go downward as it goes rightward, or is not inclined with respect to the left-right direction, that is, with respect to the horizontal direction. Parallel planes may be used. By making the upper surface 48A of the sub lower wall 48 into a flat surface and connecting the upper surface 48A and the inner surface 38A of the side wall 38 by the curved surface 116, the dimension in the width direction of the first storage chamber 32 can be made as compared with the example shown in FIG. It is easy to increase the capacity of ink storage by increasing the size.

  The curved surface 115 extends downward from the lower end of the inner surface 37A of the side wall 37, and the curved surface 116 extends downward from the lower end of the inner surface 38A of the side wall 38. The lower end of the curved surface 115 is connected to the right end of the upper surface 48 </ b> A of the sub lower wall 48. The lower end of the curved surface 116 is connected to the left end of the upper surface 48 </ b> A of the sub lower wall 48. Here, the left end of the upper surface 48 </ b> A of the sub lower wall 48 is the lowermost part of the front portion of the first storage chamber 32. That is, the lower end of the curved surface 115 and the lower end of the curved surface 116 are connected to the surface including the lowermost portion of the front portion of the first storage chamber 32 (the upper surface 48A of the sub lower wall 48).

  The configuration of the curved surfaces 117 and 118 is the same as that of the above embodiment except that the inner surface 40A of the front wall 40 is elongated in the left-right direction (see FIG. 22).

  In the above description, the lower end of the curved surface 115 and the lower end of the curved surface 116 are connected to the upper surface of the sub lower wall 48, but the lower end of the curved surface 115 and the lower end of the curved surface 116 may be connected.

  In the above embodiment, the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 have a shape as shown in FIG. However, the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 are not shaped as shown in FIG. 8 on the condition that the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 are arranged with a gap in the left-right direction and provided with inclined portions 185B and 186B. May be.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 23A, the front end of the inclined portion 185B of the first rib 185 (in other words, the rear end of the inclined portion 185B) faces the first rib 185 in the left-right direction in the front-rear direction. It may be at the same position as the tip of the inclined portion 186B of the second rib 186 (in other words, the rear end of the inclined portion 186B). Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 23B and 23C, at least one of the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 may not include the extending portions 185A and 186A. FIGS. 23B and 23C show a configuration in which both the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 are not provided with the extending portions 185A and 186A.

  In the above embodiment, the lower ends of the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 have the same height, but may have different heights. For example, in the plurality of first ribs 185 and the plurality of second ribs 186, the ribs closer to the center position in the front-rear direction of the side walls 37, 38 may protrude longer downward.

  The downward protruding lengths of the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 need not be constant over the entire range of the second rib 186 of the first rib 185. For example, of the first rib 185 and the second rib 186, the proximal ends of the extending portions 185A and 186A that are in contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38 and the vicinity thereof, that is, below the proximal end portions of the extending portions 185A and 186A. May be longer than the downward projecting length of the portion other than the base end portion.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the housing 130, the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38 have the liquid level of the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 outside. It has the translucency which can be visually recognized. The front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38 are all exposed to the outside except for the upper end portion that is an engaging portion with the outer lid 134, thereby forming the outer wall of the housing 130. It was.

  However, the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38 only need to constitute an outer wall of the housing 130, that is, a wall having a surface exposed to the outside.

  For example, a label is affixed to a part of the outer surface of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, or the side wall 38, so that the part is stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33. The liquid level of the ink may not be visible from the outside. In this case, in the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38, the portion other than the portion where the label is attached constitutes the outer wall of the housing 130. As described above, the liquid storage chamber in the ink cartridge 30 does not need to be visible from any position, but the liquid level from the outside can be applied to any of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38. It is desirable that there is a region where is visible.

  Further, for example, a configuration in which the housing 130 is covered with a cover may be used. However, in this case, the cover needs to be configured to expose a part of each of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38 to the outside. For example, the cover only needs to have an opening in each of the walls facing the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38. In this case, portions of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38 that are exposed to the outside through the opening constitute the outer wall of the housing 130.

  When only a part of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the side wall 37, and the side wall 38 constitutes the outer wall of the housing 130, the lower part of each wall may be exposed to the outside. preferable.

  In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is configured by combining the housing 130, the first inner lid 131, the second inner lid 132, the outer lid 134, and the support member 150. However, at least a part of the housing 130, the first inner lid 131, the second inner lid 132, the outer lid 134, or the support member 150 may be integrally molded. For example, the housing 130 and the outer lid 134 may be integrally molded, or the second inner lid 132 and the support member 150 may be integrally molded.

  In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the mounting position by the lock shaft 145 coming into contact with the lock surface 151. However, the configuration for holding the ink cartridge 30 in the mounting position is not limited to the configuration using the lock shaft 145 and the lock surface 151, and other known configurations may be employed.

  In the above embodiment, the semipermeable membrane 141 is welded to the lower end surface of the rib 140. However, the semipermeable membrane 141 may be welded to another position as long as it is a position where the ink flowing into the air chamber 36 from the through hole 46 can be prevented from flowing out to the bent flow path 143. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the semipermeable membrane 141 was welded, the semipermeable membrane 141 does not need to be welded.

  In the above-described embodiment, the two protrusions 180 formed on the cap 79 are disposed to face each other in the left-right direction. However, other than the two protrusions 180 in the left-right direction, for example, the two protrusions 180 may be disposed to face each other.

  In the above embodiment, the valve mechanism 135 switches the presence / absence of communication between the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere by opening and closing the through hole 46. However, the valve mechanism 135 may be configured to open and close portions other than the through hole 46 in the atmosphere communication channel 72.

  In the above embodiment, the valve mechanism 135 is separated from the through hole 46 because the ink cartridge 30 moves from the bottom to the top (the direction opposite to the gravity direction) and the lock surface 151 is engaged with the lock shaft 145. However, it may be a process in which the ink cartridge 30 moves in the mounting direction, that is, a process in which the ink cartridge 30 moves in a direction crossing the direction of gravity.

  In the above embodiment, the ink supply unit 34 includes the cylindrical body 75 and the cap 79 that covers the cylindrical body 75. However, the ink supply unit 34 may not include the cap 79. In this case, the guide groove 175 formed in the cap 79 in the above embodiment is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 75.

  In the above-described embodiment, the presence or absence of communication with the outside of the ink supply unit 34 is configured to be switched by the valve 77. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the opening of the front end of the cylindrical body 75 is formed by puncturing a needle or the like in a sealing member such as an elastic resin that does not have a through hole, and when the needle is pulled out from the sealing member, the elasticity of the sealing member It may be configured to be sealed by.

  In the above embodiment, the front-rear dimension of the main lower wall 42 is longer than the front-rear dimension of the sub-lower wall 48. However, the dimension of the main lower wall 42 in the front-rear direction may be equal to or smaller than the dimension of the sub-lower wall 48 in the front-rear direction. That is, the step surface 49 may be disposed at the center position of the ink cartridge 30 in the front-rear direction, or may be disposed at a position closer to the rear wall 41 than the front wall 40.

  In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 has an outer shape as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Further, the ink supply unit 34 extends forward from the step surface 49 and is positioned below and behind the front wall 40. However, the outer shape of the ink cartridge 30 and the position of the ink supply unit 34 are not limited to the configurations shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

  For example, in the ink cartridge 30, the distance between the side wall 37 and the side wall 38 may be longer than the distance between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41. Further, for example, the outer shape of the ink cartridge 30 may be a simple rectangular shape. Further, for example, the ink supply unit 34 may extend forward from the front wall 40 or may extend downward from the lower wall 42.

  In the above-described embodiment, ink is described as an example of a liquid. However, instead of ink, for example, a pretreatment liquid ejected onto paper or the like prior to ink at the time of printing may be stored in a liquid cartridge. Further, water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the liquid cartridge. That is, the ink cartridge 30 of the present disclosure does not have to be a cartridge for storing ink, and may be a cartridge for storing liquid consumed by the printer 10.

[Function and effect]
According to the embodiment, the first rib 185 provided on the first inner lid 131 contacts the side wall 37 of the housing 130, and the second rib 186 provided on the first inner lid 131 serves as the side wall of the housing 130. By abutting on 38, deformation of the housing 130 can be suppressed.

  In general, the air originally present in the first storage chamber 32 when ink is injected into the ink cartridge 30 is formed on the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131 that defines the upper portion of the first storage chamber 32. It flows out from the through hole 46 to the outside of the housing 130. At this time, air may be blocked by the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 and not reach the through hole 46. As a result, the air may stay in the first storage chamber 32 as bubbles. However, according to the embodiment, each of the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 includes the inclined portions 185B and 186B. For this reason, the air is guided to the through hole 46 along the inclined portions 185B and 186B. As a result, it is possible to reduce the retention of bubbles in the first storage chamber 32 when ink is injected into the ink cartridge 30.

  Also, if the tips of the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 are at the same position in the front-rear direction, that is, if the tips are facing each other in the left-right direction, a meniscus is formed in the gap between the two tips. It becomes easy to form. When the meniscus is formed, the air flow through the gap is hindered. However, according to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the tip of the first rib 185 is closer to the through hole 46 in the front-rear direction than the tip of the second rib 186. Therefore, formation of the meniscus as described above can be suppressed.

  Also, if the angle formed between the first rib 185 and the inner surface of the side wall 37 or the angle formed between the second rib 186 and the inner surface of the side wall 38 is an acute angle, the boundary between the first rib 185 and the side wall 37, Ink tends to remain at an acute angle portion at the boundary between the second rib 186 and the side wall 38. According to the above embodiment, the extending portion 185A of the first rib 185 is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall 37 in a state of being orthogonal, and the extending portion 186A of the second rib 186 is in a state of being orthogonal to the inner surface of the side wall 38. It is in contact. For this reason, it is possible to suppress residual ink at the boundary portion between the first rib 185 and the side wall 37 and the boundary portion between the second rib 185 and the side wall 38.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the extending portion 185A of the first rib 185 is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall 37 in a state of being orthogonal, and the extending portion 186A of the second rib 186 is orthogonal to the inner surface of the side wall 38. Therefore, the first rib 185 is hardly bent by the force from the side wall 37, and the second rib 186 is not easily bent by the force from the side wall 38. As a result, deformation of the housing 130 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, normally, the housing | casing 130 tends to deform | transform, the part near the center of the front-back direction. According to the above-described embodiment, the base end portion of the first rib 185 that contacts the side wall 37 of the easily deformable portion and the base end portion of the second rib 186 that contacts the side wall 38 of the easily deformable portion are downward. Protrusively long. Therefore, deformation of the easily deformable portion of the housing 130 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the amount of ink that can be stored in the first storage chamber 32 can be increased by the amount that the inner wall extending from the side walls 37 and 38 to the first storage chamber 32 is not formed. Even if the inner wall is not formed, the first rib 185 and the second rib 186 can suppress the deformation of the housing 130.

  In addition, when the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 is visible from the outside, the space in which the bubbles in the first storage chamber 32 stay and the space in which the bubbles in the first storage chamber 32 do not stay. If the ink liquid level is different, there is a risk of erroneously recognizing the amount of ink stored from the outside. However, according to the said embodiment, since the retention of the air in the 1st storage chamber 32 can be decreased, the possibility of the above erroneous recognition can be made low.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, since the bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131 partitions the air chamber 36 and the atmosphere communication flow path 72, the vertical dimension of the ink cartridge 30 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, even if the ink enters the atmosphere communication channel 72, the ink is guided to the through hole 46 along the upper surface 136A of the inclined bottom wall 136 of the first inner lid 131. It is burned. Thereby, the ink that has entered the atmosphere communication flow path 72 can be easily returned to the first storage chamber 32.

10 ... Printer (system)
30 ... Ink cartridge (liquid cartridge)
32 ... 1st storage chamber (liquid storage chamber)
34: Ink supply part (liquid supply hole)
37 ... side wall (first side wall)
38 ... side wall (second side wall)
46 ... Through hole (communication port)
130 ... Case 131 ... First inner lid (lid)
136 ... Bottom wall (wall)
136B ... the bottom surface of the bottom wall (the bottom surface of the wall)
185 ... 1st rib 185B ... 1st rib inclination part 186 ... 2nd rib 186B ... 2nd rib inclination part

Claims (9)

A housing having an upper opening and a liquid storage chamber defined by a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other in a first direction orthogonal to the vertical direction;
A liquid supply hole for flowing out the liquid in the liquid storage chamber to the outside;
A lid that covers the opening of the housing and has a wall that defines the liquid storage chamber;
The lid is
A communication port that is formed in the wall and communicates between the liquid storage chamber and the outside of the housing;
A first rib and a second rib protruding downward from the lower surface of the wall, extending along the lower surface, and arranged with a gap in the first direction;
The base end of the first rib is in contact with the inner surface of the first side wall,
The base end of the second rib is in contact with the inner surface of the second side wall,
Each of the first rib and the second rib is directed toward the communication port in the vertical direction and the second direction orthogonal to the first direction as the distance from the base end in the first direction is increased. A liquid cartridge comprising an inclined portion inclined with respect to the second direction.   2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a tip end of the first rib is located closer to the communication port in the second direction than a tip end of the second rib.   3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein each of the first rib and the second rib further includes an extending portion extending from the base end along the first direction. A plurality of sets of the first rib and the second rib are formed along the second direction,
4. The base end portion including the base ends of the plurality of sets of the first rib and the second rib protrudes downward longer toward the center of the liquid storage chamber in the second direction. The liquid cartridge according to any one of the above.   5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall extending from at least one of the first side wall or the second side wall to the liquid storage chamber is not formed in the liquid storage chamber.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the casing is formed of a material that allows the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to be visually recognized from the outside. Located above the liquid storage chamber, provided with an air flow path that connects the liquid storage chamber to the atmosphere,
The wall partitions the liquid storage chamber and the atmospheric flow path,
The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the communication port communicates the liquid storage chamber and the atmospheric flow path.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 7, wherein an upper surface of the wall defining the air chamber is inclined downward toward the communication port. A liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A system having a liquid introduction pipe to which the liquid supply hole of the liquid cartridge is connected,
The system in which the liquid supply hole is connected to the liquid introduction pipe in the second direction.

Images